A priest spilled consecrated wine on the corporal during Mass. The wine stain transformed into the image of a crucifix. The bloodstained corporal has been preserved for over 600 years and is displayed annually during the Holy Blood Procession.
History
Around 1400, during Mass at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Boxmeer, a priest accidentally spilled some of the consecrated wine onto the corporal. When he looked at the stain, he saw that it had formed the clear image of a crucifix — Christ on the cross. The miracle was investigated by Church authorities and declared authentic. The bloodstained corporal was preserved and became the centerpiece of devotion in Boxmeer. The annual Holy Blood Procession (Heilig Bloedprocessie), held on Trinity Sunday, has been celebrated since the 15th century and is one of the oldest and most important religious processions in the Netherlands. The procession features elaborate floats depicting biblical scenes and attracts thousands of participants and spectators each year.
Scientific Findings
The corporal with the cruciform blood stain has been preserved for over 600 years. The image of the crucifix formed by the wine stain has been examined and found to be remarkably detailed and consistent over the centuries. The formation of a recognizable image from a liquid spill is considered scientifically inexplicable.
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