MORROVALLE

ITALY, 1560

Eucharistic Miracle of

In 1560 at Morrovalle,

a huge fire destroyed the

church of the Franciscans but

spared a large Host contained

in a pyx (which was also

completely burned except

for the lid). The Eucharistic

miracle’s fourth centenary

was celebrated in 1960,

and the City Council

unanimously decided to

place at Morrovalle’s main

gate the inscription,

“Civitas Eucaristica”

(Eucharistic City).

n Morrovalle, at about two o’clock in the

morning of April 17, 1560, during the

octave of Easter, Brother Angelo Blasi

awoke with a start at the sound of violent crack-

ling. Looking out the window of his cell, he saw

the church was completely engulfed in flames,

and he immediately ran to notify the other

brothers. The fire was brought under control

after seven hours, and in following days began the

work of clearing the massive pile of church ruins.

On April 27, Father Battista da Ascoli was

removing a piece of marble from what used to be

the main altar and discovered the pyx in a wall

cavity. Its corporal was scorched but the consecrated

Host was still intact and in good condition.

Father Battista shouted at the sight of the miracle,

and many people immediately ran to marvel at

the occurrence. For three entire days, the Blessed

Sacrament was exposed for public adoration.

When Franciscan provincial Father Evangelista

da Morro d’Alba finally arrived, the miraculous

Host was placed in an ivory case.

The then-bishop of Bertinoro,

Ludovico di Forli, was immediately sent by

Pope Pius IV to Morrovalle to investigate the

authenticity of the event. As soon as he received

the bishop’s account, Pope Pius IV judged the

occurrence to be without natural cause, and he

authorized public devotion with the Bull “Holy

Roman Church” (1560). The bull proclaims the

anniversaries of the fire and the discovery of the

sacred Host (April 17 and 27) as feasts with

plenary indulgences (so that they were known

locally as the feasts “of the two pardons.”)

Because of the many faithful who came to the

celebrations, the church was later expanded.

Today, the feasts are celebrated with exposition of

the Blessed Sacrament and of the pyx on the

main altar. The pardons, namely the plenary

indulgences, are available at the church of Saint

Bartholomew. The miraculous Host was conserved

intact until 1600 but due to the vicissitudes of

history every trace of it was later lost. All that

remains today is the glass ciborium and the pyx

lid which survived the flames.

The Bull “Holy Roman

Church,” of Pope Pius IV

(1560) confirming the miracle

Church of Saint Bartholomew

Convent annexed to the Church of Saint Francis,

where the Miracle took place

Reliquary of the Miracle

Morrovalle procession in honor of the miracle