SAINT BERNARD OF CHIARAVALLE

FRANCE, 12TH CENTURY

Converts a Duke with the Eucharist

Saint Bernard was the central

character of an important

Eucharistic miracle. The Duke

of Aquitania separated himself

from the Catholic Church, and

he had absolutely no intention

of returning to it. Saint Bernard,

after he celebrated Mass, went

outside the door of the church to

the duke and presented the Blessed

Sacrament to him. The Duke,

deeply moved by a mysterious

force, fell to the ground

on his

knees, begging forgiveness

for

having left the Catholic Church.

SAINT JOHN BOSCO

Saint John Bosco was always

very devoted to the Eucharist.

umerous are the writings

which the saint speaks

of the importance of this

sacrament. Once, having only

eight Sacred Hosts remaining

in the corporal, he began

to multiply the Hosts so that

he could distribute Communion

to the 360 youth who were

present at Mass.

ne of the biographies of Saint Bernard

recounts that the saint “came to

Aquitania to reconcile to the Church the

duke of this province – but since he refused such

reconciliation, the saint of God went towards the

altar to celebrate the Mass while the duke, having

been excommunicated, waited for him outside the

door of the church. After the consecration,

Bernard placed the Host on the paten and exited

the church, with his face aflame with sacred ire.

“When he arrived in front of the

duke, he admonished him with these words: ‘We

prayed for you and you ridiculed us. Here now,

He, the Son of the Virgin, the Lord of the Church,

He Whom you persecute, has come to you. Here,

you have before you that Judge whose hands one

day will hold your soul. Perhaps you will reject

Him as you have rejected His servant? Resist Him

if you can.’ The duke immediately felt his legs

fold underneath him and prostrated himself at the

feet of Bernard, who then ordered him to stand on

his feet to hear the penitential sentence of God.

The duke trembled as he stood and he followed all

that Bernard ordered him to do.”

iographies of Saint John recount that in

1848, during a Mass celebrated in honor of

the Feast of the Annunciation, Don Bosco

realized at the moment he was to distribute

Holy Communion to 360 young people that the

corporal in the Tabernacle had only eight Sacred

Hosts. Everyone noticed and wondered what Don

Bosco would do. Giuseppe Buzzetti, who became one

of the first Salesian priests, was serving Mass that day

when he saw Don Bosco multiply the Hosts and give

Holy Communion to the 360 people.

Don Bosco tells the story of what he saw in a dream:

a terrible battle at sea caused by a multitude of boats,

both large and small, fighting against a sole majestic

ship, a symbol of the Church. Hit many times but

always victorious, the ship was guided by the Pope to

anchor itself securely between two tall pillars in the

sea. The first held up high a huge Host with the

writing, “Salvation of the Faithful” and the other

which was lower, held a statue of Immaculate Mary,

with the writing, “Help of Christians”.

ITALY, 1848

Portrait of the true face

of Saint Bernard

Antique image which shows

the miracle

Saint Bernard converts

the duke

Eucharistic Miracle of