What’s a ‘miracle’? Here’s how the Catholic Church decides

Pope John Paul I, who was pope for about a month before his death, has moved one step closer to sainthood. AP Photo/Claudio Luffoli

Dorian Llywelyn, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Albino Luciano, better known to the world as Pope John Paul I, reigned as pope for only 34 days before his death in September 1978. But he will soon join the ranks of 20th-century popes who the Catholic Church has canonized. This literally means they have been entered on the “canon,” or list, of people formally declared to be in heaven and have been granted the title “Blessed” or “Saint.”

The process requires a rigorous examination of the life and holiness of a candidate and involves several stages that can last years or even centuries.

After someone with a reputation for exceptional holiness dies, a bishop can open an investigation into their life. At this stage, the person can be granted the title “Servant of God.” Further details and research are needed for them to be recognized as “Venerable,” the next stage in canonization.

The following step is beatification, when someone is declared “Blessed.” This usually requires that the Vatican confirm that the person performed a “miracle” by interceding with God. Two miracles are required before a “Blessed” can be declared a saint.

What, then, is a miracle?

More than medicine

The word is used widely in nonreligious ways. However, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which sums up the church’s teachings, defines it as “a sign or wonder such as a healing, or control of nature, which can only be attributed to divine power.”

In the canonization process, a miracle almost always refers to the spontaneous and lasting remission of a serious, life-threatening medical condition. The healing must have taken place in ways that the best-informed scientific knowledge cannot account for and follow prayers to the holy person.

Pope John Paul I’s beatification was greenlighted by the sudden healing of an 11-year-old girl in Buenos Aires who had been suffering severe acute brain inflammation, severe epilepsy and septic shock. She had been approaching what doctors considered almost-certain death in 2011 when her mother, nursing staff and a priest began praying desperately to the former pope.

The bigger picture

Catholic belief in miracles is long-standing and rooted in what the church believes about the life and work of Jesus of Nazareth. The Gospels portray Jesus as a teacher, but also as a wonder-worker who turned water into wine, walked on water and fed a large crowd with minimal food.

As a Catholic theologian and professor, I have written about saints, especially the Virgin Mary, and taught university courses on hagiography, or writing about saints’ lives. In Catholic tradition, miracles represent more than physical healing. They also confirm what Jesus preached: that God is willing to intervene in people’s lives and can take away their suffering.

For Christians, then, Jesus’ miracles suggest strongly that he is Son of God. They point to what Jesus called “the reign of God,” in which Christians hope to be reunited with God in a world restored to its original perfection.

Melissa Villalobos walks with her family during a canonization Mass at the Vatican in 2019. She experienced a healing after praying to Cardinal John Henry Newman, and the Catholic Church recognized it as a miracle, clearing the way for Newman’s canonization. AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino

Devil’s advocate?

Naturally, thoughtful people can object to the claimed supernatural origin of such events. And the development of medical science means that some healing processes can indeed now be explained purely as the work of nature, without needing to claim that divine intervention has been at work. Some Christian writers, notably the Protestant theologian Rudolf Bultmann, have also interpreted Jesus’ miracles as having a purely symbolic meaning and rejected them as being necessarily historical, literal truth.

The Catholic Church has for centuries held that science and faith are not sworn enemies but rather different ways of knowing which complement each other. That understanding guides investigations of supposed miracles, which are undertaken by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints, which has about two dozen staff and more than 100 clerical members and counselors.

Theologians working for the Congregation assess all aspects of the life of a candidate for canonization. These include the “Promoter of the Faith” (sometimes called “the Devil’s advocate”), whose role was changed in 1983 from finding arguments against canonization to supervising the process.

Separately, a medical board of independent scientific experts is appointed to investigate a claimed miracle. They begin by looking for purely natural explanations as they review the medical history.

New rules

The process of canonization has undergone continuous revisions throughout history.

In 2016, Pope Francis initiated reforms in how the church assesses miracles, which are meant to make the process more rigorous and transparent.

