Miracle of Bolsena
750th Anniversary

The Miracle of Bolsena originated in 1263 when a young Bohemian priest traveled to Rome because of his doubts about his faith and vocation. After praying at the Tomb of St. Peter in Old St. Peter's Basilica and later headed home, he celebrated Mass at the Church of Santa Christina at Bolsena in the province of Viterbo. During the liturgy, the host began to bleed. The priest wrapped the host in the corporal and altar linens and departed the sanctuary. Considering what he experienced, he traveled to nearby Orvieto where Pope Urban IV (1261-1264) was in residence (the hilltop town of Orvieto served as sanctuary for popes in times of civil turmoil). In the mid-thirteenth century, parts of Italy were under siege due to conflicts among claimants to the Hohenstaufen dynasty in Sicily and Germany, the Holy Roman Empire. During these events, various Italian principalities and Rome were at times laid to siege or turmoil due to pro-Hohenstaufen (Ghibelline, anti-papal) and anti-Hohenstaufen (Guelph or pro-papal) partisans. Pope Urban IV ordered an investigation of the events at Bolsena. Subsequently, the relics of the miracle were carried through the streets of Orvieto, a scene said to have been witnessed by thousands. The great Duomo of Orvieto was constructed beginning in 1290 in recognition of the miracle and the corporal stained with blood is kept there today in a reliquary residing in the Chapel of the Corporal. On 12 August 1264, the Miracle of Bolsena was recognized by Pope Urban IV and he extended the Feast of Corpus Christi to the entire Church in commemoration of the miracle. As further background to these events, the Fourth Lateran Council proclaimed the doctrine of Transubstantiation in 1215 and the Miracle of Bolsena can be viewed as visible manifestation of this key doctrine of the Catholic faith. A miniature sheet with a single €4,80 stamp depicts the Miracle of Bolsena (del Miracolo di Bolsena). The mini sheet is based upon Raphael's painting "Mass of Bolsena", depicting a portion of the work, which is located in the Raphael Rooms of the Apostolic Palace. REFERENCE: James C. Hamilton, Vatican Notes, Volume 61, Number 356, pp. 4-6, 2013, New Issues: February & March 2013 Technical Details: Scott Catalogue - 1518 Date Issued - 28 February 2013 Face Value - €4,80 Perforations - 13.25x13.5 Printing Process - Offset Printer - Cartor (France) Max Printed - 90,000

(Source: Vatican Notes, Volume 61, Number 356, pp. 4-6, 2013)