From Forums of the Virgin Mary (translated from Italian):
God applies His healing action to both our material and immaterial realities, that is, to the soul and spirit.
In general, Catholics are well aware of the need to go to God to heal physical ailments. This is the reason why sanctuaries famous for their physical cures have proliferated in the world, such as Lourdes in France.
And it is for this reason that in many countries, exact replica sanctuaries of the Grotto of Lourdes have been created.
But the Eucharist also has a great healing effect.
While there is “theoretical knowledge” that the Eucharist has spiritual and physical healing power, the first reaction of the typical Catholic does not usually include consuming the Eucharist when feeling sick. However, in actuality, taking the consecrated Host is the most important source of healing that Jesus Christ has left us.
That’s because the Risen Christ is present in the Host, an enormous mystery that the Church cannot fully explain.
Of this we have conclusive proof through the Eucharistic miracles, which indicate, through scientific studies, that hidden inside the consecrated bread is a human Being with AB positive blood, which has been identified in Host miracles such as that at Santarem and matches the type detected in relics such as the Shroud.
Another proof is the physical life of Saint Catherine of Siena and other mystics, which were maintained for many years without any other nourishment than Holy Communion.
Why do we say that consuming the Host is the most important source of healing?
By eating the Body and drinking the Blood of Christ, we unite ourselves to the Person of Christ through His humanity.
He himself says that “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him” (Jn 6:56).
Jesus Himself gives himself to us as food and drink.
And by being united to the humanity of Christ, we are at the same time united to His divinity and thus to heavenly life.
So when we receive Christ in Communion [and it helps to put much prayer effort into this, not just passively receive], we open the door to the understanding of what Heaven is, we aspire only to Heaven and we already receive his healing power.
If we attend the Eucharist in faith, then we begin to feel the effects of eternal life on earth.
And let us remember that disease entered the world through original sin and that in Heaven there is no physical or spiritual disease.
Therefore, feeling the effects of eternal life through the Eucharist allows us to earn the healing that our first parents had in the Garden of Eden and that they later lost through disobedience to God.
Who and what take you to Heaven and heal you?
The encounter with the Divine Love of Jesus.
That leads to the conversion of the heart: that is, the movement towards God and moving away from what is not of God.
It is for this effect of moving us to Heaven in the love of Jesus that in the sacrament of the anointing of the sick the Church places the Eucharist as the center.
And also the reason why there are groups of ministers of the Eucharist in all parishes who systematically bring the Eucharist to the sick unable attend Mass themselves. The Council of Trent says that “Holy Communion is an antidote to our daily weaknesses.”
As for actual healing, Saint Faustina Kowalska, for example, suffered from lung problems and was healed upon reception of Holy Communion. The late Father John Hampsch, who wrote much on healing the family tree, recounted the case of a woman named Ann Mattingly who was suffering from incurable cancer for seven years and was clearly on the verge of death. She made a novena in honor of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and at the end of the novena received Communion. She knew the critical moment had come when he would either die or regain his health.
While receiving Communion, she said: “Lord Jesus, Your holy Will be glorified!”
She could barely swallow the host; it took five or six minutes.
But the moment she swallowed it, all the pain left her instantly. She was immediately healed.
She knelt down and thanked God, and hundreds of visitors entered her home for the rest of the day to witness the miracle.
Example like this there are thousands and we do not have space to relate them here.
Sometimes the healing is instantaneous as in this case and in others it takes longer or does not occur, because everything depends on God’s plan for that person.
But you have to keep in mind something central.
That for the healing to be effective you must have faith.
Think of the account in Luke chapter eight about the woman issuing blood who touched Jesus’ robe and was healed.
Jesus explained this to us when He said to this woman, “Daughter, your faith has healed you, go in peace.”
Remember that many people touched Jesus, but only to this woman was the prodigious healing power manifested at that moment.
So there are three things you can do to make sure you are in the right position with Him.
First, believe that He is God, that He is omnipotent and healer, and that He has a loving plan for your life.
Second, make sure your faith in Christ, His Resurrection, and His imminent return is strong and unshakable.
And third, be sure to repent of any sin, every word, thought, and action that may prevent His power from flowing to you.
Also keep in mind that the Eucharist is more than physical healing.
Every time we receive Holy Communion, according to Saint Gertrude, something good happens to all beings in Heaven, on earth, and in purgatory.
The holy Cure of Ars said that a well-received Communion is worth more than a small fortune given to the poor.
Every time we receive Communion [with faith and repentance[, our stay in purgatory is shortened.
The Queen of Peace of Medjugorje said that, “If you knew the grace and gifts you receive, you would prepare for the Eucharist every day for at least an hour.”
And Saint Teresa of Calcutta said: “When we look at the Crucifix, we understand how much Jesus loved us. And when we look at the Sacred Host we understand how much Jesus loves us now.”
All this should put us on alert so as not to receive Communion unworthily.
To receive Communion with dignity means to go with the correct disposition and in a state of grace.
In this way we receive the increase of Grace with its consumption.
But there are cases in which our state can have the opposite effect of grace.
In the first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 11, Saint Paul says that those who receive the Eucharist unworthily are consuming their own condemnation.
And it even suggests that these people can suffer such devastating effects as illness and even death.
Thus, the communicant must be free from mortal sin in order to receive the Holy Eucharist worthily.
However, the Church says that the one who is aware of a mortal sin can receive Communion if there is a serious reason such as the danger of death, if it is physically or morally impossible to confess, and if a person has a perfect contrition of his or her sins, but decides to go to Confession as required, as soon as possible.
He must also take it on a Eucharistic fast, abstaining from any food an hour before, although this is discretionary for the Episcopal Conferences.
This does not imply that you can’t drink water, and fasting is not required of the elderly and sick, or of those in charge of their care.
The Eucharist can be received in the form of the two species, bread and wine, or only under the species of bread; in both forms its healing effect acts.
Well, so far what we wanted to tell you about the healing power of the Eucharist, that is, the intake of the consecrated host, which is maximized if it is done with faith and in a state of Grace.
But keep in mind that healing is a Grace of God that depends on the plan he has for your life.
And I would like to ask you if when you have had a sickness, you believed that it could be cured with Communion or forget that.