This week on Vaticano, as we prepare for the International Eucharistic Congress in Quito, Ecuador, we embark on a journey through history, tracing the origins of Eucharistic miracles and their profound significance in the Catholic tradition.

The Historical Roots of the Feast of Corpus Christi in Bolsena

Our first stop is the medieval village of Bolsena, nestled 100 kilometers north of Rome. This quaint lakeside town is forever etched in the annals of the Catholic Church as the birthplace of the Feast of Corpus Christi. It was here, in 1263, that a miraculous event occurred—a Eucharistic miracle that would inspire the establishment of one of the Church’s most solemn liturgical celebrations.

In Bolsena, the miracle began with a Bohemian priest named Peter, who was plagued by doubts about the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Seeking to reconcile his uncertainty, he made a penitential pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul in Rome. On his return journey, Peter stopped in Bolsena to celebrate Mass. However, his doubts persisted, and at the moment of consecration, something extraordinary happened—the Host began to bleed. Overwhelmed by this divine manifestation, Peter immediately took the blood-stained corporal to nearby Orvieto, where Pope Urban IV was residing. After a thorough investigation, the Pope ordered that the corporal on which the Host and Chalice rested be enshrined in Orvieto for public veneration. To this day, the altar cloth remains there, attracting pilgrims from around the world who come to witness this tangible sign of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist.

The miracle at Bolsena had a profound impact on the Church. Just a year after the event, Pope Urban IV extended the celebration of the Feast of Corpus Christi to the entire Catholic world, commissioning Saint Thomas Aquinas to compose the liturgical text for this feast. Since then, the Feast of Corpus Christi has been celebrated annually on the first Thursday after the octave of Pentecost, with the town of Bolsena continuing to play a central role in this tradition. Each year, the streets of Bolsena are adorned with intricate floral carpets, created by local families in honor of the Eucharist. The town’s residents take great pride in this tradition, passing it down from generation to generation as a way to pay homage to Corpus Domini.

The Miracle of Lanciano: A Testament to Faith

Our journey continues to Lanciano, a small town in Italy that is home to one of the earliest recorded Eucharistic miracles. The miracle in Lanciano, dating back to the 8th century, remains a powerful testament to the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation—the belief that the bread and wine consecrated during Mass truly become the Body and Blood of Christ. The miracle occurred when a priest, who harbored doubts about this doctrine, witnessed the Host transform into human flesh and the wine into Blood during the consecration. The flesh was later identified as a part of the human heart, specifically the left ventricle, essential for the heart’s function.

For centuries, the faithful have revered this miraculous event as a divine affirmation of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The relics of this miracle are preserved and displayed in the Church of San Francesco in Lanciano, drawing pilgrims from all over the world who seek to deepen their faith through this extraordinary manifestation of God’s love. The preservation of these relics, without the use of any chemical agents, has been studied extensively, and remains a subject of fascination and reverence. The miracle of Lanciano challenges believers to trust in the mysteries of their faith, even when they defy human understanding.

Carlo Acutis: The Modern Apostle of the Eucharist

As we move from ancient miracles to the modern age, we encounter the inspiring story of Carlo Acutis, a young Italian boy who used technology to spread devotion to the Eucharist. Born in 1991, the same year the worldwide web was launched, Carlo was a typical child of his generation, with a love for computers and video games. However, what set him apart was his deep, abiding faith and his profound devotion to the Eucharist. At the age of 11, Carlo created a website that cataloged Eucharistic miracles from around the world, aiming to reignite in others the reverence and wonder he felt for the Blessed Sacrament.

Carlo’s dedication to the Eucharist was not merely an intellectual pursuit—it was the cornerstone of his spiritual life. He attended daily Mass and spent time in Eucharistic adoration, drawing strength and grace from his encounters with Christ in the Sacrament. Even when diagnosed with leukemia at a young age, Carlo accepted his suffering with remarkable faith, offering it up for the Pope and the Church. His mother, Antonia Salzano, recalls how Carlo’s unwavering faith gave him the courage to face his illness and ultimately his death, with the hope of eternal life.

In 2020, Carlo Acutis was beatified, becoming the first millennial to be recognized by the Catholic Church in this way. His life serves as a powerful example of how modern technology can be harnessed for spiritual purposes, and how even the youngest members of the Church can have a profound impact on the world. Carlo’s legacy continues to inspire countless people to deepen their devotion to the Eucharist and to live lives of integrity and faith.

The Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses

Our final destination is the Vatican, where the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses plays a crucial role in promoting and organizing these significant events in the life of the Church. Under the leadership of Archbishop Piero Marini and Monsignor Marco Busca, the committee seeks to foster a renewed understanding and devotion to the Eucharist among the faithful. These congresses, which gather Catholics from around the world, provide an opportunity for deep spiritual reflection and communal worship centered on the Eucharist. The upcoming International Eucharistic Congress in Quito, Ecuador, is particularly significant in the context of the challenges facing the world today. In a time when many people struggle to find meaning and purpose in their lives, the Congress aims to remind the faithful of the centrality of the Eucharist as a source of spiritual nourishment and strength. The Vatican’s efforts to promote these congresses reflect the Church’s ongoing mission to draw people closer to Christ through the Eucharist, encouraging a deeper commitment to the faith in both personal and communal life.

The Ongoing Significance of the Eucharist

With this Vaticano episode, we are reminded of the enduring significance of the Eucharist in the life of the Church and its members. From the miraculous events in Bolsena and Lanciano to the modern-day witness of Carlo Acutis, the Eucharist remains a profound mystery and a source of spiritual strength for Catholics around the world. The upcoming International Eucharistic Congress in Quito promises to be another important milestone in the Church’s efforts to deepen the faithful’s understanding and devotion to this central aspect of the Christian faith.

The Eucharist is more than just a ritual; it is a living encounter with Christ, who offers himself to us in the form of bread and wine. Through the Eucharist, we are invited to partake in the divine life, to be nourished by Christ’s presence, and to be transformed into his likeness. As we look forward to the Congress in Quito, let us renew our commitment to the Eucharist, seeking in It the strength to face life’s challenges and the grace to live out our faith with courage and conviction.

Adapted by Jacob Stein