The history of Amsterdam as an ancient place of pilgrimage dates to the Middle Ages. In the 13th or 14th centuries, Amsterdam was nothing but a small settlement at the mouth of the river Amstel. It was also called Miracle City, and it owes that name to the Miracle of the Holy Sacrament. On March 13th, 1345, a dying man was given the Sacrament of the Sick in his house on Kalverstraat. He confessed and received Holy Communion. Afterwards he ate and was sick. He vomited and the bowl was emptied in the fire. The sacred host floated above the flames, unscathed. The priest was called, who took the host back to the church, but twice the host returned inexplicably to the house of the sick man. The priest saw the hand of God in this and decided to return the host in a solemn procession. A chapel was built on the site of the miracle.
Medieval Amsterdam grew into an important place of pilgrimage. And every year still, on the 3rd Saturday in March, thousands of pilgrims from all over the Holland take part in the procession. Most arrive by bus or train. But in many of the smaller towns surrounding Amsterdam the entire journey is made on foot, some pilgrims walking as many as 40 miles to reach Amsterdam.
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