Shrine of the Eucharistic Miracle (Church of St. Francis)
1 Corso Roma Lanciano
In the quiet town of Lanciano, nestled in Italy’s Abruzzo region, pilgrims encounter one of the most powerful and enduring witnesses to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. The Shrine of the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano, housed in the Church of San Francesco, preserves the oldest known Eucharistic miracle confirmed by the Church—a sacred sign that continues to deepen Eucharistic faith around the world.
The miracle took place in the 8th century, when a Basilian monk, struggling with doubts about the Real Presence, was celebrating Mass. At the moment of consecration, the Host visibly transformed into flesh, and the wine into blood, before his eyes. The stunned priest called the faithful to witness what had occurred. The miraculous elements were preserved and enshrined, and remain to this day.
Modern scientific analysis, commissioned by the Church in the 1970s, revealed that the flesh is cardiac tissue—human heart muscle—and the blood is type AB, the same type identified in other Eucharistic miracles and on the Shroud of Turin. No preservatives have been used, yet both elements have been incorrupt for over twelve centuries. These findings continue to astonish not only the faithful but scientists and medical professionals who study them.
For pilgrims, the Shrine of Lanciano is a place of awe and renewal—where doubt is transformed into faith, and where the mystery of the Eucharist becomes tangible. In this Jubilee Year, visiting Lanciano invites the soul to rediscover the heart of the Church: Jesus truly present—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity—in the Most Holy Eucharist.
Discover More Shrines on our EWTN Learn Series, "Saints in Italy"
Begin your Spiritual Journey Here
Join Teresa Tomeo on a spiritual journey in Italy! In this free video series, you’ll walk in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare of Assisi, and Bl. Carlo Acutis. Explore the places where they lived, prayed, and learned to surrender themselves to God. Most importantly we’ll be inspired by their examples to grow stronger in our Catholic faith as we, too, seek to become saints.
As you embark on this pilgrimage, reflect on God’s gifts revealed through the lives of the saints, the beauty of sacred art, and the splendor of magnificent churches and basilicas.