On February 16, 1266 in Santarem, Portugal, a young woman was instructed by a sorceress to steal a consecrated Host to use for a love potion. She stole a Host and hid It in a linen cloth which immediately became stained with Blood. Frightened by this, she ran home and opened the kerchief to see what had happened. To her amazement, she saw that Blood was dripping from the Host. The confused woman stored the Host in a drawer in her bedroom. That night the drawer began to emit brilliant rays of light which illuminated the room as if it were daytime. The husband was also aware of the strange phenomenon and questioned his wife, who was obliged to tell him everything. The next day, the couple informed the pastor, who went to their home to remove the Host and return It to the church in solemn procession, accompanied by many religious and lay people. The Host bled for three consecutive days. Later It was place in a beautiful reliquary made of beeswax. In 1340 another miracle occurred. When the priest opened the tabernacle, he found the beeswax vase broken into many pieces: in its place was a crystal vase containing the Blood mixed with the wax. The Sacred Host is now preserved in an 18th-century Eucharistic throne above the main altar of St. Stephen's Church. Throughout the centuries, on various occasions the Host bled again, and on occasion different images of Our Lord were seen in the Holy Eucharist. Among the witnesses was St. Francis Xavier. Every year since the miracle occurred, on the second Sunday of April, the precious relic has been carried in procession from the couple's home to St. Stephen's Church. Come, adore Our Lord Jesus in the Eucharist at Mass and Adoration. Make Him the center of your life.