Blessed Anna Katharina Emmerick showed and experienced in her own flesh “the bitter passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.” The fact that, from being the daughter of poor peasants, who constantly sought closeness to God, she became the famous “mystic of Muenster” is a work of divine grace. Her material poverty is contrasted with her rich interior life. As much as by her patience to endure her physical weaknesses, we are impressed by the strength of character of the new blessed and her firmness in the faith. She received this strength from the Holy Eucharist. In this way, her example opened the hearts of poor and rich men, educated and humble people, to complete loving passion toward Jesus Christ. Still today she communicates to all the salvific message: “By his wounds you have been healed” (see 1 Peter 2:24).

– Pope John Paul II, homily at the beatification of Blessed Anne, 3 October 2004