In the 15th century in the León town of Ponferrada (on the Camino de Santiago, between León and Astorga), a consecrated host accidentally fell during the distribution of Communion onto the clothing of a layperson. The host was recovered, but when the cloth was examined the imprint of the host — with the Lamb of God etched in dark sepia tones — remained permanently on the fabric. The imprinted cloth was preserved at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Encina, the principal Marian shrine of the Bierzo region, where it remains.
15th century · Encina Basilica, Ponferrada (León), Spain
Status: approved holy see