A Bohemian priest doubting transubstantiation celebrated Mass at the Basilica of Santa Cristina. When he broke the consecrated Host, it began to bleed onto the corporal cloth. Pope Urban IV, residing nearby in Orvieto, investigated and subsequently instituted the Feast of Corpus Christi for the universal Church. The bloodstained corporal is preserved in the Cathedral of Orvieto.
History
In 1264, a German priest named Peter of Prague was on pilgrimage to Rome. He stopped in Bolsena to celebrate Mass at the Church of Santa Cristina. Peter had long struggled with doubts about the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. As he pronounced the words of consecration, the Host began to bleed, staining the corporal (altar cloth) with blood. Terrified and amazed, Peter tried to hide the miracle but was unable to contain the bleeding. He reported the event to Pope Urban IV, who was then residing in nearby Orvieto. The Pope sent investigators, including the future Saint Thomas Aquinas, to examine the evidence. Convinced of its authenticity, Urban IV issued the papal bull 'Transiturus de hoc mundo' on August 11, 1264, establishing the Feast of Corpus Christi for the entire Church. The bloodstained corporal was brought to Orvieto in solemn procession and has been preserved in the Cathedral of Orvieto ever since. The Orvieto Cathedral itself was built partly to house this relic, and its stunning facade includes scenes depicting the miracle.
Scientific Findings
The bloodstained corporal has been examined multiple times over the centuries. The linen cloth clearly shows stains that have been identified as blood. The pattern of the stains on the corporal shows the outline of a face, which some interpret as the face of Christ. Modern scientific analysis has confirmed the presence of hemoglobin and blood proteins on the cloth. The miracle is considered one of the best-documented medieval Eucharistic miracles due to the immediate papal investigation and the continuous chain of custody of the relic.
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