Miracles of the Eucharist

Miracles of the Eucharist
Account of Eucharistic Miracles

History of How Mother Angelica met Bob and Penny Lord.

Sister Briege McKenna purchased a copy of Bob and Penny Lord's book "Miracles of the Eucharist" and give it to a supporter in Europe. That supporter was also a supporter of Mother Angelica, Foundress of EWTN Eternal Word Television Global Television Network. He subsequently gave that book to Mother Angelica. She read it and contacted Bob and Penny Lord and did an interview on her station and at the end of that interview, Mother invited Bob and Penny Lord to do a Series on Miracles of the Eucharist, which was the first series for both.

History of the Introduction of Miracles of the Eucharist
to the Catholic Church in the USA.

In the 1970's while on Pilgrimage to the Shrines of Italy, Bob and Penny Lord, renowned Catholic authors, visited the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi in Siena, Italy.

Inside the Church they discovered the Miracle of the Eucharist of Siena.

At that time they met the custodian of the Miracle, Father Antonio Giannini.

He immediately began to give them a lot of information about Miracles of the Eucharist all over Europe.

It turns out that Father Antonio was the foremost authority on Miracles of the Eucharist in the world.

He even wrote a book about them so years earlier and sold only a few copies.

A few years later after giving much information to Bob and Penny, he asked them the question, "When are you going to write your book?'

At that time Bob and Penny were directing Pilgrimages and had no intention to write a book,
nor had they ever written one.

After a divine turn of events, they wrote the book, Miracles of the Eucharist in 1986.

By another divine turn of events, Mother Angelica, foundress of Eternal Word Global television network, asked them to come to Birmingham and talk about this book.

During the interview, December 1986, she asked them to do a series on Miracles of the Eucharist.

That was the beginning of the Catholic Church in America being exposed to the Miracles of the Eucharist.

Origin of the Feast of Corpus Christi

As had become his custom, he prayed before the Mass for the grace which would give him faith. He prayed fervently to God. His prayer was the same. He begged for the faith to believe without any doubt that the gift we had been given at the Last Supper, that he had been given on the day of his ordination, was truly the Body of Christ. At the time of the Consecration of the Mass, he elevated the host high above his head, and said the words of consecration. As he said “THIS IS MY BODY”, the unleavened bread turned into Flesh, and began to bleed profusely. The blood fell onto the Corporal. The priest, shocked, and not knowing exactly what to do, wrapped the host in the Corporal, folded the Corporal, and left the Altar. As he left, drops of blood spilled on the marble floor in front of the altar.

Pope Urban IV (James Pantaleon) was in Orvieto at the time, which is a short distance from Bolsena. We begin to see the Lord’s plan unfold. As they say in the theater, “The Plot Thickens”. Peter of Prague immediately went off to tell him what had happened. There’s nothing recorded in history to tell us what went on in the mind of our Pope when this priest came to him. Had this burning of Blessed Juliana for a feast day in honor of the Blessed Sacrament stayed with him all through the years? Did he get a flashback of his younger days with her?

WE DO KNOW WHAT HE DID. He immediately sent a bishop back to Bolsena to speak to the priests at the church, in order to verify what Peter of Prague had told him, and bring back to Orvieto the Sacred Host and Corporal. We also know that the Pope didn’t wait for the Bishop to return. He, followed by the entire population of Orvieto, went out to meet the Bishop. They met at a place called the Bridge of the Sun. When he saw the Eucharistic Miracle, Pope Urban IV went down on his knees at the sight of his Lord manifested before him in physical form on the Sacred Corporal.

The Pope had already made his decision, or perhaps the decision had been given to him by the Lord, that this was truly a miracle. He received the Miraculous Corporal from the Bishop and brought It back to Orvieto. He went to the balcony of the Papal Palace, raised It reverently, showing It to the people of the town. Proclaiming that the Lord had truly visited His people, he declared that the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena truly dispelled the heresies that had been running rampant.

At about this time, a follower of Blessed Juliana’s contacted the Pope through a Bishop in Liege. She repeated the request of Blessed Juliana for a feast day in honor of the Blessed Sacrament. We are not sure of the sequence of events. Assuming that Pope Urban IV had been given the inspiration to institute the feast of Corpus Christi solely as a result of the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena, this additional prodding by the Lord might possibly have been what was needed to convince him. We do know that throughout the next year, the Pope occupied himself almost exclusively to the task of writing the Papal Bull, TRANSITURUS, which was published on August 11, 1264. That Papal Bull instituted the Feast of Corpus Christi, in honor of the Blessed Sacrament.

Enter St. Thomas Aquinas. When the Pope made the decision to create this new feast in honor of the Blessed Sacrament, he asked St. Thomas Aquinas to write the Liturgy for the Mass. The Hymns created for this feast are considered to be among the greatest in our Church. O SALUTARIS and TANTUM ERGO are two of the beautiful hymns composed by St. Thomas for this feast.

