Austria Seefeld (1384)
Blood of the Host: The Miracle of Seefeld
The Expectation of Oswald Milser
On a quiet spring evening in the small city of Seefeld, the faithful gathered for the Holy Thursday Mass at the Church of St. Oswald. Among them was Oswald Milser, the powerful Lord of Schlosberg, who carried himself with an air of expectation. Tonight, he desired more than just the sacred bread—he sought to receive the large Host, a privilege customarily reserved for the priest alone. His request was unusual, but who could deny such a man of standing?
A Tremor in the Church
As the Mass reached its most sacred moment, Oswald approached the altar. The priest, hesitant but bound by duty, offered him the large Host. As the wafer touched Oswald’s lips, the air grew heavy, and a low rumble filled the church. The faithful watched in confusion as the ground beneath Oswald began to tremble violently. Stone tiles cracked, sending small fragments skittering across the floor.
Oswald clutched the edge of the altar, his knuckles turning white. The tremor intensified, and for a moment, he felt as if the earth itself was about to swallow him whole. His heart raced, a strange mix of fear and pride filling his chest. Was this the consequence of his presumption, or something greater?
The Divine Intervention
Just as panic began to ripple through the congregation, the priest acted swiftly. He reached out, plucking the Host from Oswald’s mouth before he could fully receive it. Instantly, the trembling ceased, and a deep silence fell upon the church. But the miracle was not over. From the sacred Host, live Blood began to flow, staining the altar cloth red. The blood trickled slowly, as if from a wound, yet no one could fathom how or why.
Witness to the Miracle
Gasps and whispers filled the church as the congregation beheld the divine sign. Oswald stood frozen, his face drained of color, the weight of his audacity pressing on his chest. He knew then that this was no mere coincidence but a miracle of the most profound kind—a sign that the mysteries of God were not to be trifled with.
The Spread of the Sacred News
News of the miraculous event spread quickly, reaching the ears of peasants and nobles alike. Even Emperor Maximilian I, a man of deep faith, heard of the miracle and became devoted to its significance. In time, the Church of St. Oswald became a site of pilgrimage, where people from all over the nation came to witness the precious relic—the very Host, now stained with the Blood of the miracle.
Legacy of Faith and Wonder
The event was immortalized in paintings and stories, passed down through generations. To this day, visitors still come to Seefeld to see the relic and to marvel at the power of the divine. In the stillness of the church, they stand where Oswald Milser once stood, feeling the weight of history and the invisible presence of something greater than themselves.