Italy Patierno (Naples) (1772)

The Miracle of the Untouched Hosts: A Tale of Faith and Mystery

In 1772, thieves stole consecrated Hosts from St. Peter's Church in Patiemo. A month later, these Hosts were miraculously found intact under manure on the lands of Duke Delle Grattolelle, guided by mysterious lights and a dove. This event, documented by Saint Alphonsus Liguori and confirmed by both church authorities and scientists, was declared a divine miracle. Despite the theft of the relics in 1978, the story continues to inspire faith and devotion towards the Eucharist.
The Initial Incident

On February 24, 1772, unknown thieves stole a number of consecrated Hosts from the Church of St. Peter's in Patiemo. These stolen Hosts were found a month later on the lands of Duke Delle Grattolelle, buried under manure but completely intact. Mysterious lights and the appearance of a dove revealed the location of the buried Hosts. Saint Alphonsus Liguori documented this miracle in detail, using it to reignite the faith and devotion of the people towards the Eucharist.

Church and Scientific Validation

The Vicar General, Monsignor Onarati, conducted a diocesan trial from 1772 to 1774. The trial's minutes affirmed the appearance of the lights and the intact preservation of the consecrated Hosts as an authentic miracle. The document stated, "This miracle was operated by God to illustrate the truth of the Catholic dogma and increase the worship towards the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist."

Notably, three prominent scientists of the time, including Dr. Domenico Ctotungno of the Royal University of Naples, testified that the preservation of the Hosts could not be explained by natural or physical principles, declaring it a miraculous event. In 1972, Professor Pietro De Franciscis of the University of Naples reaffirmed this conclusion.

Ecclesiastical Endorsement

On August 29, 1774, the Curia of the Archbishop supported the recognition of the miraculous finding and the unexplainable preservation of the Hosts.

In 1967, Cardinal Corrado Ursi, during the elevation of the Church of St. Peter to a diocesan Eucharistic Sanctuary, remarked, "The prodigious event of St. Peter is a gift and a divine warning for the whole archdiocese. Its voice must never weaken but must urge the faithful of all times to consider the message regarding the 'Bread of Life for the salvation of the world' launched by Christ at Cafarnus."

The Eucharistic Year

In 1971, the diocese established the Eucharistic Year to allow the community to capture the essence of the Eucharistic miracle. Unfortunately, in 1978, the relic with the miraculous Hosts of 1772 was stolen by unknown thieves.

This miraculous event continues to be a significant testament to the faith and devotion towards the Eucharist within the Catholic community.

Reference