Here are four canonized saints—and one saintly little girl—who experienced miracles associated with the Holy Eucharist.  

Ellen Organ, or Little Nellie of Holy God

For now, there is no cause open for Little Nellie’s canonization.  Her mystical experiences, however, served as testimony to Pope St. Pius X.  Little Nellie lived a quick life by worldly standards (1903-1908), dying at the age of four and a half.  She suffered first the death of her mother at the age of 2; she had significant health issues as well.  Her father sent her and her sister to live with the Good Shepherd Sisters, as he could not care for them.  Little Nellie had a fervent devotion to the child Jesus, asking to cradle a Statue of the infant of Prague and kissing it as a mother would a baby.  When she was taken to the chapel for the first time, she went into ecstasy.  The sisters who cared for her heard her talk frequently about “Holy God” and were daily inspired by her love for Jesus.  

In that time, the ordinary age to receive First Holy Communion was about 12 years old.  Little Nellie fell far short of that age, but the community of sisters agreed: this was no ordinary little girl.  During a retreat, the sisters asked the retreat master to meet with Little Nellie.  He was so impressed that he heard her confession and wrote to the bishop, asking for special permission to give her Holy Communion.  The permission was granted!  Little Nellie hardly slept the night before.  Upon receiving Holy Communion, her face glowed with heavenly light.  For as much as the moment meant to her, it deeply affected everyone present.  Tuberculosis claimed her life several months later.  

The sainted Pope Pius X wanted to encourage more frequent reception of Holy Communion, when an account of Little Nellie’s life came across his desk.  Cardinal Merry del Val reported him saying, “There, there it is, that is the sign for which I have been waiting.”  Quam Singluari (1910) was promulgated not long after, setting the age of reason for Holy Communion at age 7.  Little Nellie inspired those around her in her present day—including the Holy Father—and her role in accomplishing the Lord’s will in young children being able to receive Holy Communion. 

St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Padre Pio

Stories of Padre Pio could fill a library.  His morning Mass started at 5 am, but his preparations included hours of prayer and the rosary.  Among the stories of Padre Pio is his love of the rosary; he would often say 30-40 rosaries a day.  He would be a great coach for any of us that struggle to get through even 5 decades on a daily basis!

One of Padre Pio’s biographers, Maria Winowska, described his Masses simply.  “Between himself and Christ there was no distance.”  Padre Pio fully walked with Christ: onlookers saw a crown of thorns on his head, a string of briars around the sacred chalice, sweat and blood coming down his face.  Sometimes he had to fight to say the words of consecration, struggling against unseen forces.  

Padre Pio is a great example of a mystic as gift to the Church as a whole.  The suffering he endured, the conversions he sparked, the confessions he heard were all at an incredible number.  Something our modern age should take a closer look at is his devotion to the Holy Eucharist and his mystical Masses.  In an era where some complain about the length of Mass, his multi-hour Masses were attended by throngs of people.  Standing room only and spilling out the door!  The lesson?  To look at the Mass as St. Pio did: with an ache for union with Jesus.  

St. Gemma Galgani

Many who knew St. Gemma saw that the Eucharist was her principal devotion.  Receiving Holy Communion at Mass was often accompanied by a mystical experience.  Our Blessed Mother even appeared to her while receiving Holy Communion.  Hear the passion in St. Gemma’s words, and her zeal for Jesus: 

"Oh, what precious moments are those at Holy Communion!  Communion is a happiness, Father, that seems to me cannot be equaled even by the beatitude of the Saints and Angels.  They admire the face of Jesus, and are certain of not committing sin or of being lost; and I admire those two things, and I should like to be of their company, but I too have reason for exalting, for Jesus enters everyday into my heart.  Jesus gives me all of Himself, though I give Him nothing worthy in return.  I always ask Him for so many things, and to tell the truth, I am afraid of wearying Him, but He says no and not to worry. Blessed be Jesus!" – Letter to Fr. Germanus

This young saint is a great example to us in her zeal for the Eucharist.  It is good for us to remember that even if we cannot see saints and angels alongside us when receiving Holy Communion, they are there with us at every Mass.  

St. Catherine of Siena

This extraordinary, 14th century saint moved mountains in 14th century Europe.  She is well known for her holiness, being an advisor to those of the highest rank, and for persuading the pope to leave Avignon for Rome.  A great devotion to the Eucharist would be standard fare for such an indomitable saint.  For the last several years of her life, however, she subsisted only on the Eucharist.  Our Lord supplied all her energy that was needed for many demanding responsibilities.  

Let us marvel at Our Lord’s humility that He comes to us in a sacrifice, under the veil of simple bread.  The thought of the Creator of the universe willingly containing himself in the tabernacle is a beautiful mystery.  With that, however, we cannot forget the power of the Eucharist, for It is Christ!  Jesus told us that faith the size of a mustard seed could move a mountain.  As in St. Catherine’s case, sometimes He shows us what it looks like to toss a mountain aside. 

St. Germaine Cousin

St. Germaine lived in Pibrac, France at the end of the 16th century.  She was born with a deformity in her hand that made it difficult to work.  She had a variety of additional health problems that limited her activity—and incurred the wrath of her stepmother.  It was partly fear that Germaine had some contagion that would infect the other children of the family, and contained other, less perfect motivations.  Poor Germaine was sent to sleep in the barn by night and to shepherd the sheep by day.  

Rather than spiral into bitterness, St. Germaine used her solitary time to pray and offer sacrifices for those around her.  She attended daily Mass, and one regular miracle occurred each time she left.  Germaine would plant her shepherd staff in the ground, commend the care of her sheep to God, and go to the local church for Mass. Despite wolves inhabiting the woods around her, none of her sheep wandered off or were caught by wolves.  Rivers were also known to part for her so that she could cross on dry ground. 

Let us take inspiration from her to seek the Mass and the Eucharist on a daily basis.  

I hope these stories serve as an inspiration to deepen our love for the Eucharist.  Christ is there, waiting, yearning for us to come to Him.  Who knows the miracles that Our Lord might work in our lives!