VEROLI

ITALY, 1570

Eucharistic Miracle of

During Easter of 1570,

in the Church of St. Erasmus

in Veroli, the Blessed Sacrament

was exposed (at the time,

the Blessed Sacrament was

first placed in a round pyx

and then placed in a large

chalice, covered with a paten)

for the 40 hours of public

adoration. The child Jesus

appeared in the exposed Host

and manifested many graces.

Today, the chalice where the

Blessed Sacrament was

exposed is kept in the same

church of St. Erasmus and is

used once a year at the

celebration of Mass on

Easter Tuesday.

t Easter in 1570, in the Church of St. Erasmus,

the consecrated Host, according

to the

traditional rite at the time, was pla

ced in

a round silver container (pyx) and placed in a

burse like holder – this was later placed in a large

ceremonial silver chalice with its paten; the whole

wrapped in an elegant silk cloth.

It should be mentioned that at that time exposi-

tion of the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance

was not a widespread practice even though the

Council of Cologne (1452) specifically referred

to the monstrance.

It was the custom for each civil confraternity to

be present for an hour of adoration before the

exposed Blessed Sacrament. It was at one of these

hours of adoration which had the members of the

Confraternity of Mercy (which predated both

the Confraternity of Corpus Christi and of our

Blessed Lady) vested in their black robes and

kneeling in prayer.

The most authenticdocument about

this Eucharistic miracle was taken immediately

by the chancery; it is preserved in the archives

of the Church of St. Erasmus. The detailed

deposition and account of the miraculous event

is given by a Giacomo Meloni who was among

the first witnesses. His testimony follows:

"Raising my eyes towards the chalice, I saw a

most brilliant star at the base of the chalice’s cup

and above the star, the Blessed Sacrament in the

size of the host used by the priest at Mass. The

star was attached to the Blessed Sacrament (...).

The vision ended when small children in adora-

tion, similar to small angels, were seen around the

sacred host...".

To this day, this

miraculous event is commemorated

with solemn

ceremony in the presence of the bishop.

The chalice, its paten and the silver pyx where the

Blessed Sacrament was exposed, have all been

preserved and they remain with the relics/

reliquaries of the saints. The sacred species (the

consecrated bread) of the miraculous Host of

Veroli was consumed after 112 years.

In 1970 on the occasion of the 4th centenary of

the miracle, the 3rd Eucharistic Congress of the

Diocese of Veroli-Frosinone was celebrated. The

adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place

every first Friday of the month, with all other

churches being closed (...).

Old print depicting the miracle

The document which records the sworn and written testimony of those

witnesses who were present at the apparition

The Church of St. Erasmus,

Veroli

The chalice and the paten

of the miracle

The chapel where the apparition occurred

The commemorative tablet which recalls the miracle