Thousands celebrate the beginning of the Jubilee Year for the 375th anniversary of the only Eucharistic miracle in Peru

Thousands of pilgrims gathered on Tuesday to inaugurate the Jubilee Year, celebrating the 375th anniversary of the only Eucharistic miracle of its kind in Peru: the appearance of the Child Jesus in a host consecrated in Ciudad Eten, Chiclayo province, in the department of Lambayeque in the northwest of the country.

The event began with the Mass celebrated by Bishop Edinson Farfán Córdova, Bishop of Chiclayo, who gave the papal blessing with plenary indulgence. “We thank Peter’s successor, Pope Francis, for granting us this plenary indulgence,” commented the prelate. in his homilyemphasizing that “Eten becomes a source of spirituality for all faithful pilgrims and devotees.”

Jesús León Ángeles, coordinator of the Catholic group Eucharistic Miracle Peru, shared with ACI Prensa his excitement for the celebration: “It has been something wonderful, spectacular. From the Diocese of Chiclayo, our bishop personally invited schools, brotherhoods, groups, and parishes.” “A lot of people have arrived, experiencing the celebration with a lot of mystique,” ​​he noted on July 25.

During the homily of the Mass celebrated in the atrium of the parish of Saint Mary Magdalene, Bishop Farfán emphasized the importance of unity within the Church, stating that “all, walking together, we must bear witness to communion within the Church.” . He also recalled the life of Saint Mary Magdalene, patron saint of Ciudad Eten, highlighting the path of pilgrimage and conversion that she represents.

León Ángeles also described the atmosphere during the Mass, noting that there were “people on their knees, elderly people, people in wheelchairs.” “It really has been something very nice. People have felt that papal blessing with plenary indulgence in their hearts. More than 20 priests from the Diocese of Chiclayo accompanied. There are really no words to describe what we have experienced,” he added.

The bishop also made reference to the Eucharistic miracle in Eten, which occurred on June 2, 1649, on the eve of the solemnity of Corpus Christi, where the Child Jesus was seen, along with three resplendent white hearts united together, in the host exposed for public worship.

“This Eucharistic miracle reminds us that Jesus has never left us alone, that each Eucharist celebrated is a miracle of love,” he stated.

The second apparition took place a few days later, on July 22, in the middle of the celebrations in honor of Saint Mary Magdalene. Each year, the festivities in her honor begin on July 12 with the transfer of the image of the Miracle Child from her Sanctuary to the temple in the city of Eten, concluding on July 24.

Plans and activities for the 375th anniversary of the Eucharistic miracle

León Ángeles also shared with ACI Prensa the future plans in the Diocese of Chiclayo. He indicated that Masses will be celebrated at noon and four in the afternoon, and that every day there will be an exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from nine in the morning to twelve at noon. “Everyone will be able to visit the Santa María Magdalena parish in Ciudad Eten to experience that encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist,” he commented.

Pope Francis has granted a plenary indulgence to those who make a pilgrimage during this Jubilee Year, from July 22, 2024 to July 22, 2025, to the Ciudad Eten parish temple “Santa María Magdalena”, located in the main park. This indulgence, according to the Catechism, is “the remission before God of the temporal punishment for sins, already forgiven as to guilt.”

Jesús León Ángeles anticipates that the next activity framed in the jubilee year will be on Sunday, July 28 at 11:00 am, the day in which the “XXII Meeting of the Child with Children” will be held, a celebration instituted 11 years ago by the priest Eleuterio Vásquez Gonzales.

“Children from the entire diocese and all of Peru participate in this meeting. “It will be an emotional experience, with a small procession with the image of the pilgrim child,” he added.

The coordinator concluded with an invitation to all the faithful: “We are going to wait for you with much affection, with much love. The temple will be open from 6 in the morning until 10 at night, and there will always be a team from the parish to welcome parishioners.”