MIRACULOUS COMMUNIONS

© 2006, Istituto San Clemente I Papa e Martire / Real Presence Eucharistic Education and Adoration Association

Blessed Thomas of Cori (1655-1729) at age 22, enteredthe Franciscan Order of FriarsMinor, at the monastery of theMost Holy Trinity in Orvieto,Italy. In his apostolate, he wasdistinguished by his exemplarypractice of the Christian virtues.Several times during Mass, he had various apparitions of the Child Jesus.

ne day, Saint Lucia Filippini was makingher way to Pitigliano near Grosseto, to

supervise a school for craftsmen which she hadfounded. First, however, she stopped at thechurch of the Franciscan Fathers to attend HolyMass. So great was Lucia’s desire to receive Jesusin the Eucharist that the Lord wished to rewardher with a miracle. When the priest was breakingthe large Host in half to place a small Fragmentin the chalice, this very Part escaped his handand flew into the air, radiating light, and cameto rest on the tongue of the future saint. Today,the shrine where the miracle took place is underthe care of the devout Filipini Sisters.

Blessed Emilia Bicchieri was thefoundress of the DominicanThird Order Regular and alwaysnurtured a great love for theBlessed Sacrament. One daywhile she was taking care of a fellow Sister who was very sick,she lost track of the time and soarrived at the end of the HolyMass, thus missing HolyCommunion. At that point, shebegan to express her regret to theLord for not having been able toreceive Him, and suddenly anangel miraculously appeared to herand gave her Holy Communion.

Saint Maria Francesca of theFive Wounds, in the last yearsof her life, was prevented fromparticipating at Holy Massbecause of a severe illness thatleft her bed-ridden. There weremany episodes in which someof the priests, especially FatherBianchi, saw a particle of theconsecrated large Host and asmall amount of the consecrat-ed wine disappear during theirMass; it was the saint’sGuardian Angel who broughther Communion.

lessed Imelda Lambertini, from childhood,already showed a great love for the

Eucharistic Jesus but the chaplain reminded herthat she could only receive Communion when sheturned 14. Nevertheless on May 12, 1333(Ascension Vigil), she went to Mass and presentedherself to receive Holy Communion. The priestignored her completely but the Lord wished togrant the desire of little Imelda. A Host radiatinglight rose up in flight, and stopped in front ofImelda. After she received the Body of Christ, herpure white soul flew straight up to heaven.Blessed Imelda is Patroness of First Communions.

aint Juliana Falconieri was always mostdevoted to the Holy Eucharist. In the last

days of her life, a stomach ailment which had afflictedher for a long time, as it became more acute, prevented her from receiving Communion. Beforeher death in 1341, she asked that a consecratedHost be placed on her chest, and as she recited aprayer, the Host disappeared and left a violetmark, as if the mark had been branded there. Shewas beatified in 1678 and canonized in 1737.

In earlier times, eight years old wastoo young an age to receive theEucharist, but St. Gerard Magellacould not resign himself to the factand would weep with such desola-tion that Heaven itself was movedto pity. One night, Saint Michaelapproached him, placed a whiteHost on his tongue like the onethe priest had refused to give him,and vanished from sight. The fol-lowing morning, happy andtriumphant, Gerard admitted can-didly: “The priest refused me HolyCommunion, but last night St.Michael the Archangel broughtHoly Communion to me."

Saint Bonaventure receivingCommunion from the hand of an Angel, The Hieron Museum

Saint Bernard exorcising a woman with the BlessedSacrament, The Hieron Museum

Saint Secondo, before dying, recei-ving Holy Communion brought by a Dove, The Hieron Museum One of the miraculous Communions of Saint Jerome

Blessed James of Montieri (Giacomo da Montieri), lived for long periodsof time being nourished only by the Eucharist. Jesus Himself gave himHoly Communion on various occasions. An early 16th-century painterdepicted the miracle in a well-proportioned picture in which Jesus canbe seen giving Holy Communion to Blessed James.

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