Belgium Herentals (1412)

The Miracle of the Radiant Hosts: A Thief's Redemption and a Divine Revelation

In 1412, a thief named Jan van Langerstede stole consecrated Hosts from a church in Poederlee. As he attempted to flee, an unseen force stopped him, and he hid the Hosts in a rabbit burrow near Herentals. Days later, after confessing his crime, Jan led the authorities to the site, where they discovered the Hosts intact and glowing with a radiant light, arranged in the shape of a cross. This miraculous event led to the creation of a shrine at the site, which became a place of pilgrimage and reverence for centuries.
The Theft in Poederlee

In 1412, a notorious thief named Jan van Langerstede arrived in the town of Herentals. Known for stealing sacred objects from churches across Europe, Jan saw an opportunity in the nearby village of Poederlee. Sneaking into the local parish church, he stole a chalice and a ciborium containing five consecrated Hosts.

The Mysterious Force at De Hegge

As Jan fled with the stolen items, he reached a place known as "De Hegge." There, a strange, unseen force stopped him in his tracks. Desperate to continue his escape, Jan tried to dispose of the Hosts by throwing them into a nearby river, but he was unsuccessful. In frustration, he buried the Hosts in a rabbit burrow, thinking he had finally rid himself of the objects. Relieved, he returned to Herentals.

The Arrest and Full Confession

Meanwhile, Judge Gilbert De Pape launched an investigation into the theft. Jan quickly became a suspect, and when his belongings were searched, the stolen chalice and ciborium were found. Though he confessed to the theft, he initially kept the whereabouts of the Hosts a secret. Facing execution, Jan finally confessed to hiding the sacred Hosts.

The Miracle of the Radiant Hosts

A large crowd followed Jan to the field where the Hosts were buried. To their amazement, they found the Hosts not only intact after eight days but glowing with a bright light. Even more incredibly, they had arranged themselves into the shape of a cross. Reverently, the people returned the Hosts in a procession to Herentals and Poederlee.

The Pilgrimage and Shrine at De Hegge

Declared a miracle in 1441, the site of the discovery became a place of pilgrimage. A chapel was built where the Hosts had been found, and notable figures, including Bishop Jean Malderus and Pope Benedict XIV, visited the shrine over the years. The chapel, funded by Elizabeth Van Görlitz, evolved into a sacred site, celebrated to this day.

The Legacy of the Miracle

To commemorate the miracle, two paintings by Antoon van Ysendyck depicting the event are carried annually in a procession to De Hegge. The paintings are housed in the Cathedral of Sint-Waldetrudiskerk in Herentals, serving as a lasting reminder of the miraculous discovery that touched the hearts of the faithful.

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