In the Eucharistic Miracle of Douai, a consecrated Host was unintentionally dropped to the ground while a priest was distributing Communion to the faithful. Immediately he bent down to pick it up, but it lifted itself up in flight and went to place itself on the purificator.
In Its place, a little later, a wonderful child appeared, who all the faithful and religious present in the celebration could contemplate. Although more than 800 years have elapsed, even today it is still possible to admire the Host of the miracle.
All Thursdays of the month, in the Church of Saint Peter of Douai, many faithful gather in prayer before the miraculous Host.
*Bonum universale de Apibus* is the work written by an eye witness of the miracle - the Dominican Father Thomas de Cantimpre, doctor of theology and "suffragan" Bishop of Cambrai. On the day of Easter in 1254, in the Church of St.
Amato in Douai, a priest that was distributing Communion, unintentionally dropped to the ground a consecrated Host. Immediately he bent down to pick It up, but It lifted itself up in flight and went to place Itself on the purificator.
In Its place, a little later, a wonderful child appeared who all the faithful and religious present in the celebration could contemplate.
The news propagated quickly, and the Bishop of Cambrai, Thomas de Cantimpre, came immediately to Douai to verify in person the facts which he described in this manner: "I went to the Dean of the Church, followed by many faithful,
and I asked him to see the miracle. The Dean opened the small case in which he had reposed the Host of the miracle, but initially I didn't see anything special.
*I was conscious though*, that nothing could prevent me from seeing, as was true of the others, the Sacred Body. I didn't even have time to ask myself this type of question, when I carefully looked at the Host and saw the face of Christ crowned with thorns with two drops of blood that descended on his forehead.
Immediately I knelt, and crying, I began to thank God".
It is certain that already by the year 1356, that is one century after the apparition, every year on Wednesday of Holy Week, a feast in memory of the Miracle of the Blessed Sacrament was celebrated, and the document which records it indicates that this event was in existence already for a long time.
The precious relic of the miracle was conserved and honored until the Revolution. Then its traces were lost for many years. In October 1854, the Pastor of the Church of St.
Pierre in Douai casually discovered, underneath the Christ in the Altar of the Dead, a small wood box containing a small Host, still white, but with damaged edges. A letter written in Latin gave witness: "I, the undersigned, canon, of the distinguished collegial Church of St.
Amato, certify that it is really the true Host of the Holy Miracle, which I removed from imminent danger of profanation and which I have happily collected. I have placed it in this pyx and have left this witness, written by my own hand, for the faithful that will discover it in the future (January 5, 1793)".