The Catholic Defender: Eucharistic Miracle of Herdenrode -Hasselt, Belgium 1317

In the Cathedral of St. Quintinus in Hasselt is exposed the relic of the Eucharistic miracle that took place in Herkenrode in 1317.

During the course of the centuries, many tests were done to ascertain the miraculous preservation of the consecrated Host from which Blood flowed.

We recall the test done in the 18th century by the Apostolic Nuncio Carafa and the Bishop of Liège or the one done by the Archbishop of Malines during a visit of the Archduchess Isabel.

In the cathedral we also find numerous paintings depicting the miracle, done by a pupil of Jordaens, Jan van Boeckhorst.

On July 25, 1317, the pastor of the church in Viversel was called to the bedside of one his parishioners who was seriously ill, to receive the holy sacraments.

Upon his arrival at the house of the sick person, he rested his handbag containing the consecrated Host on a table at the entrance and went to hear the confession of the sick person.

One of the family members, curious about the handbag, opened it without being noticed. From it he pulled out the pyx, opened the cover and put his hand into it. As soon as he realized that inside there was a Host, he put everything back in order.

In the meantime, the priest came out from the room of the sick person to take out the Host with which to give him Communion.

He took the handbag with the pyx inside, and when he opened it he saw that the Host he himself had consecrated during Mass was stained with Blood and was in some way stuck to the linen that covered the bottom of the container.

Troubled and panic-stricken with the excuse that he had forgotten something, he rushed out of the house and went to the pastor of nearby Lumen to tell him what had happened. The latter advised him to bring the Particle to the Abbey of Herkenrode.

It was August 1, 1317. The priest left, taking the pyx with him. Along the road, extraordinary things happened. As soon as he arrived at the Benedictine monastery, he showed everybody the Host stained with Blood. Then, the face of Christ crowned with thorns appeared on the Host. This was attested to by numerous witnesses.

In the Cathedral of Hasselt there is a painting in which there is depicted a flock kneeling as the priest, carrying the sacred relic, passes by. In this place, called Sacramentsberg, a chapel was built as a perpetual memorial. From that time on, “the Blessed Sacrament of the Miracle,” which had been placed in a reliquary and exposed to public veneration, more than once protected the monastery of Herkenrode from fire. The reliquary of the miracle was kept at the Abbey until 1796, and in 1804, it was transferred to the Church of St. Quintinus in Hasselt.

Powerful Novena To Jesus In The Most Holy Eucharist

Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist, I thank You for the gift of Your most precious Body and Blood present in the form of bread and wine. This precious and priceless food You have made available, out of Your abundant and deep love for me. I thank You once more for the gift of Your most precious Body and Blood, available to quench my eternal hunger and thirst.

Lord Jesus Christ, I acknowledge your real and full presence in the Most Holy Eucharist. I worship and adore You my God and my king in the Most Holy Eucharist.

Lord Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist, help me to have great and deep longing, respect and reverence for You. I pray with all my heart that all men will come to respect, worship and adore You in the Holy Eucharist. I pray for a change of heart and a deep conversion of all those who despise, reject, mock and refuse to believe and appreciate your presence in the Holy Eucharist. Lord Jesus Christ, I apologize for all the times I have received Your Body and Blood in a sinful state without considering the great pains I cause You. I console You for the countless abuses and desecrations done to your Precious Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist in various ways and forms. Lord Jesus, I console Your wounded heart present in the Holy Eucharist with all sincerity and love, and I beg You to forgive my sins and those of the world which we have committed and are still grievously committing against You. Forgive me for the times I have been at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass without receiving You, or seeing the need or making efforts to receive you in the Holy Eucharist. Give me the grace to love you more and more and to be devoted to you in the Most Holy Eucharist. Plant oh lord Jesus Christ a deep longing for you in my heart and soul, and let me always find my rest in you.

Lord Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, I consecrate my body, soul and spirit to you without reserving or withholding them. In the same way You gave Yourself freely in the Holy Eucharist, I give you myself and everything that has to do with me; my entire will, pleasures, ambitions, plans, marriage, family, work, wealth, children, destiny and all my life. Please accept my offering to you this day and seal it with the powerful sacrifice of Your most precious Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist. May I live for you alone from today henceforth and may I seek only your will, glory and happiness in all that I do. Amen.

We pray for America, for our constitution, for those suffering addictions and those in bondage. For those who need Deliverence. We Pray for the Catholic Church, for Pope Francis and all the Clergy.

Day 5 – St. Catherine of Siena Novena