Great miracles

The feeding of the five thousand

“Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!””

Witnesses

About five thousand men, by the Gospel's count, who ate the bread and fish

Read it in the source: Bible Gateway, RSV Catholic Edition

The paralytic at Capernaum

“But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!””

Witnesses

A crowd that filled the house and blocked the door, with some of the scribes sitting there

Read it in the source: Bible Gateway, RSV Catholic Edition

The man born blind, examined by the Pharisees

“The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; … So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.””

Investigation

The Pharisees questioned the man twice and called his parents, who confirmed that he was their son and was born blind

Read it in the source: Bible Gateway, RSV Catholic Edition

The raising of Lazarus

“Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” … When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Laz′arus, come out.” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” … Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him;”

Witnesses

Martha, Mary and many of the Jews who had come with Mary and were standing by

Read it in the source: Bible Gateway, RSV Catholic Edition

The raising of Lazarus

“but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council, and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on thus, every one will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.””

Investigation

The chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council after witnesses reported the event

Read it in the source: Bible Gateway, RSV Catholic Edition

The Resurrection of Jesus

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”

Witnesses

Cephas, the twelve, more than five hundred brethren at one time, James, all the apostles, and Paul

Read it in the source: Bible Gateway, RSV Catholic Edition

The Resurrection of Jesus

“Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!””

Witnesses

The disciples, and Thomas, who had refused to believe their report

Read it in the source: Bible Gateway, RSV Catholic Edition

The Resurrection of Jesus

“While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed; and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.”

Read it in the source: Bible Gateway, RSV Catholic Edition

The Resurrection of Jesus

“And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest; not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.”

Witnesses

The apostles, who say they ate and drank with him after he rose

Read it in the source: Bible Gateway, RSV Catholic Edition

Pentecost

“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and wondered, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?”

Witnesses

A multitude of Jews from many nations then in Jerusalem. Acts adds that some mocked and said the apostles were filled with new wine

Read it in the source: Bible Gateway, RSV Catholic Edition

The healing at the Beautiful Gate

“But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and walked and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

Witnesses

All the people in the temple, who recognized the man as the beggar who sat at the gate

Read it in the source: Bible Gateway, RSV Catholic Edition

The healing at the Beautiful Gate

“But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. … For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.”

Investigation

Peter and John were examined by the council, with the healed man standing beside them

Read it in the source: Bible Gateway, RSV Catholic Edition

Eutychus raised at Troas

“And a young man named Eu′tychus was sitting in the window. He sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer; and being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and embracing him said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. And they took the lad away alive, and were not a little comforted.”

Witnesses

The Christians of Troas gathered to break bread. The passage is told in the first person: “when we were gathered together”

Read it in the source: Bible Gateway, RSV Catholic Edition

Witnesses of the Resurrection who died as martyrs

“Let us take the noble examples furnished in our own generation. Through envy and jealousy the greatest and most righteous pillars [of the church] have been persecuted and put to death. Let us set before our eyes the illustrious apostles. Peter, through unrighteous envy, endured not one or two, but numerous labours; and when he had at length suffered martyrdom, departed to the place of glory due to him. Owing to envy, Paul also obtained the reward of patient endurance, after being seven times thrown into captivity, compelled to flee, and stoned.”

Read it in the source: New Advent

The Resurrection of Jesus

“For I know that after His resurrection also He was still possessed of flesh, and I believe that He is so now. When, for instance, He came to those who were with Peter, He said to them, Lay hold, handle Me, and see that I am not an incorporeal spirit. And immediately they touched Him, and believed, being convinced both by His flesh and spirit. For this cause also they despised death, and were found its conquerors. And after his resurrection He ate and drank with them, as being possessed of flesh, although spiritually He was united to the Father.”

Read it in the source: New Advent

People healed by Christ who lived on for years

“But the works of our Saviour were always present, for they were genuine:— those that were healed, and those that were raised from the dead, who were seen not only when they were healed and when they were raised, but were also always present; and not merely while the Saviour was on earth, but also after his death, they were alive for quite a while, so that some of them lived even to our day.”

