Italy Florence (1230-1595)

Miracles of Blood and Fire: The Astonishing Eucharistic Wonders of Florence

In Florence's Church of Saint Ambrose, two remarkable Eucharistic miracles continue to captivate believers. In 1230, a priest discovered living, coagulated blood in a chalice left with consecrated wine, witnessed by many and later enshrined in a crystal cruet. Centuries later, in 1595, a fire consumed the church, yet six fragments of consecrated Hosts were miraculously found intact amidst the smoldering carpet. These relics, preserved and displayed together every May, stand as powerful testaments to these awe-inspiring events.
The Miracle of 1230

In 1230, a significant Eucharistic miracle occurred in Florence's Church of Saint Ambrose. On December 30, a priest named Uguccione finished celebrating Mass without realizing that several drops of consecrated wine remained in the chalice. The next day, he discovered that these drops had turned into living, coagulated blood. Historian Giovanni Villani provides a precise account, noting that the blood was shown to the women of the monastery, locals, the bishop, clergy, and eventually all Florentines who gathered to witness the miracle with great devotion.

Bishop Ardingo of Pavia ordered the reliquary to be brought to him. After keeping it for several weeks, he returned it to the sisters of the monastery, who took care of it near the Church of Saint Ambrose. In 1399, Pope Boniface IX granted indulgences to the faithful who visited the church and contributed to adorning the reliquary. The 750th anniversary of this miracle was celebrated in 1980. The reliquary, containing several drops of blood measuring about a square centimeter, is preserved in a white marble tabernacle constructed by Mimo da Fiesole.

The Miracle of 1595

Another Eucharistic miracle took place on Good Friday in 1595. A lit candle on the altar of a side chapel, known as the Sepulchre, fell and started a fire. The local population rushed to extinguish the flames and managed to save the Blessed Sacrament and chalice. Amid the commotion, six fragments of consecrated Hosts fell onto the smoldering carpet but were found intact and joined together despite the fire.

In 1628, Archbishop Marzio Medici of Florence examined these fragments and found them incorrupt. He had them placed in a precious reliquary.

Ongoing Commemoration

Every May, during the Forty Hours devotion, both reliquaries—the coagulated blood from 1230 and the intact Hosts from 1595—are exposed together in a special reliquary that also contains a consecrated Host for public adoration. These reliquaries are held in the Church of Saint Ambrose in Florence, serving as enduring testimonies of these extraordinary Eucharistic miracles.

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