Father Fahsel describes Therese's ecstatic Communion succinctly: "Her arms are raised and she gazes in the direction in which the Sacred Host is being held in the hands of the priest. While he says the remaining prayers she looks up with a blessed smile as if transfigured, and then down. I asked her afterwards why she did this and she answered: 'I see the Saviour as a radiant figure. Then the radiance becomes a flame which comes upon me and enters my mouth. I know nothing more, am wholly absorbed in the Saviour.' It is striking that she looks down with particular attention. She explains that she sees the wound marks of the Redeemer's feet in a special effulgence."

Still another wonder-awakening phenomenon is Therese Neumann's reception of the Holy Eucharist without the ministration of a priest. Gorres tells us of a Communion of this kind by St. Catherine of Siena. Angels brought Communion to the Jesuit boy-saint, Stanislaus Kostka, and nearer our time is the case of Blessed Imelda. This little girl yearned to receive her Eucharistic Lord and when this desire was denied because of her tender age, heaven itself intervened.

The Story Of Therese Neumann
Albert Paul Schimberg

Reprinted from Witness Ministries, a lay apostolate dedicated to renewing appreciation for the Mass as the greatest gift which God has given to His beloved spouse, the Church. Their mission is to show how, in the Eucharistic Liturgy, Jesus renews and transforms us–and the world–in His life and love.