The Catholic groups who request to open a canonization case for a particular person fund the investigation. Costs include fees paid to medical experts for their time, administrative expenses and research. But cases were often opaque and expensive, reaching well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, Italian journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi wrote in a 2015 book.

Among Francis’ 2016 reforms was a new rule that all payments be made by traceable bank transfer so groups can better track the Vatican’s spending.

Another of Francis’ reforms is that in order for a canonization case to go forward, two-thirds of the medical board are required to affirm that the miraculous event cannot be explained by natural causes. Previously, only a simple majority was needed.

The overall point of these reforms is to protect the integrity of the canonization process and avoid mistakes or scandals that would discredit the church or mislead believers.

Since Catholics believe that the “Blesseds” and saints are in heaven and intercede before God on behalf of people who seek their help, the question of miracles is a matter of being confident that prayers can and will be heard.

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Dorian Llywelyn, President, Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Lourdes catholics miracles : The majority of the miraculous were healed by contact with the water of Lourdes !

Out of some 7000 cases of healing filed at Lourdes since the apparitions, 67 cases have so far been recognized as miraculous by the Church.

80% of the miraculous cases are women.

The youngest miraculous was 2 years old.

The countries of origin of the miraculous are France (55 miraculous), Italy (6), Belgium (3), Germany (1), Austria (1) and Switzerland (1).

6 miraculous people claim to have been healed by the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes when they had not come to Lourdes.

The majority of the miraculous were healed by contact with the water of Lourdes (49 miraculous among which 39 healed at the swimming pools).

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Catherine LATAPIE from Loubajac (France). Paralysis of ulnar type, by traumatic elongation of the brachial plexus, for 18 months. About 38 years old on 01-03-1858. Diocese and date of recognition: Tarbes, Mandement of Mgr Laurence, of 18-01-1862.

Louis BOURIETTE from Lourdes (France). Trauma of the right eye for 20 years, with amaurosis for 2 years. 54 years old in March 1858. Diocese and date of recognition : Tarbes, Mandement of Mgr Laurence, of 18-01-1862.

Blaisette CAZENAVE from Lourdes (France). Chronic chemosis or ophthalmia, with ectropion for three years. About 50 years old in March 1858. Diocese and date of recognition: Tarbes, Mandement of Mgr Laurence, 18-01-1862.

Henri BUSQUET of Nay (France). Fistulized adenitis (probably tubercular) at the base of the neck, since 15 months. About 15 years old on 28-04-1858. Diocese and date of recognition : Tarbes, Mandement of Mgr Laurence, of 18-01-1862.

Justin BOUHORT from Lourdes (France). Chronic post-infectious hypothrepsia, with delayed motor development. Diagnosis at that time: "consumption". 2 years old on 06-07-1858. Diocese and date of recognition: Tarbes, Mandement of Mgr Laurence, 18-01-1862.

Madeleine RIZAN from Nay (France). Left hemiplegia for 24 years. About 58 years old on 17-10-1858. Diocese and date of recognition: Tarbes, Mandement de Mgr Laurence, 18-01-1862.

Marie MOREAU from Tartas (France). Very important diminution of her sight, with inflammatory lesions, especially in her right eye, evolving since 10 months. About 17 years old on 09-11-1858. Diocese and date of recognition: Tarbes, Mandement of Mgr Laurence, of 18-01-1862.

Pierre DE RUDDER from Jabbeke (Belgium). Open fracture of the left leg, with pseudarthrosis. 52 years old on 07-04-1875. Diocese and date of recognition: Bruges (Belgium) 25-07-1908.

Joachime DEHANT from Gesves (Belgium). Ulcer of right leg with very extensive gangrene. 29 years old on 13-09-1878. Diocese and date of recognition: Namur (Belgium) 25-04-1908.

Elisa SEISSON from Rognonas (France). Hypertrophy heart, oedemas lower limbs. 27 years old on 29-08-1882. Diocese and date of recognition: Aix-en-Provence 02-07-1912.

