INCREDULOUS LAUGHTER

Year 596, Rome

A certain Roman matron, a noble lady, used to send the Blessed Saint Gregory the hosts that she herself prepared for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, showing great zeal and care in this work.

To the evil spirit, the chief enemy of all that is good—who, according to the words of the Apostle Saint Peter, roams about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour—this seemed an excellent opportunity to disturb the lady: first with temptations of vanity, then with intrusive doubts about the faith in the august Sacrament, and finally leading her, without abandoning her pious practices, into manifest unbelief.

Indeed, one day, while this lady was kneeling at the altar to receive Communion from the hands of Saint Gregory, at the solemn moment when the Holy Pontiff was about to give her the Sacred Host, saying the words the Church uses: Corpus Dómini nostri Jesu Christi custódiat ánimam tuam, the lady began to laugh, as if she had lost her faith and devotion.

Upon noticing this, the Saint immediately withdrew his hand and placed the consecrated Host on the altar. After the Mass, the Pontiff asked the lady, before all the people, the reason for her laughter at such an inappropriate moment. Surprised by the question, she hesitated to speak at first, but then said:

“I laughed because you said that this bread which I kneaded is the Body of Christ.”

Astonished by her response, Saint Gregory did not answer but immediately began to pray with all the people, asking the Lord to enlighten that unbelieving woman with His divine light.

No sooner had they finished their fervent prayer than a miracle occurred: the most holy Host appeared in the form of human flesh. In this form, in the presence of the gathered people, the Holy Pontiff showed it to the woman. This prodigy instantly brought her to faith in the mystery and confirmed the belief of all who witnessed it.

In the presence of such a great wonder, they resolved to continue praying, which they did with extraordinary recollection and fervor, until the flesh returned to the appearance of the host as it was before. Then, taking it in his hands, the Holy Pontiff gave it to the lady in Communion. All glorified the Almighty Creator who deigned to perform such marvels so that a soul might regain faith in the august Sacrament.

Saint Gregory died in the year 604, and the Church honors the memory of such a great Pontiff on May 12.

(Paul and John, deacons, Life of Saint Gregory the Great, Book 2, Chapter 21.)