Something similar is told of Father Peter Cavagnelas^
a monk of the Order of St. Jerome. For a long time he
was a prey to terrible doubts as to whether the blood of
Christ was present in the sacred host. One day when,
in saying Mass, he came to these words of the canon:
" We most humbly beseech Thee, Almighty God, com-
mand these things to be carried by the hands of Thy holy
angel to Thy altar on high, in the sight of Thy divine
majesty," and, according to the rules of the rubric*



143 The Shedding of Chris fs Blood Renewed in the Mass.
bowed down profoundly, behold, a cloud descended
upon the altar and concealed both the host and the
chalice from his sight The priest felt much alarmed,
for he knew not what this thing meant. He made an
act of sincere contrition and lifted up his heart in fer-
vent prayer to God. After a time his petition was heard,
the cloud lifted, and he saw the sacred host suspended
over the chalice. While he gazed upon it with reverence,
he perceived that blood was dropping from it; this con-
tinued until there was exactly the same quantity as there
had been wine in the chalice. Joy filled his heart; all
his doubts vanished; thenceforth nothing ever obscured
his firm faith in the presence of the blood of Christ in
the sacred host.
