Orvieto Italy and the Miracle of the Eucharist

A CATHEDRAL WAS ERECTED IMMEDIATELY - Again, we are witness to the Lord’s power. 

When He wants something done, it gets done.  The old Cathedral, Santa Maria de Vescovado, was in a shambles. 

Pope Urban IV took up residence at Orvieto in 1261, and stayed there until 1264.  Prior to the Eucharistic Miracle in 1263, not enough interest could be worked up among the wealthy people of Orvieto to finance a new Cathedral. 

After the miracle, funds began pouring in almost immediately.  They couldn’t house the magnificent Eucharistic Miracle in a broken down Cathedral.  Plans were drawn up, and work began.  In 1281, a rich Cardinal died during a visit to Orvieto, Italy.  In his will, he asked for his tomb to be built in an exquisite church, and left the money to do it.  The Cathedral was on its way.

When it was completed in 1310, an entire side chapel was devoted to the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena. 

A reliquary of gilded silver, decorated with transluscent enamels, was constructed for the Eucharistic Corporal.  It was placed in a marble tabernacle above the altar in the chapel.  There are paintings on all the walls of the chapel, telling stories of various Eucharistic Miracles.  On the right wall, the entire story of Bolsena and Orvieto Italy, including the declaration of the Papal Bull, verifying the Eucharistic Miracle, is depicted.  On the left wall are depicted various other Eucharistic Miracles.

SIDEBAR A very important point is made here regarding the use of paintings in churches.  Over the years, complaints have been made about all the paintings we have in Catholic Churches.  “They’re distracting.  They’re a waste of money.”  The use of paintings in this chapel were for the purpose of instruction, as were the paintings in most churches.  We must remember that in those days, there were no printing presses.  Most books were printed by hand, which meant that there were not many books available.  Since there were not many books, there was no reason to learn to read.  Only monks and the very intelligent knew how to read.  Therefore, paintings were used to instruct the people about our faith. SIDEBAR

The Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena shows the power of the Lord in many ways.  In researching the events and people involved, at first it seemed like a series of disjointed people and occurrences.  We read about the miracle, and found that Pope Urban IV and Thomas Aquinas were involved.  In researching Pope Urban IV, we became aware of Blessed Juliana of Liege, and her vision of the Moon.  We also found that James Pantaleon, who later became Pope Urban IV, was greatly influenced by Blessed Juliana.  If that was not enough, we came to realize that Thomas’ role was much greater than writing the Liturgy of the Feast.  He used all that he had learned about the Eucharist as a result of the Miracle of Bolsena in his treatise 5 years later in Paris, to defend the Eucharist from the Sophisticates and Students of that place and time.