Emmanuel
EUCHARIST: LIVING & EVANGELIZING
Mother Mary Thomas — A Eucharistic Artist
by John Christman, SSS
“The Eucharist had just completely taken over my life!”
Blessed
Sacrament Father
John Christman is
the art director
of Emmanuel
Magazine and the
parochial vicar
of Saint Paschal
Baylon Church in
Highland Heights,
Ohio.
144
S
uch is the fond recollection of an
82-year-old
sister reminiscing
about the unique beginnings of her vocation. Before she ever
dreamed of becoming Mother Mary Thomas of the Poor Clares of
Perpetual Adoration, she was simply a young professional illustrator
and artist visiting Rome with an interest in art and Christian history.
Unbeknownst to her, she was about to have an experience of God’s
presence that would completely change the direction of her life.
While attending an Easter Vigil celebration in the Eternal City, she found
herself in line to receive the Eucharist. Inexplicably, however, she had