In the mid 13th century, a priest in Prague named Peter was having serious doubts about his faith, in particular about the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. During the summer of 1263, Peter went on pilgrimage to Rome to pray at the tomb of Saint Peter asking for his faith to be strengthened.
After his time in Rome and feeling strengthened in his vocation as a priest, he began his journey back to Prague. On the way back, he stopped at the village of Bolsena north of Rome for the night.
Peter of Prague visited the Church of Saint Cristina where the relics of this local 3rd century martyr were kept. His visit at the tomb of Cristina who was willing to die for her faith shook Peter’s faith once again, so before celebrating Mass, it is said, he prayed, “for the strength of soul and extreme abandonment that God gives to those who completely trust in him.”
As he celebrated Mass the host began to bleed, and the blood fell on the corporal which lay on the altar. Amazed and overjoyed, Peter traveled to the neighboring town of Orvieto where Pope Urban IV was staying. The Pope immediately sent his representative to bring the corporal to Orvieto for him to inspect. His representative did as told and once the corporal arrived to Orvieto it was kept at the cathedral there rather than at the small country village of Bolsena.
The following year, 1264, in light of this great miracle, Urban IV declared the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Our Lord, Corpus Christi, which today, 748 years later, we continue to celebrate.
The corporal is now kept behind the altar of the Chapel of the Corporal in the cathedral of Orvieto. Every year for the Solemnity, the corporal is taken from the cathedral along with the Blessed Sacrament on a solemn procession throughout the whole town.
The Eucharistic miracle of Orvieto is an extraordinary reminder for us of a simple truth, that Jesus Christ, God Himself, the creator of heaven and earth, Our creator, comes to us and gives Himself to us in the Eucharist.
It is through the Eucharist that God Himself feeds us, it is our daily bread that Jesus multiplies endlessly to the ends of the Earth for everyone who believes in him to be fed with true food so to inherit eternal life.
Peter of Prague experienced a great miracle, a bleeding host, and his faith was greatly fortified, yet Jesus Himself says, “blessed are those who have not seen yet believe.” We may not have seen, but today we affirm our true and certain faith that Jesus Christ is truly present, body and blood, soul and divinity in the Holy Eucharist.
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