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The early Christians went to their deaths for this belief. For two thousand years, the Church has continued to celebrate the Eucharistic Liturgy our Savior instituted at the Last Supper. It is an awesome mystery and a great gift, how Jesus Christ is present to us during Mass in His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. We believe there is no greater experience on earth than to celebrate the sacramental ritual Christ gave us which allows us to enter into His passion and death, and to experience the mystery of the Resurrection in our own lives.
These are not empty words! I (Joan McHugh) have lived and experienced the power of God's healing touch through the Eucharist. In the last twelve years I have faced some difficult and life-threatening illnesses--namely scleroderma and lymphoma as well as breast and thymus cancer. Facing serious health decisions everyday, and not knowing the next step, I prayed to the Holy Spirit for guidance. At Mass each morning when the priest lifted up the Body and Blood of the Lord, I offered my own body and blood to God, asking for His perfect will for my life.
The Holy Spirit led me on every step of this journey to find physical, emotional and spiritual healing. Each day, sometimes each hour, I received the answer or direction I needed for a certain problem. Today I am healthy and although the threat of these diseases is always hovering, peace and joy fill my soul--and body--gifts from the Lord who is true to His promise give us more than we can ask or imagine if only we will rely on Him.
The story of God's tender providential care for us will be my next book, "Healing From the Inside Out--Ten Steps the Holy Spirit Taught Me to find Healing," (tentative title) in which I share the story of my twelve-year struggle with these two deadly diseases and the saving presence of Christ in the Eucharist. My hope and prayer is that the Lord will inspire each person who faces daily battles against crises of all kinds, be they health, financial, marital, psychological, to trust Him in a childlike way so that He can lead you to new life, a gift He promised to His disciples.
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