On 7 October, unknown perpetrators stole liturgical objects from the Church of San Mamede de Priegue in Nigrán, most notably a ciborium containing consecrated hosts. The theft of the consecrated Eucharist prompted the Diocese of Tui-Vigo to describe the incident as a sacrilegious theft and profanation of the Blessed Sacrament. A Eucharistic Mass of Reparation was announced in light of the incident. Reports further state that this offence in Nigrán is the latest in a series of incidents targeting consecrated hosts around Galicia in recent months.
The parish priest discovered the theft when he arrived at the church on Wednesday, 7 October. According to reports from the Diocese of Tui-Vigo, the stolen items included several chalices, ciboria, patens, a silver pitcher, and the ciborium containing consecrated hosts that had been kept inside the tabernacle.
Bishop Antonio Valín expressed the diocese's "deep sorrow," particularly over the "sacrilegious theft" of the consecrated hosts, which are central to Catholic Eucharistic worship. The diocese expressed solidarity with the parish community and announced that a Mass of Reparation and atonement would be held at the church, with the date still to be determined at the time of reporting.
At the time of reporting, the police were investigating the theft in an effort to identify those responsible and recover the stolen objects.
Several reports note that this incident in Nigrán is the latest in a series of offences against the Blessed Sacrament in Galicia during recent months. The other incidents include desecrations and thefts in Xinzo de Limia (OIDAC, reported), A Coruña (OIDAC, reported), and Guitiriz (OIDAC, reported). The president of the Observatory for Religious Freedom stated: "It is alaring that in such a short time there have been four desecrations in Galicia. We are not only talking about thefts...but about attacks on places of worship in which the Eucharist, the most sacred thing for Catholics, has been desecrated."
Sources: elespanol, larazon, lavozdegalicia, laregion
Image: Wiki Commons
