The Most Precious Blood of Jesus - Neuvy Saint Sépulcre

The church of Neuvy-Saint-Sepulcre in Indre, France preserves an extraordinary relic: two drops of the coagulated Blood of Jesus Christ, collected on Mount Calvary during His Passion and Crucifixion. On July 15, 1257, Cardinal Eudes of Chateauroux, returning from the Crusades and the Holy Land, brought this precious relic to France and entrusted it to the Church of Saint Stephen (Saint-Etienne) in Neuvy-Saint-Sepulcre, along with a fragment of Christ's tomb. This relic is considered unique and pure, as the Precious Blood was not mixed with water or earth but was collected directly from Christ's wounds. The church itself is remarkable, having been built in the first half of the 11th century (around the year 1000) on the initiative of Eudes de Deols, a former pilgrim to Jerusalem. The church was deliberately modeled after the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, creating a spiritual connection between France and the Holy Land.

About this miracle

The authenticity and significance of this relic has been recognized by the Catholic Church for over seven centuries. In 1621, the Archbishop of Bruges, Andre Fremiot, founded the Confraternity of the Most Precious Blood to honor this sacred relic. Two years later, in 1623, Pope Gregory XV granted special indulgences to the faithful devoted to the Sacred Blood of Neuvy-Saint-Sepulcre. Numerous subsequent popes have also granted indulgences in honor of the Most Precious Blood preserved at this site, demonstrating ongoing Vatican recognition of the relic's authenticity and spiritual importance.

The basilica continues to be an active site of pilgrimage and devotion. Every Monday of Easter and on July 1st, the church celebrates solemn Masses and processions as a way of giving thanks for all the blessings attributed to the Most Precious Blood of Neuvy-Saint-Sepulcre. The relic has been carefully preserved for over 760 years and remains on display for veneration by pilgrims from around the world. The church was elevated to the status of basilica in recognition of its historical and spiritual significance as the guardian of this unique relic from Christ's Passion.

It is important to note that while this relic is often included in collections of Eucharistic miracles, it is technically a different category: it is a primary relic of Christ's Passion (actual Blood from Calvary) rather than a miraculous transformation of consecrated wine into Blood during Mass. Nevertheless, its connection to devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ places it within the broader tradition of Eucharistic spirituality. The relic serves as a tangible link to the historical reality of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary, the same sacrifice that is made present on the altar during every Mass through the mystery of transubstantiation.