Sister Eugenia (Marie MABILLE) from Bernay (France). Abscess of the small pelvis with bladder and colonic fistulas. Bilateral phlebitis. 28 years old on 21-08-1883. Diocese and date of recognition: Evreux 30-08-1908.

Sister Julienne (Aline BRUYERE) from La Roque (France). Cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis. 25 years old on 01-09-1889. Diocese and date of recognition: Tulle 07-03-1912.

Sister Joséphine-Marie (Anne JOURDAIN) of Goincourt (France). Pulmonary tuberculosis. 36 years old on 21-08-1890. Diocese and date of recognition: Beauvais 10-10-1908.

Amélie CHAGNON (nun of the Sacred Heart on 25-09-1894) of Poitiers (France). Tubercular osteoarthritis of the knee and foot (2nd metatarsal). 17 years old on 21-08-1891. Diocese and date of recognition: Tournai (Belgium) 08-09-1910.

Clémentine TROUVE (Sister Agnès-Marie) from Rouille (France). Osteoperiostitis of the right foot fistulized. 14 years old on 21-08-1891. Diocese and date of recognition: Paris 06-06-1908.

Marie LEBRANCHU (Mrs. Wuiplier) from Paris (France). Pulmonary tuberculosis (sputum with Koch's bacilli). 35 years old on 20-081892. Diocese and date of recognition: Paris 06-06-1908.

Marie LEMARCHAND (Mrs Authier) from Caen (France). Pulmonary tuberculosis with face and leg ulcers. 18 years old on 21-08-1892. Diocese and date of recognition: Paris 06-06-1908.

Elise LESAGE from Bucquoy (France). Tuberculous osteoarthritis of the knee. 18 years old on 21-08-1892. Diocese and date of recognition: Arras 04-02-1908.

Sister Marie de la Présentation (Sylvanie DELPORTE) of Lille (France). Chronic tubercular gastroenteritis. 46 years old on 29-08-1892. Diocese and date of recognition: Cambrai 15-08-1908.

Abbot CIRETTE of Beaumontel (France). Antero-lateral spinal sclerosis. 46 years old on 31-08-1893. Diocese and date of recognition: Evreux 11-02-1907.

Aurélie HUPRELLE from Saint-Martin-le-Noeud (France). Acute pulmonary phthisis. 26 years old on 21-08-1895. Diocese and date of recognition: Beauvais 01-05-1908.

Esther BRACHMANN from Paris (France). Tuberculous peritonitis. 15 years old at 21-08-1896. Diocese and date of recognition: Paris 06-06-1908.

Jeanne TULASNE from Tours (France). Lumbar Pott's disease, with neuropathic club foot. 20 years old on 08-09-1897. Diocese and date of recognition: Tours 27-10-1907.

Clémentine MALOT de Gaudechart (France). Hemoptoic pulmonary tuberculosis. 25 years old on 21-08-1898. Diocese and date of recognition: Beauvais 01-11-1908.

Rose FRANCOIS from Paris (France). Phlegmon fistulized right arm with enormous oedema. 36 years old on 20-08-1899. Diocese and date of recognition: Paris 06-06-1908.

Reverend Father SALVATOR of Rouelle (France). Tuberculous peritonitis. 38 years old on 25-06-1900. Diocese and date of recognition: Rennes 01-07-1908.

Sister Maximilien (Sister of Hope) of Marseille (France). Hydatid cyst of the liver, phlebitis of the left lower limb. 43 years old on 20-05-1901. Diocese and date of recognition: Marseille 05-02-1908.

Marie SAVOYE from Cateau-Cambresis (France). Decompensated rheumatic mitralitis. 24 years old on 20-09-1901. Diocese and date of recognition: Cambrai 15-08-1908.

Johanna BEZENAC from Saint-Laurent-des-Bâtons (France). Cachexia of unknown cause, impetigo eyelids and forehead. 28 years old on 08-08-1904. Diocese and date of recognition: Périgueux 02-07-1908.

