Mary Baker Eddy's lifelong search for health and her discovery of a mental system of healing would touch the lives of countless women, men, and children. Select an account to hear a description of Mary Baker Eddy's thinking and healing practice.

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These eight narrated accounts of Mary Baker Eddy's healing practice are taken from her published writings and from the newly released biography Mary Baker Eddy: Christian Healer.

Listen: Early experiments
During the 1840s and '50s, Mary Baker Eddy studied and practiced homeopathic medicine. Here, she writes of an important insight gained on her way to the purely mental system of healing that she discovered in 1866:

"A case of dropsy, given up by the faculty, fell into my hands. It was a terrible case. Tapping had been employed.... I prescribed the fourth attenuation of Argentum nitratum with occasional doses of a high attenuation of Sulphuris. She improved perceptibly. Believing then somewhat in the ordinary theories of medical practice, and learning that her former physician had prescribed these remedies, I began to fear an aggravation of symptoms from their prolonged use, and told the patient so; but she was unwilling to give up the medicine while she was recovering. It then occurred to me to give her unmedicated pellets and watch the result. I did so, and she continued to gain.... She went on in this way, taking the unmedicated pellets, - and receiving occasional visits from me, - but employing no other means; and she was cured."
Science and Health, p. 156

Listen: Her own healing
Here, Mary Baker Eddy writes of her breakthrough discovery that becomes the basis of her life work:

"It was in Massachusetts, in February, 1866...that I discovered the Science of divine metaphysical healing which I afterwards named Christian Science. The discovery came to pass this way. During twenty years prior to my discovery I had been trying to trace all physical effects to a mental cause; and in the latter part of 1866 I gained the scientific certainty that all causation was Mind, and every effect a mental phenomenon.

"My immediate recovery from the effects of an injury caused by an accident, an injury that neither medicine nor surgery could reach, was the falling apple that led me to the discovery how to be well myself, and how to make others so.

"Even to the homeopathic physician who attended me, and rejoiced in my recovery, I could not then explain the modus of my relief. I could only assure him that the divine Spirit had wrought the miracle - a miracle which later I found to be in perfect scientific accord with divine law."
Retrospection & Introspection, p. 24

Listen: Dying woman given up by doctors
Mary Baker Eddy spent the years following 1866 studying biblical healing and testing what she was learning by healing others.

"Through four successive years I healed, preached, and taught in a general way, refusing to take any pay for my services and living on a small annuity.

"At one time I was called to speak before the Lyceum Club, at Westerly, Rhode Island. On my arrival my hostess told me that her next-door neighbor was dying. I asked permission to see her. It was granted, and with my hostess I went to the invalid's house.

"The physicians had given up the case and retired. I had stood by her side about fifteen minutes when the sick woman rose from her bed, dressed herself, and was well. Afterwards they showed me the clothes already prepared for her burial.... This scientific demonstration so stirred the doctors and clergy that they had my notices for a second lecture pulled down, and refused me a hearing in their halls and churches."
Retrospection & Introspection, p. 40

Listen: Dire case of pneumonia
As Mary Baker Eddy's healing work became known, she was sometimes invited by physicians to take up cases that they had given up.

"About the year 1869, I was wired to attend the patient of a distinguished Md., the late Dr. Davis of Manchester, N.H. The patient was pronounced dying of pneumonia, and was breathing at intervals in agony. Her physician, who stood by her bedside, declared that she could not live. On seeing her immediately restored by me without material aid, he asked earnestly if I had a work describing my system of healing. When answered in the negative, he urged me immediately to write a book which should explain to the world my curative system of metaphysics."
The First Church of Christ Scientist and Miscellany, p. 105

Listen: Called to a deathbed
This next account comes from the book that she wrote about her system of healing, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures:

"I was called to visit Mr. Clark in Lynn, who had been confined to his bed six months with hip-disease, caused by a fall upon a wooden spike when quite a boy. On entering the house I met his physician, who said that the patient was dying.... I went to his bedside. In a few moments his faced changed; its death-pallor gave place to a natural hue. The eyelids closed gently and the breathing became natural; he was asleep. In about ten minutes he opened his eyes and said: 'I feel like a new man. My suffering is all gone...' I told him to rise, dress himself, and take supper with his family. He did so. The next day I saw him in the yard. Since then I have not seen him, but am informed that he went to work in two weeks. The discharge from the sore stopped, and the sore was healed."
Science and Health, p. 192.

Listen: Her sermons heal listeners
Following the publication of her book, Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy was invited by a minister in Boston to preach in his church. Here, she writes of the healings that took place during her sermons:

"In the year 1878 I was called to preach in Boston at the Baptist Tabernacle of Rev. Daniel C. Eddy, D.D. - by the pastor of this church.... At the close of my engagement we parted in Christian fellowship, if not in full unity of doctrine.

"Our last vestry meeting was made memorable by eloquent addresses from persons who feelingly testified to having been healed through my preaching. Among other diseases cured they specified cancers....

"It was not an uncommon occurrence in my own church for the sick to be healed by my sermon. Many pale cripples went into the church leaning on crutches who went out carrying them on their shoulders."
Retrospection & Introspection, p. 15

Listen: A child deformed from birth
This account of healing was attested by Margaret E. Harding from Lynn, Mass.:

"Sometime during...1866 Mrs. Norton drove her young son, George, to Lynn beach for a day's outing. At the time, George was about seven years of age and had been carried on a pillow since birth, having been born with a deformity commonly known as club feet, both feet being turned backward, and consequently he had never walked.

"Mrs. Norton laid the child upon the pillow on the sand and left him alone while she hitched the horse and went for water. On her return shortly the child had disappeared and the mother searched bewilderedly about only to find him down by the water and walking with a woman holding his hands, which she released a moment later and George stood alone. Later he took a few steps and from that time was able to walk. The strange woman and the mother both looked into each other's eyes, a little and thanked God for this seemingly miraculous healing.

"I need not add that the strange lady was Mrs. Mary B. Glover, who afterwards became Mrs. Eddy, and the founder of Christian Science."
Mary Baker Eddy: Christian Healer, p. 43

Listen: Leg broken in three places
This account of healing was published in Mary Baker Eddy's magazine, The Christian Science Journal, in 1905:

"About eighteen years ago, while living in Boston, I fell from the third story of a building, on which I was working, to the pavement. My leg was broken in three places. I was taken to a hospital where they tried to help me; they said that the leg was so bad that it would have to be amputated. I said, 'No, I would rather die.' They permitted it to heal as best it might, and as a result, I had to wear an iron shoe eight or nine inches high.

"I was called to Mrs. Eddy's home on Commonwealth Ave., in Boston, to do some light work. Mrs. Eddy came into the room where I was busy, and observing my condition, kindly remarked, 'I suppose you expect to get out of this sometime.' I answered, 'No, all that can be done for me has been done and I can now manage to get around with a cane.' Mrs. Eddy said, 'Sit down, and I will treat you.' When she finished the treatment, she said, 'You go home and take off that iron shoe and give your leg a chance to straighten out.' I went home and did as I was told. And now, I am so well that, so far as I know, one leg is as good as the other."
Mary Baker Eddy: Christian Healer, p. 143