Spain · 15th Century
Zaragoza
In 1427 in Zaragoza, Spain, a remarkable Eucharistic miracle occurred that involved sorcery, sacrilege, and ultimately divine revelation that led to renewed devotion to the Blessed Sacrament throughout the city. At that time, the bishop of Zaragoza was Don Alonso Arhuello. A written historical report of the event was preserved by Don Dorner, archdeacon of the city, providing contemporary documentation.
About this miracle
A married woman in Zaragoza was living in a difficult domestic situation—her husband had a violent nature and temperament that caused her great suffering and fear. Desperate for help, she unwisely turned to a Moorish sorcerer (a Muslim practitioner of magic) seeking a remedy or spell that might change her husband's behavior. The sorcerer told her that in order to perform his magic, he required a consecrated Host from the church.
The woman agreed to this sacrilegious request. She went to the Church of Saint Michael in Zaragoza and approached the confessional. After making her confession (though clearly not confessing what she was about to do), she received Holy Communion during Mass. Instead of consuming the Host, she secretly removed the Blessed Sacrament from her mouth and hid it in a small coffer (a small box or case) that she had brought for this purpose. She then took the coffer containing the consecrated Host to the Moorish sorcerer.
When the woman and the sorcerer opened the coffer together, expecting to find the Host inside, they were confronted with an astonishing sight: instead of the small white Host, they saw a little Baby surrounded by brilliant light. The Christ Child Himself had appeared in place of the sacramental species. Both the woman and the sorcerer were terrified by this manifestation. The sorcerer, attempting to proceed with his dark purposes, instructed the woman to burn the coffer and its contents, believing this would destroy the evidence and perhaps break what he perceived as a counter-spell.
The woman attempted to follow these instructions and set fire to the coffer. The wooden coffer was completely consumed by the flames and reduced to ashes. However, the miraculous Baby remained completely unharmed by the fire—not a single mark appeared on the radiant Child. This second miracle, the Baby's immunity to fire, intensified the woman's fear and awakened her conscience. She finally understood the gravity of what she had done and the reality of what she was witnessing.