About the year 1599, in the city of Posen, a very remarkable
incident took place in connection with the Blessed Sacrament. A
servant girl, who was bribed by some unbelievers, stole from the
chapel of the Dominicans three small Hosts, wrapped them in a linen
cloth, and carried them to the house of the wretches who had hired
her for the deed. The unbelievers treated the Sacred Hosts in a most
sacrilegious and shameful manner. They threw them on a table and cut
the Sacred Particles. Blood spurted out on the first one of the
sacrilegious creatures and left a stain that could not be removed.
The report of this strange occurrence soon spread abroad and crowds
ran to see for themselves. A blind woman insisted on being led to the
scene of this marvelous incident. Divinely inspired, she cried out:
"If Thou art the true God, He whom our ancestors nailed to the Cross,
restore to me my sight!" She was immediately cured, and went away
proclaiming the miracle. The guilty profaners, fearing the just
punishment of their heinous crime, wished to dispose of the
desecrated Hosts, and after several fruitless efforts buried them to
a great depth in a swamp.

One day on the octave of the Blessed Virgin, two herdsmen, father and
son, brought their cattle to pasture near this place. The father went
to a church not far off to hear Mass, while the son guarded the herd.
To his surprise the boy saw the cattle approach the swamp and kneel
down with their heads bent low. The shepherd raised his eyes and saw
in the air over the swamp three shining objects. In amazement he
perceived that they were three Hosts, and he instantly prostrated
himself and profoundly adored the God who revealed Himself by so
great a prodigy.

In the meantime, the father returned from Mass. As soon as the boy
saw him he ran to meet him. "Father," he shouted, "our oxen are
adoring the Blessed Sacrament!" "Nonsense!" replied the parent,
shrugging his shoulders, "what folly is this!" "Come and see for
yourself," protested the boy, "that I am telling the truth." While
proceeding on his way the old man suddenly paused, with feet fastened
to the ground and with eyes entranced as he beheld the astonishing
scene. There at the farthest end of the marsh three little lights
hung in the air, while the dumb beasts knelt with heads bowed to the
earth. The old herdsman, all doubts gone, knelt in adoration before
the three consecrated Hosts profaned by the unbelievers. After a
moment's prayer, the old man ran to the city and proclaimed the
wonder to all whom he met. The people, however, looked upon him as a
fool, and even cast him into prison. And now a new wonder
occurred the prison door opened and freed the prisoner. This startled
the authorities and they began to investigate. The Bishop and the
clergy were informed and went in procession to the place indicated by
the herdsman. Then the Sacred Hosts, which had remained suspended in
the air, slowly descended and rested in the hands of a saintly
priest. They were taken back to the city amidst great pomp and
splendor. Then the authorities began to debate what disposition to
make of the miraculous Hosts. While they were arguing, the Hosts rose
from their hands, ascended into the air and returned to the marsh. The
wish of Our Lord was evident. So they erected an improvised sanctuary
on the spot, and this in turn was soon followed by a magnificent
basilica founded by Ladislaus Jagellon, King of Poland. Needless to
say, thousands of pilgrims have visited the famous shrine to adore
the miraculous Hosts.