Did Mary Baker Eddy say it? “You must have lived love.”

We were asked about a statement attributed to Mary Baker Eddy. Did she ever connect the act of “living love” to the successful practice of Christian Science healing?

Our researchers found that Eddy did indeed cover this topic in her November 20–21, 1898, Normal class—the last class she taught. 

Lida Stocking Stone, who was among the 70 students invited to attend that instruction, recalled this in her 1935 reminiscence:

Among the many spiritual gems which our Leader gave us in the short period of two days, one grows clearer and brighter every year. Each member of the class was asked, “If you were called to some one who was apparently dying, what would you do?” After each one in turn answered earnestly but technically, she said, “Yes, you have all answered scientifically but that would not meet the case. You must have lived love.” I shall never forget the heavenly look upon our beloved Leader’s face. To one she had set the seal of Christian Science upon her teaching. How our Leader always taught that mere intellectualism would never heal the sick, cleanse the sinner or raise the dead.¹