The Stolen Hosts: A Thief's Curse and the Miracle of Light

A Sinful Act in Ponferrada

In the town of Ponferrada, a man named Juan De Benavente lived a life that appeared outwardly devout. Known for his daily visits to the church for evening prayers, he was considered a pious and religious man by his fellow townspeople. However, hidden beneath this facade of devotion was a heart susceptible to greed.

One fateful evening, while Juan was alone in the church, an overwhelming urge to possess the church’s most sacred treasures overtook him. Seizing the moment, he stole the tabernacle, a seemingly modest wooden container that held a precious silver ciborium filled with consecrated Hosts. Driven by his avarice, Juan fled the church, intending to dispose of the wooden tabernacle in the nearby Sil River.

A Miraculous Intervention

As Juan reached the riverbank and prepared to hurl the tabernacle into the water, he was met with an unexpected obstacle—the tabernacle, which had been light enough to carry, suddenly became impossibly heavy. Unable to throw it into the river, Juan returned home, hiding the tabernacle and its sacred contents, keeping his actions a secret from his wife.

That night, an inexplicable series of events began to unfold. Flashes of light emanated from the concealed tabernacle, disturbing the peace of their home and arousing his wife's suspicion. Desperate to rid himself of the stolen goods, Juan ventured out once more, this time to a place known as the Arenal Field. In the cover of darkness, he cast the tabernacle into a thick blackberry patch, hoping to bury his sin and the evidence with it.

The Discovery and the Miracle

The theft and disappearance of the consecrated Hosts sent shockwaves through the town of Ponferrada. The entire community was filled with dismay, and Juan himself became increasingly anxious, not only for fear of being caught but also because he had no way to sell the silver ciborium without arousing suspicion.

Meanwhile, at the Arenal Field, where a landowner named Diego Nuñez de Losada had set up a target practice area for local entertainment, strange occurrences began to happen. Eyewitnesses reported seeing flashes of light at night and flocks of doves hovering over the blackberry patch during the day. Despite the best efforts of the crossbowmen, the doves could not be driven away.

Curiosity turned to determination when a local miller named No Galedo decided to investigate further. Venturing into the blackberry patch, he discovered the source of the mysterious lights—the tabernacle containing the sacred Hosts. Overcome with awe and fear, he immediately rushed to the church, where the bells were already ringing, signaling the discovery of a miracle.

Repentance and Restoration

The return of the sacred Hosts was a moment of profound reverence and celebration for the people of Ponferrada. A solemn procession was organized to bring the Hosts back to the church, with the entire town participating in this holy event. Overcome with guilt and remorse, Juan De Benavente confessed his crime, seeking forgiveness for his sacrilegious act.

In honor of the miraculous recovery of the Hosts, a chapel was swiftly constructed on the site where they were found. This sacred place became a symbol of faith and redemption for the town. In 1570, the local parish priest expanded the chapel and instituted an annual solemn procession on the eighth day of the Feast of Corpus Christi, ensuring that the memory of the miracle would be preserved for generations to come.