Sister Saint-Hilaire (Lucie JUPIN) of Peyreleau (France). Abdominal tumor. 39 years old on 20-08-1904. Diocese and date of recognition: Rodez 10-05-1908.

Sister Sainte-Béatrix (Rosalie VILDIER) of Evreux (France). Laryngo-bronchitis, probably tubercular. 42 years old on 31-08-1904. Diocese and date of recognition: Evreux 25-03-1908.

Marie-Thérèse NOBLET from Avenay (France). Dorso-lumbar spondylitis. 15 years old on 31-08-1905. Diocese and date of recognition : Reims 11-02-1908.

Cécile DOUVILLE DE FRANSSU from Tournai (Belgium). Tuberculous peritonitis. 19 years old on 21-09-1905. Diocese and date of recognition: Versailles 08-12-1909.

Antonia MOULIN from Vienne (France). Fistula osteitis right femur, with arthritis knee. 30 years old on 10-08-1907. Diocese and date of recognition: Grenoble 06-11-1910.

Marie BOREL from Mende (France). Six pyo-stercoral fistulas, lumbar and abdominal regions. 27 years old on 21/22-08-1907. Diocese and date of recognition: Mende 04-06-1911.

Virginie HAUDEBOURG from Lons-le-Saulnier (France). Tuberculous cystitis, nephritis. 22 years old on 17-05-1908. Diocese and date of recognition: Saint-Claude 25-11-1912.

Marie BIRE from Sainte-Gemme-la-Plaine (France). Blindness of cerebral origin, bilateral papillary atrophy. 41 years old on 05-08-1908. Diocese and date of recognition: Luçon 30-07-1910.

Aimée ALLOPE from Vern (France). Numerous tubercular abscesses, 4 of which fistulized, anterior abdominal wall. 37 years old on 28-05-1909. Diocese and date of recognition: Angers 05-08-1910.

Juliette ORION from Saint-Hilaire-de-Voust (France). Pulmonary and laryngeal tuberculosis, suppurated left mastoiditis. 24 years old on 22-07-1910. Diocese and date of recognition: Luçon 18-10-1913.

Marie FABRE from Montredon (France). Muco-membranous enteritis, uterine prolapse. 32 years old on 26-09-1911. Diocese and date of recognition: Cahors 08-09-1912.

Henriette BRESSOLLES from Nice (France). Pott's disease, paraplegia. About 28 years old on 03-07-1924. Diocese and date of recognition : Nice 04-06-1957.

Lydia BROSSE from Saint-Raphaël (France). Multiple tubercular fistulas, with vast detachments (gluteal region G.). 41 years old on 11-10-1930. Diocese and date of recognition: Coutances 05-08-1958.

Sister Marie-Marguerite (Françoise CAPITAINE) from Rennes (France). Abscess of the left kidney with phlyctenular oedema and "heart attacks". 64 years old on 22-01-1937. Diocese and date of recognition: Rennes 20-05-1946.

Louise JAMAIN from Paris (France). Pulmonary, intestinal and peritoneal tuberculosis. 22 years old on 01-04-1937. Diocese and date of recognition: Paris 14-12-1951.

Francis PASCAL from Beaucaire (France). Blindness, paralysis of the lower limbs. 3 years 10 months to 31-08-1938. Diocese and date of recognition : Aix-en-Provence 31-05-1949.

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Gabrielle CLAUZEL from Oran (Algeria). Rheumatic spondylosis. 49 years old on 15-08-1943. Diocese and date of recognition: Oran (Algeria) 18-03-1948.

Yvonne FOURNIER from Limoges (France). Post-traumatic extenso-progressive syndrome of the left upper limb. (Leriche syndrome). 22 years old on 19-08-1945. Diocese and date of recognition: Paris 14-11-1959.

Rose MARTIN from Nice (France). Cancer of the cervix (glandular columnar epithelioma). 46 years old on 03-07-1947. Diocese and date of recognition: Nice 17-03-1958.

