Eucharistic Miracle, Santarém
Not far from the Catholic shrine at Fatima (and 45 miles north of Lisbon) is Santarém, home of a 13th-century eucharistic miracle. The shrine, in the Church of the Holy Miracle (Igreja do Santissimo Milagre), is one of the most famous of its kind and is visited by thousands of pilgrims.
History
The story of the miracle involves a woman with an incurably unfaithful husband in the early 13th century. Desperate to regain his faithful love and save her marrige, the woman consulted a sorceress. The sorceress said she would cure the husband's infidelity for the price of a consecrated host (communion wafer).
After much deliberation, the woman decided to commit the sacrilege. The next time she attended Mass at the Church of St. Stephen, she took the wafer from her mouth, wrapped it in a veil and headed quickly for the door. But before she had taken more than a few steps, the host began to bleed. It bled so much that concerned parishioners thought she had cut her hand and attempted to help, but she ran out of the church.
Back at home, she threw the bloody host in a trunk in her bedroom. Her husband did not come home until late, as usual. In the middle of the night, they were both awoken by a mysterious light emanating from the trunk. The woman thereupon confessed what she had done to her husband, and they both knelt in repentance before the miracle.
The next morning, the couple told the parish priest what had happened. The priest placed the miraculous host in a wax container and returned it to the Church of St. Stephen. Word spread quickly, of course, and the townspeople hurried to the church to see the miracle.
The next time the priest opened the tabernacle that contained the miraculous host, another miracle occurred! The wax container was found broken into pieces, and the host was enclosed in a crystal pyx. This pyx was placed in a silver monstrance, where it can be seen today.
After an investigation, the Church approved the recognition of the miracle. The Church of St. Stephen was renamed the Church of the Holy Miracle, and it is one of Portugal's most-visited pilgrimage sites. St. Francis Xavier visited the Church of the Holy Miracle before setting off for missionary work in India.
The 12th-century church was rebuilt in the 16th century.
What to See
The main attraction of the Church of the Holy Miracle is, of course, the Eucharistic Miracle of Santarem. The host is enshrined in its miraculous crystal pyx and in a silver monstrance, which is on display atop a multi-tiered tabernacle.
Other notable interior features of the church are four paintings that depict the miracle, and 16th-century glazed tiles.
There is a new museum at the rear of the altar in the church. There are English-language booklets on sale at the church that give a full history of the eucharistic miracle.
Near the church is the home of the woman who experienced the eucharistic miracle, and it is open to visitors.
There are a number of other churches worth visiting in Santarem as well if you have time to spare. See the links at the bottom of this article for information.
Quick Facts
Santarem is located 45 miles north of Lisbon and just a few miles south of Fatima. It is easiest to get to if you have rented a car, but it is also accessible by train or bus. If you are driving from Lisbon, take the A1 north to Santarem (exit #6). From Coimbra or Fatima (north), take A1 south to Santarem (exit #6).
In general, the bus is more efficient and economical than the train. The Santarem train station is three miles from the city center, but the bus station is only a 10-minute walk from the shrine.
Walking from the bus station, go right on Av. do Brasil and walk three or four blocks to the big intersection. Take R. Dr. T. Guedes, which runs past a post office for three blocks (you will pass the tourist office on your left). At Capelo e Ivens, turn right and walk for three or four blocks until it becomes R. Miguel Bombarda. Continue straight for another few blocks until you reach the church on your left.
Most pilgrims to Santarem stay the night in Fatima. Santarem makes a good day trip from a base in Fatima, as the Church of the Holy Miracle closes at night while Fatima has nightly processions.
The church's phone number is 0432 99 30.
Sources
- Kevin J. Wright, Catholic Shrines of Western Europe
- Milagre Church - Camara Municipal de Santarem
- Camara Muncipal de Santarem (English)