But that’s not all. Our Lord Jesus had a very special reason to get St. Thomas Aquinas involved in the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena, and the Feast of Corpus Christi. St. Thomas was a brilliant member of the Body of Christ. In 1269, St. Louis IX, King of France, asked for St. Thomas to settle an argument among the members of the University of Paris. What argument would that be, but the physical presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

St. Thomas prayed fervently, because he realized that he was but an instrument of the Lord, and that an answer that would satisfy intellectuals would have to come from divine inspiration, rather than from his own mind. After much prayer, he wrote a treatise which was first accepted by the University, and then later by the whole church. After having written this treatise, we’re told that he received an apparition from Our Dear Lord Jesus. In this apparition, Our Lord said to him: “YOU HAVE WRITTEN WELL OF THE SACRAMENT OF MY BODY” At this, St. Thomas went into an ecstasy, and levitated. He was above the ground so long that many of his associates were able to witness the levitation.

This is by no means the end of the story, but it does conclude the series of events the Lord put into motion many years before when he gave the sign on the moon to Blessed Juliana of Liege,

These Miracles of the Eucharist books and dvds continue to be most asked for items.
Bob and Penny Lord traveled all over Europe and discovered these
Miracles of the Eucharist for you to also discover.
They travelled to places like Lanciano, Siena, Cascia and Orvieto,
plus sites in France like Avignon and Blanot, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany.
They discovered each of these Miracles has a special message to us even now.
They wrote two books about Miracles of the Eucharist
and produced 13 dvds also.

Miracles of the Eucharist

In the heart of Catholic tradition lies a mystery so profound, so awe-inspiring, that it has captivated believers for centuries: the Eucharist. This sacred sacrament, the very Body and Blood of Christ, is not merely a ritual but a living testament to divine love—a miracle renewed at every Mass. Yet, beyond the daily wonder of the Eucharistic celebration, there are extraordinary events, documented across history, where the veil between heaven and earth seems to thin, revealing the supernatural power of this holy gift. These are the Miracles of the Eucharist, moments when the impossible becomes tangible, when faith is not just felt but seen.

At Journeys of Faith, we’ve dedicated over four decades to uncovering and sharing these sacred stories, inspired by the transformative pilgrimages of our founders, Bob and Penny Lord. Since 1980, our ministry has been a beacon for Catholics seeking to deepen their devotion through the treasures of our faith—whether through the lives of the saints, the power of Eucharistic miracles, or the spiritual renewal of pilgrimage. From the pages of our books, like the beloved This Is My Body, This Is My Blood, to the countless television episodes aired on EWTN, we’ve walked alongside generations of the faithful, guiding them to encounters with the divine. Our mission remains steadfast: to inform, inspire, and nurture your faith by bringing you closer to these miraculous events that defy explanation yet affirm the presence of God among us.

The Miracles of the Eucharist are not mere historical curiosities; they are invitations. They call us to marvel at the mystery, to kneel in reverence, and to let our hearts be stirred by the undeniable truth of Christ’s real presence. Whether it’s a host bleeding in a forgotten church centuries ago or a modern-day wonder witnessed by thousands, these miracles speak to a God who desires to be known, to be loved, to be near. In this article, we’ll journey through some of the most profound Eucharistic miracles, exploring their stories, their significance, and the unshakable faith they ignite. Join us, as we at Journeys of Faith continue to uncover the sacred, one miracle at a time, and invite you to see the hand of God at work in the world.

Understanding Eucharistic Miracles in Catholic Doctrine

Let’s dive into the heart of what makes Eucharistic miracles so profound within Catholic teaching—a doctrine that’s been debated, defended, and revered for centuries. At its core, the Eucharist is the source and summit of Catholic life, believed to be the real presence of Christ, body, blood, soul, and divinity, under the appearances of bread and wine. This isn’t just symbolism; it’s a mystery rooted in the words of Jesus at the Last Supper, “This is my body,” a declaration that the Church has upheld through the doctrine of transubstantiation since the 13th century. But when the veil of faith is seemingly lifted—when the host visibly transforms into flesh or blood—that’s when we’re talking about a Eucharistic miracle, an event that defies natural explanation and demands our awe.

These miracles aren’t just random anomalies; they’re woven into the fabric of Catholic theology as signs of divine intervention. Think of them as God hitting the pause button on the laws of physics to say, “Pay attention—this is real.” The Church doesn’t take these claims lightly. Each reported miracle undergoes rigorous scrutiny, often involving scientists, theologians, and bishops, to rule out fraud or natural causes. When a miracle is deemed authentic, it’s not just a curiosity—it’s a call to deeper faith, a reminder of the Incarnation itself, where the divine meets the material in a way that’s meant to shake us awake.

