ASTIITALY, 1535

In both the Eucharistic miracles of Asti from theconsecrated Host gushed out real blood and there arenumerous documents thatconfirm these events. In thefirst miracle, Mons. ScipioneRoero had a notary act drawn up and Pope Paul IIIon November 6, 1535 granted a plenary indulgenceto anyone who visited theChurch of San Secondo onthe anniversary of the miraculous event

1535On July 25, 1535, while celebrating Mass at themain altar of the collegiate church of S. Secondoaround 7:00 o’clock in the morning, a holy priestby the name of Domenico Occelli came to thebreaking of the Host and noticed that, along theentire break, the Host was becoming red withliving Blood. Three drops fell into the chalice anda fourth one remained at the extreme end of theHost. At first, Fr. Domenico continued the celebration of the Mass. But when he broke offthe portion of the Host that had to be placed inthe chalice, Blood came out of it. He could notbelieve his eyes, and he turned to the people,asking them to come to the altar and observe theMiracle. When the priest took the Host toconsume it, at once the Blood disappeared and

the Host returned to its natural purity. Theseare the facts as described in the translation ofthe official report sent by Bishop ScipioneRoero of Asti to the Holy See and reproducedin the Apostolic Brief of November 6, 1535. In this Apostolic Brief Pope Paul III granted aplenary indulgence to those “who visited theSaint’s church on the day commemorating theMiracle and recited three Our Fathers andThree Hail Marys according the intention ofthe Holy Father.”

According to another document,reproduced in an inscription on marble, on thatoccasion some heretical soldiers converted tothe faith. In those days, Asti was under thedominion of Emperor Charles V, and many ofhis troops were living in the city. This account

is found in the Vatican archives from which acopy was made in 1884 at the request of CanonLongo and is also found in the book of theCompany of the Most Blessed Sacrament, founded in the collegiate church of S. Secondo asfar back as 1519. Other testimonies are a 16thcentury painting in the Chapel of the Crucifixiondepicting the miracle, as well as an inscription onmarble with the words: Hic ubi Christus Ex Sacropane Effuso sanguine Exteram vi traxit fidemAstensem roboravit - Here, having shed Bloodfrom the Holy Bread, Christ with power drewforeigners to the faith and strengthened that ofthe people of Asti.

© 2006, Istituto San Clemente I Papa e Martire / The Real Presence Association, Inc.

Oil Painting on canvas (of an unknown 17th century painter) depictingthe Eucharistic miracle that took place in the collegiate church of San Secondo in 1535. The painting is kept in the chapel of the miracle

Interior of the collegiate church of San Secondo

Collegiate church of San Secondo in Asti

G. Badarello (toward the end of the 17th century), collegiatechurch of San Secondo, altar of the crucifix or of the miracle

Eucharistic Miracle of

ASTIITALY, 1718

The second miracle tookplace in the old Chapel ofOpera Pia Milliavacca and itis documented by numeroustestimonies gathered by anotary public, underwrittenby the priest and by imminent clerical and non-denominational authorities.

1718The morning of May 10, 1718 Father FrancescoScotto, went to the Opera Milliavacca to celebratethe Holy Mass. It was about eight o’clock. Thechurch of the institute was divided into two parts,the front where the extraneous could gather, and theback, behind the altar, reserved to the boarding students. In the front part, in front of the altar thatis, there was only the notary public ScipioneAlessandro Ambrogio, chancellor of the Bishop andtreasurer of the institute, and a nephew of the priestwas a server at the Mass. Instead, in the back partthere were the boarding students. When the priestwas at the point of elevating the consecrated Host,Dr. Ambrogio realized It was divided into two parts.As soon as the priest elevated the cup, the manconvinced that a broken consecrated Host was not

valid, went toward the altar to advise the priest,and ran in the sacristy right away to get anotherconsecrated Host. In the meantime the priest elevated the Host and really found the two partstainted by blood, the bottom of the cup had alsoblood and little stains were on the same corporal.

In the meantime Ambrogio had arrivedwith a new consecrated Host and realized that Itwas bloody. He started to cry right away. All thepeople present saw the miracle. The notary publicran to call Mr. Argenta, confessor of the institute,the theologian Vaglio and Ferrero from the peni-tentiary, who were also witnesses to the miracle.

At the same time even the other priests and threedoctors arrived. The doctors Argenta, Volpini andVercellone, attested to the fact the red stains were

real blood. Among the people there, one thoughtthe blood could come from the nose, or the mouthof the priest, but some surgeons present, after ameticulous observation, put the doubts to peace.Other clerical authorities intervened, and R.Bording in agreement with everyone, wrote a reportabout the miracle.

Another important proof of the authenticity of themiracle was furnished by a document which statedMonsignor Filippo Artico, Bishop of Asti, in 1841had the cup and the consecrated Host examined byothers who confirmed the origin of the red stains.The Opera Pia Milliavacca has kept the testimoniesof the miracle: The cup with the blood stains andthe consecrated Host unfortunately has not beenpreserved well.

Cathedral of Asti

© 2006, Istituto San Clemente I Papa e Martire / The Real Presence Association, Inc.

The chalice of the miracle is kept in the Cathedral of Asti, in the chapel dedicated to St. Philip Neri

Detail of the base of the chalice of the miracle of Opera PiaMilliavacca

Opera Pia Milliavacca, Chalice of the miracle. Notice the correspondenceof the drops of Blood on the cup and the base of the chalice

Eucharistic Miracle of