The Miracle of Living Blood: A Testament of Faith

A Doubt That Changed Everything

In the year 1412, amidst the rolling hills of Bagno di Romagna, Father Lazzaro da Verona, the prior of the Basilica of St. Mary, grappled with a hidden but haunting doubt. As he stood before the altar to celebrate Mass, his heart wavered on the belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist—a cornerstone of Catholic faith.

The ritual continued as it always had. Father Lazzaro lifted the chalice, his voice steady despite the turbulence within, and pronounced the sacred words of consecration. Suddenly, an extraordinary phenomenon unfolded before the congregation. The wine, transformed into the Blood of Christ, began to flow from the chalice, landing on the corporal below. The rich red stain spread, vivid and undeniable, a testament to the mystery of faith he had doubted.

Father Lazzaro, overcome with emotion, confessed his wavering belief to the faithful who stood awestruck around him. Tears streaming down his face, he acknowledged the divine miracle that had silenced his doubts and awakened a profound humility within his soul.

The Relic of Divine Blood

The corporal, now soaked with the miraculous blood, became a sacred relic preserved within the Basilica of St. Mary Assumed. This "Holy Cloth Soaked by Blood" holds a central place in the church’s history and faith, drawing pilgrims and believers for centuries.

Historians like Fortunio documented the event in works such as the Annales Camaldulenses, affirming the miraculous nature of the event. According to Fortunio, Father Lazzaro's transformation from doubter to believer occurred in the presence of many witnesses. The monk later left Bagno di Romagna to serve as chaplain at the convent of St. Christine in Bologna, where he lived out his remaining years in piety until his death in 1416.

A Legacy of Faith and Veneration

The miracle not only reaffirmed the faith of those present but also marked the basilica as a site of sacred significance. The relic was revered through centuries of upheaval, including the Napoleonic suppression that dispersed the Camaldolese monks in 1808. By 1912, the event’s fifth centenary was celebrated with grandeur under Cardinal Gilio Boschi, who oversaw a conference dedicated to Eucharistic studies.

In 1959, the relic was subjected to chemical analysis by experts at the University of Florence. Their findings confirmed the bloodstains’ ematic nature, deepening the devotion surrounding the miracle.

Adding to the basilica’s spiritual treasures is the 1400 wood engraving of "The Madonna of the Blood," housed in the third chapel. This image, according to a 1948 testimony by Abbot Benedetto Tenaci, once bled from the left arm—further cementing the church’s reputation as a place where divine mysteries manifest.

Continuing the Tradition

To this day, the miraculous corporal remains a focal point of devotion. Every year during the Feast of Corpus Christi, the relic is carried in a solemn procession through the streets of Bagno di Romagna, uniting the community in reverence and celebration. From March to November, it is displayed every Sunday during the 11 am Mass, keeping the memory of the miracle alive in the hearts of the faithful.