Historically, these events often emerge in moments of crisis or doubt. Take the 8th-century miracle at Lanciano, Italy, where a doubting priest saw the host turn to flesh and the wine to blood during Mass—a transformation later studied and confirmed as human tissue and blood, defying decay for over a millennium. Or consider the 1996 miracle in Buenos Aires, where a discarded host, placed in water to dissolve, turned into what forensic analysis identified as heart muscle tissue. These aren’t just stories; they’re documented challenges to skepticism, pointing to a truth the Church has always taught: Christ is truly present in the Eucharist.

In Catholic doctrine, Eucharistic miracles aren’t meant to “prove” the faith in a courtroom sense—they’re not about winning arguments. They’re invitations. They ask us to wrestle with the mystery, to confront our own doubts, and to marvel at a God who would go to such lengths to be close to us. They’re a nudge to remember that the Eucharist isn’t just a ritual; it’s an encounter with the living Christ, one that’s as real as the flesh and blood these miracles sometimes reveal.

Biblical Roots of Eucharistic Signs and Wonders

Let’s dive into the sacred texts, where the seeds of Eucharistic miracles were first sown, long before the Church began documenting these awe-inspiring events. The Bible isn’t just a history book or a moral guide; it’s a living testament to God’s relentless desire to connect with humanity through signs, wonders, and, ultimately, the gift of Himself in the Eucharist.

Start with the Old Testament, where God’s provision is often tied to the miraculous. Think of the manna in the desert, as described in Exodus 16. The Israelites, grumbling and lost, are fed by bread from heaven—a direct, tangible act of divine care. This wasn’t just sustenance; it was a prefigurement, a whisper of something greater to come. Every flake of manna pointed to a future where God wouldn’t just provide food for the body but for the soul, a bread that would never perish.

Then there’s the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 17, sustained by a miraculously replenished jar of flour and jug of oil during a famine. These aren’t random acts of magic; they’re deliberate signs of God’s fidelity, showing that He can and will defy the laws of nature to nourish His people. These stories build a foundation, a theological breadcrumb trail leading straight to the Upper Room.

Fast forward to the New Testament, and the miracles multiply, literally. Jesus feeds the 5,000 with just five loaves and two fish (John 6:1-14), a moment so profound it’s recorded in all four Gospels. But John’s account goes deeper, tying this feeding directly to the discourse on the Bread of Life. Jesus doesn’t just feed the crowd; He declares, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger” (John 6:35). Here, the miracle isn’t just about full stomachs—it’s a signpost to the Eucharist, where Christ offers His very Body as eternal nourishment.

And then, of course, there’s the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-28), the institution of the Eucharist itself. Jesus takes bread, breaks it, and says, “This is my body.” He takes the cup and says, “This is my blood.” It’s not symbolic language to the early Church; it’s a radical, earth-shaking reality. The apostles didn’t fully grasp it then, but every Eucharistic miracle since echoes back to that moment—a reminder that Christ meant what He said.

These biblical accounts aren’t just ancient history. They’re the DNA of every Eucharistic miracle that has followed, from the bleeding hosts of the Middle Ages to the scientifically inexplicable phenomena of today. They remind us that God has always used the material—bread, wine, oil—to reveal the spiritual, to draw us closer to a mystery that transcends understanding but demands our reverence.

How Eucharistic Miracles Deepen Faith and Devotion

Let’s dive into the heart of what makes Eucharistic miracles so transformative. These extraordinary events—where the Host visibly becomes flesh or blood, or defies natural explanation—aren’t just historical curiosities or theological puzzles to solve. They’re raw, unfiltered encounters with the divine, piercing through the noise of everyday life to remind us of a truth we can too easily forget: Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. For Catholics, this isn’t a symbol or a metaphor; it’s a reality that these miracles lay bare, often in ways that are as unsettling as they are awe-inspiring.

Consider the sheer weight of what these miracles imply. A piece of bread, consecrated at Mass, suddenly bleeds or transforms into human tissue, as countless witnesses have reported over centuries. Science often stumbles here—tests on some of these relics reveal heart tissue, still living, defying decay. It’s the kind of thing that stops you cold, forcing a reckoning. For the doubtful, it’s a challenge to disbelief. For the faithful, it’s a fire that reignites devotion, a tangible sign that the veil between heaven and earth is thinner than we think. These miracles don’t just affirm doctrine; they demand a response, a deepening of trust in the mystery of the Eucharist.

But it’s not just about the spectacle. The stories behind these miracles often carry a personal edge—a priest wrestling with doubt, a community mired in apathy, or a sinner brought to their knees by grace. They’re reminders that the Eucharist isn’t a static ritual but a living encounter, one that can heal, convict, and transform. They call us to approach the altar with renewed reverence, to see beyond the ordinary and recognize the extraordinary gift we receive. In a world that’s often cynical or distracted, these miracles are a wake-up call, urging us to live our faith with the kind of intensity they evoke.

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Miracles of the Eucharist