Spain Alcoy (1568)

The Miraculous Hosts of Alcoy: A Divine Revelation

In 1568, Juan Prats stole a silver box containing consecrated Hosts from a church in Alcoy, Spain. After consuming the Hosts, he hid the box in his stable. When the theft was discovered, the townspeople prayed fervently. A pious widow named Maria Miralles saw the hand of her Holy Child statue point to Prats' house. Guided by this divine sign, the pastor found the Hosts miraculously intact in the hidden box. Prats confessed, and his house was turned into an oratory. This miracle is commemorated annually on the feast of Corpus Christi, with documents and relics preserved in the Monastery of the Holy Sepulcher of Alcoy.
The Theft and Discovery

On January 29, 1568, a Frenchman named Juan Prats, in desperate need of money, secretly entered the parochial church in Alcoy and stole several sacred objects, including a precious silver box containing three consecrated Hosts. After consuming the Hosts, he hid the empty box in his stable under a pile of wood. The next day, parish priest Don Antonio discovered the sacrilege and sounded the church bells to alert the townspeople. The entire community gathered in prayer, but initial searches for the stolen items proved futile.

A Divine Revelation

Living near Juan Prats was a pious widow named Maria Miralles, who owned a statue of the Holy Child. Deeply disturbed by the theft, Maria prayed fervently before the statue, pleading for the return of the consecrated Hosts. After several hours of intense prayer, she saw the statue’s hand point toward Juan Prats’ house.

The Miraculous Recovery

Maria informed the civil authorities of the statue’s gesture. Simultaneously, the pastor, guided by a mysterious force, went to Juan Prats’ garden and entered the stable. Digging through the pile of wood, he miraculously found the silver box with the three consecrated Hosts inside, intact and untouched. Juan Prats, confused as he remembered consuming the Hosts, was struck with deep remorse and confessed his crime.

Ongoing Remembrance and Legacy

The house of Juan Prats was converted into an oratory, which can still be visited today. Every year, the people of Alcoy commemorate this miracle during the feast of Corpus Christi. Documents related to the miracle and the statue of the Holy Child are preserved in the Monastery of the Holy Sepulcher of Alcoy, keeping the memory of this divine intervention alive for future generations.

Conclusion

The Eucharistic Miracle of Alcoy in 1568 remains a powerful testament to faith and divine intervention, celebrated annually and preserved through historical records and sacred relics.