Igreja do Santíssimo Milagre
Santarem, Portugal
The legend of the Santíssimo Milagre (Holy Miracle) tells of a poor woman in Santarém who, in 1266, sought refuge in a witch to cure her grief over her husband's infidelity. The witch said she needed a consecrated host. The woman stole a host during communion in the church of Santo Estêvão. When she was on her way to the witch's house, the host began to bleed, and she fled home and hid it in a chest. At night, a mysterious light illuminated her house, and she confessed to her husband. They spent the night praying and the next day they told the parish priest. The event soon became known and people came to witness the miracle. The miraculous host was brought back in a procession to the church of Santo Estêvão and is kept in a silver-gilt monstrance. In 1653, the Chapel of the Santíssimo Milagre was built on the site where the woman lived. The traditional Festivities of the Santíssimo Milagre take place every year in Santarém, on the Sunday after Easter.
Igreja do Santíssimo Milagre
Santarem, Portugal
The legend of the Santíssimo Milagre (Holy Miracle) tells of a poor woman in Santarém who, in 1266, sought refuge in a witch to cure her grief over her husband's infidelity. The witch said she needed a consecrated host. The woman stole a host during communion in the church of Santo Estêvão. When she was on her way to the witch's house, the host began to bleed, and she fled home and hid it in a chest. At night, a mysterious light illuminated her house, and she confessed to her husband. They spent the night praying and the next day they told the parish priest. The event soon became known and people came to witness the miracle. The miraculous host was brought back in a procession to the church of Santo Estêvão and is kept in a silver-gilt monstrance. In 1653, the Chapel of the Santíssimo Milagre was built on the site where the woman lived. The traditional Festivities of the Santíssimo Milagre take place every year in Santarém, on the Sunday after Easter.