Tema: The Baker’s Dog of Lisbon

The Baker’s Dog of Lisbon

Gregory Johnson
One of the most striking episodes of reverence shown by animals for Our Lord present in the Blessed Sacrament is that of a baker’s dog at Lisbon. It would seem almost incredible if its truth were not vouched by such authors as John Eusebius and Stephen Menochius.


The baker's dog would wait to hear the bell announcing the Blessed Sacrament This baker’s dog, without ever having been taught to do so, seemed to exhibit toward the Most Blessed Sacrament all the devoted fidelity which so often distinguishes the attachment of these animals to their masters. As soon as the bell rang to announce that the Blessed Sacrament was to be carried to the sick, he would run to the church and, lying down at the door, he would wait until the priest came out with the Blessed Sacrament. Then he would join the procession, running from one side to the other, as if he were deputed to keep order.

Once the bell was rung at about midnight. The dog instantly jumped up to go in all haste to the church. The doors of the house, however, were all locked so that he could not get out, so he went to his master’s room, whining and barking in order to awaken him. Not being successful, he went to another person in the house, whom he pulled by his clothes to the door of the house and held on to him until he opened it.


Once in Holy Week he watched for 24 hours successively when the Blessed Sacrament was exposed in the sepulcher. He would not permit the slightest indecorum in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, and so long as he was in the church, no one dared to sit or stand.

On one occasion, as the Viaticum was being carried to a sick person, he found a peddler asleep on the roadside. He barked until the man awoke, uncovered his head and knelt while the Viaticum was passing. On another occasion he compelled a country woman, who was riding on an ass, to dismount and adore the Blessed Sacrament.

Sometime the baker’s dog was mistaken in the signal and would go to the church when the bell had rung for a funeral. In such cases he would return home immediately.

No one, not even his master, was able to break the dog of this habit of going to the church when the bell would ring. Whether they tried to entice him with food or fastened him up, all was in vain. In the first case, he would snap at the meat once or twice; then, as if fearing to be late, he would run off to the church. In the latter case, he would howl so dreadfully that they were glad to release him.

Thus has God been pleased to give us, through a creature devoid of understanding, a lesson in our duty.

From Michael Muller, The Blessed Eucharist, Our Greatest Treasure,
Published in 1868, republished by TAN 1994, pp. 207-208
Posted June 12, 2010

The Baker’s Dog of Lisbon by Gregory Johnson

A better known similar case...





St. Anthony and the mule who knelt down before the Eucharist

Philip Kosloski





A man doubted the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, until he saw this.

St. Anthony of Padua lived during the 13th century and possessed a great zeal for the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. One day Saint Anthony heard of a man in Rimini named named Bononillo who did not share the same belief. In fact, Bononillo openly mocked people who believed that Jesus was truly present under the appearances of bread and wine.

St. Anthony tried his hardest to convince Bononillo with the proofs of scripture and argument, but discovered that the man was as stubborn as a mule.


Then St. Anthony received an inspiration. He challenged the wealthy merchant, “If the mule you ride adored the Body of Christ in the Eucharist, would you believe in the truth of the Blessed Sacrament?” Bononillo agreed, but decided to raise the stakes. Bononillo would starve his mule for three days and then bring it to the town square. Saint Anthony would bring the Blessed Sacrament to that same square. The mule then would be put in front of a pile of hay and St. Anthony would stand a few yards away with the Blessed Sacrament. What happened next would decide the victor.


To prepare for the event, St. Anthony fasted for three days, and Bononillo in turn told everyone in the town. Bononillo was convinced that the mule would think nothing of the Eucharist and ravenously eat the pile of hay.


On the day of the test, Bononillo brought his mule and placed the hay under the mule’s nose. St. Anthony came and stood a distance away with the Holy Eucharist. Defying all odds, the mule turned his head and walked over to Saint Anthony. When the mule was close, the animal bent his front legs and kneeled in adoration! When Bononillo saw this miraculous change of events, he immediately knelt down and professed his belief in the truth of the Real Presence.


What this short story tells us is that Eucharistic presence of Jesus is something miraculous and supernatural. It is a gift that Jesus gave to his Church, one that reason alone cannot explain. Faith is required to hold to such a fantastic belief. It reminds us that what we witness each Sunday (and every day) is beyond our understanding.

The Catechism affirms this fact and declares, “That in this sacrament are the true Body of Christ and his true Blood is something that ‘cannot be apprehended by the senses,’ says St. Thomas, ‘but only by faith, which relies on divine authority.’ For this reason, in a commentary on Luke 22:19 (‘This is my body which is given for you.’), St. Cyril says: ‘Do not doubt whether this is true, but rather receive the words of the Savior in faith, for since he is the truth, he cannot lie'” (CCC 1381).


St. John Vianney put it perfectly, “If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy.”

https://aleteia.org/2017/06/13/st-an..._content=NL_en