Prodigious Communions

Saint Juliana Falconieri was distinguished throughout her life for her intense devotion to the Holy Eucharist. In her final days, with her severe stomach affliction having worsened, she was no longer able to swallow or receive Holy Communion. Before her death in 1341, she asked for a consecrated Host to be laid upon her chest. While she was reciting an ardent prayer, the Host disappeared into her body, leaving in its place a violet, circular mark as if it had been stamped upon her flesh. She was beatified in 1678 and canonized in 1737.

From a very early age, Blessed Imelda Lambertini manifested an extraordinary love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. However, the convent chaplain continually reminded her that Holy Communion could only be received upon reaching the age of fourteen. On May 12, 1333, the vigil of the Ascension, the young girl attended Holy Mass and knelt devoutly to receive Holy Communion. The priest passed her by, but the Lord willed to grant little Imelda her heart's desire: a radiant Host lifted into the air and hovered directly before her. When she received the Body of Christ, her innocent soul flew instantly to Heaven. Blessed Imelda is the patroness of First Communicants.

One day, Saint Lucy Filippini set out for Pitigliano, near Grosseto, to inspect the artisan school she had founded. Along the journey, she stopped at the church of the Franciscan friars to assist at Holy Mass. So intense was her desire to receive Jesus in the Eucharist that the Lord rewarded her with a miracle.

As the priest broke the large Host, the small particle intended to be placed in the chalice escaped from his hands and flew radiantly through the air, resting directly upon the tongue of the future saint. Today, the sanctuary where this miracle took place is under the care of the Religious Teachers Filippini.

Blessed Emilia Bicchieri founded the Dominican Third Order Regular. She continually nurtured a profound love for the Most Blessed Sacrament. One day, while caring for a severely ill sister, she lost track of time, only to discover that Holy Mass had already ended. Heartbroken at not having received Communion, she lamented her sorrow before the Lord. At that moment, an angel miraculously appeared to her and gave her Holy Communion.

Blessed Thomas of Cori (1655–1729) entered the Order of Friars Minor at the age of twenty-two. He resided at the convent of the Most Holy Trinity in Orvieto, taking the religious name Brother Thomas. His priestly apostolate was renowned for an exemplary practice of Christian virtues. On multiple occasions during Holy Mass, the Infant Jesus appeared to him above the altar.

Saint Mary Frances of the Five Wounds spent the final years of her life bedridden due to a grave illness that prevented her from attending Holy Mass. On repeated occasions, various priests—among them Father Bianchi—observed that during Holy Mass a portion of the large consecrated Host and a measure of consecrated wine mysteriously disappeared from the altar. It was the saint's guardian angel bearing Holy Communion to her bedside.

In the days of Saint Gerard Majella, children were deemed too young to receive the Eucharist at the age of eight. However, Gerard could not bear this separation and wept inconsolably. His tears moved Heaven: one night Saint Michael the Archangel appeared to him and gave him a white Host, identical to the one the priest had withheld. The archangel then vanished. The following morning, triumphant and joyful, Gerard candidly declared: “The priest refused me Communion, but last night Saint Michael the Archangel brought it to me.”

Blessed James of Montieri lived for prolonged periods nourished solely by the Holy Eucharist. On several occasions, Jesus Himself appeared to minister Communion to him. An early seventeenth-century painter captured this scene in a beautiful painting depicting Jesus offering Holy Communion to Blessed James.

Saint Bernard exorcised a possessed woman by the power of the Most Blessed Sacrament. The scene is preserved in an artistic representation in the Musée Hiéron.

Saint Bonaventure received Holy Communion directly from the hands of an angel. The scene is preserved in the collections of the Musée Hiéron.

Saint Secundus, prior to his martyrdom, received Holy Communion brought by a dove. The scene is preserved in the Musée Hiéron.

The exhibition highlights one of the miraculous Communions of Saint Jerome, a scene celebrated repeatedly across Christian art: the aged Doctor of the Church, near death, receives the Holy Viaticum for which he had so ardently yearned.

During her stay in Proceno, the Dominican Saint Agnes Segni frequently retired to the monastery garden to pray in solitude beneath an olive tree. One Sunday, as dawn was breaking, she remained immersed in contemplative prayer, unaware of the passing hours. Only later did she realize that it was a feast day and that she ought to be in choir for Holy Mass. An angel of the Lord then drew near, carrying the immaculate Host to give her Holy Communion. This miracle occurred on several occasions.

The biographer of Saint Clare of Montefalco testified in the canonical proceedings of her canonization that “one day, Clare approached for Holy Communion without her mantle. Sister Giovanna rebuked her harshly, saying: “Go away, I will not have you receive Communion.” Hearing these words, Clare realized she was without her mantle and felt immense sorrow. Returning to her cell, she wept bitterly. While she was bathed in tears and deep in prayer, Christ appeared before her, kissed her, and administered Holy Communion to her, leaving her soul deeply consoled.”

Blessed Angela of Foligno recounted that

she once saw Christ in the Host, with a youthful countenance yet grand and majestic, resembling a sovereign King. It seemed as though, seated upon a throne, He held in His hand an emblem of supreme authority […]. Then, when the others knelt, I could not; I do not know whether I ran toward the altar or was held motionless by divine delight and contemplation. Afterward, I felt profound sorrow because the priest returned the Host so quickly to the altar.

Saint Frances of Rome is depicted alongside several sisters in ecstatic adoration before a monstrance radiating supernatural light. The painting, executed by Il Pordenone, is preserved in the Civic Museum of Art.

During one of the miraculous Masses of Saint Gregory the Great, Christ Crucified appeared visibly upon the altar. The representation of this Eucharistic miracle is preserved in the Diocesan Museum of Trier.

The great mystic Teresa of Ávila was blessed with frequent celestial visions during Holy Mass. The exhibition commemorates her among the saints to whom the Lord granted the grace of visibly contemplating, at the moment of Holy Communion, that which faith teaches is truly and substantially present under the appearances of bread and wine.

Text and photographs: International Exhibition “The Eucharistic Miracles of the World”, by Saint Carlo Acutis. Original panel at miracolieucaristici.org.