Jeanne GESTAS from Bègles (France). Dyspeptic disorders, with postoperative occlusive accidents. 50 years old on 22-08-1947. Diocese and date of recognition: Bordeaux 13-07-1952.

Marie-Thérèse CANIN from Marseille (France). Dosso-lumbar Pott's disease and fistulized tubercular peritonitis. 37 years old on 09-10-1947. Diocese and date of recognition: Marseille 06-06-1952.

Maddalena CARINI from San Remo (Italy). Peritoneal, pleuropulmonary and bone tuberculosis, with coronary artery disease. 31 years old on 15-08-1948. Diocese and date of recognition: Milan (Italy). 02-06-1960.

Jeanne FRETEL from Rennes (France). Tuberculous peritonitis. 34 years old on 08-10-1948. Diocese and date of recognition: Rennes 20-11-1950.

Théa ANGELE (Sister Marie-Mercédes) from Tettnang (Germany). Multiple sclerosis, for six years. 20 years old on 20-05-1950. Diocese and date of recognition: Tarbes-Lourdes 28-06-1961.

Evasio GANORA from Casale (Italy). Hodgkin's disease. 37 years old on 02-06-1950. Diocese and date of recognition: Casale (Italy) 31-05-1955.

Edeltraud FULDA from Vienna (Austria). Addison's disease. 34 years old on 12-08-1950. Diocese and date of recognition: Vienna (Austria) 18-05-1955.

Paul PELLEGRIN from Toulon (France). Post-operative fistula of a liver abscess. 52 years old on 03-10-1950. Diocese and date of recognition: Fréjus-Toulon 08-12-1953.

Brother Léo SCHWAGER from Fribourg (Switzerland). Multiple sclerosis for five years. 28 years old on 30-04-1952. Diocese and date of recognition: Geneva (Lausanne) Fribourg (Switzerland). 18-12-1960.

Alice COUTEAULT from Bouille-Loretz (France). Multiple sclerosis for three years. 34 years old on 15-05-1952. Diocese and date of recognition: Poitiers 16-07-1956.

Marie BIGOT of La Richardais (France). Arachnoiditis posterior fossa (blindness, deafness, hemiplegia). 31 years old on 08-10-1953 and 32 years old on 10-10-1954. Diocese and date of recognition: Rennes 15-08-1956.

Ginette NOUVEL from Carmaux (France). Budd-Chiari disease. (Thrombosis of the suprahepatic veins). 26 years old on 21-09-1954. Diocese and date of recognition: Albi 31-05-1963.

Elisa ALOI from Patti (Italy). Osteoarticular tuberculosis and fistulas with multiple locations of the right lower limb. 27 years old on 05-06-1958. Diocese and date of recognition: Messina (Italy) 26-05-1965.

Juliette TAMBURINI from Marseille (France). Femoral osteoperiostitis fistulized, epistaxis ten years old. 22 years old on 17-07-1959. Diocese and date of recognition: Marseille 11-05-1965.

Vittorio MICHELI from Scurelle (Italy). Sarcoma of the left hip. 23 years old on 01-06-1963. Diocese and date of recognition: Trento 26-05-1976.

Serge PERRIN from Lion d'Angers (France). Iterative right hemiplegia, with ocular lesions, due to bilateral carotid circulatory disorders. 41 years old on 01-05-1970. Diocese and date of recognition: Angers 17-06-1978.

Delizia CIROLLI from Paternò (Italy). Ewing's sarcoma of the right knee. 12 years old on 24-12-1976. Diocese and date of recognition: Catania (Italy) 28-06-1989.

Jean-Pierre BELY from La Couronne (France). Multiple sclerosis evolving since 15 years. 51 years old on 9.10.1987. Diocese and date of recognition: Angoulême 9.02.1999

Anna SANTANIELLO from Salerno (Italy). Cardiac decompensation by mitral disease following an acute rheumatic fever. 41 years old on 19-08-1952. Diocese and date of recognition: Salerno (Italy) 21-09-2005

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