The Woman who touched Christ’s cloak (Luke 8:43-48)

Three of the gospels include a story about Christ healing an unnamed woman who suffered from a continual loss of blood (Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48). They describe how she made her way through the crowd, touched the hem of Christ’s cloak, and was instantly cured. 

The healing occurred while Christ was on his way to perform another miracle, the resurrection of the daughter of Jairus. A large crowd followed him to Jairus’ house, where the girl lay dying. In the process, many of them were pushing up against Christ.

Spotting an opportunity, a woman crept up behind him. For twelve years, she had suffered from a continual loss of blood. The wording suggests that it may have been a menstrual problem, which would have made her ritually unclean (Leviticus 15:25-30). 

Nevertheless, she bravely reached out and grasped the edge of Christ’s cloak. At that moment her bleeding condition stopped. Sensing the miracle, Christ then asked who had touched him. She fell trembling at his feet and explained why she had done so. He responded: “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

The woman was not the only one to touch the hem of Christ’s cloak in hope of healing – lots of people did (Mark 6:56; Matthew 14:36). However, the fact that this episode happened alongside the resurrection of a young girl is significant.

Pope Francis explained: “These two healings are told as a single event. Both occur through physical contact. Indeed, the woman touches Jesus’ cloak, and Jesus takes the girl by the hand. Why is this ‘touching’ important? It is because these two women are considered impure — one because she suffers from blood loss and the other because she is dead — and therefore there could be no physical contact with them.” 

He went on: “Instead, Jesus allows himself to be touched and is not afraid to touch. Even before the physical healing, he challenges the false religious belief that God separates the pure to one side, and the impure to another. Instead, God does not make this kind of distinction, because we are all his children. Impurity does not come from food, illness, or even death; impurity comes from an impure heart.”

The pope concluded: “Let us learn this: in the face of bodily and spiritual suffering, of the wounds in our souls, of situations that crush us, and even in the face of sin, God does not keep us at a distance… He lets himself be touched by your pain and touches you to heal you and give you life again. He does not discriminate against anyone because he loves everyone.”

The detail of this faithful woman is from a stained glass window within St Edward’s, Windsor. The artist is unknown, but it dates to the late 19th century.

Where to find this work of art
St Edward’s, Windsor

Read the relevant passage
Luke 8:43-48

On a similar theme:

• From the Old Testament: During his departure from this world, Elijah’s miraculous cloak fell to the ground and was retrieved by Elisha.
• From the New Testament: The miracle occurred alongside the resurrection of the daughter of Jairus.