Witnesses

Those healed and raised by Christ, some of whom, Quadratus says, lived to his own day

Read it in the source: New Advent

Healings reported in the Church of the second century

“For some do certainly and truly drive out devils, so that those who have thus been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe [in Christ], and join themselves to the Church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come: they see visions, and utter prophetic expressions. Others still, heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and they are made whole. Yea, moreover, as I have said, the dead even have been raised up, and remained among us for many years.”

Read it in the source: New Advent

An emperor cured by a Christian

“How many men of rank (to say nothing of common people) have been delivered from devils, and healed of diseases! Even Severus himself, the father of Antonine, was graciously mindful of the Christians; for he sought out the Christian Proculus, surnamed Torpacion, the steward of Euhodias, and in gratitude for his having once cured him by anointing, he kept him in his palace till the day of his death.”

Witnesses

Tertullian names the man cured, the emperor Severus, and the Christian who anointed him, Proculus

Read it in the source: New Advent

A pagan critic grants the miracles of Jesus and calls them sorcery

“Celsus, however, accepting or granting that Jesus foreknew what would befall Him, might think to make light of the admission, as he did in the case of the miracles, when he alleged that they were wrought by means of sorcery; … But this concession he would not make, as being too great a one; and although he somehow granted that Jesus worked miracles, he thought to weaken the force of this by the charge of sorcery.”

Read it in the source: New Advent

St. Gregory the Wonderworker

“To recount all his wonderful works in detail would be too long a task. By the superabundance of gifts, wrought in him by the Spirit in all power and in signs and in marvels, he was styled a second Moses by the very enemies of the Church. … To this day he is a great object of admiration to the people of his own neighbourhood, and his memory, established in the churches ever fresh and green, is not dulled by length of time.”

Read it in the source: New Advent

Healings at the prayer of St. Antony of Egypt

“And with those who suffered he sympathised and prayed. And oft-times the Lord heard him on behalf of many: yet he boasted not because he was heard, nor did he murmur if he were not. But always he gave the Lord thanks and besought the sufferer to be patient, and to know that healing belonged neither to him nor to man at all, but only to the Lord, who does good when and to whom He will. … And those who were healed were taught not to give thanks to Antony but to God alone.”

Witnesses

Athanasius says in his preface that he writes what he himself knows, having seen Antony many times and attended on him

Read it in the source: New Advent

St. Martin of Tours and the dead catechumen

“Having given himself for some time to earnest prayer, and perceiving by means of the Spirit of God that power was present, he then rose up for a little, and gazing on the countenance of the deceased, he waited without misgiving for the result of his prayer and of the mercy of the Lord. And scarcely had the space of two hours elapsed, when he saw the dead man begin to move a little in all his members, and to tremble with his eyes opened for the practice of sight. … Thus being restored to life, and having immediately obtained baptism, he lived for many years afterwards”

Witnesses

Sulpicius says in chapter 1 that he has written nothing of which he did not have certain knowledge and evidence

Read it in the source: New Advent

A blind man healed at Milan

“They deny that the blind man received sight, but he denies not that he is healed. He says: I who could not see now see. He says: I ceased to be blind, and proves it by the fact. They deny the benefit, who are unable to deny the fact. The man is known: so long as he was well he was employed in the public service; his name is Severus, a butcher by trade. He had given up his occupation when this hindrance befell him. He calls for evidence those persons by whose kindness he was supported; he adduces those as able to affirm the truth of his visitation whom he had as witnesses of his blindness.”

Witnesses

An enormous concourse of people over two days, by Ambrose's account in the same letter. The man healed is named: Severus, a butcher

Investigation

Ambrose says the man called as evidence those who had supported him while he was blind

Read it in the source: New Advent

A blind man healed at Milan

“For when they were revealed and dug up and with due honour transferred to the Ambrosian Basilica, not only they who were troubled with unclean spirits (the devils confessing themselves) were healed, but a certain man also, who had been blind many years, a well-known citizen of that city, having asked and been told the reason of the people's tumultuous joy, rushed forth, asking his guide to lead him there. Arrived there, he begged to be permitted to touch with his handkerchief the bier of Your saints, whose death is precious in Your sight. When he had done this, and put it to his eyes, they were immediately opened.”

Witnesses

Augustine describes the man as a well-known citizen of Milan who had been blind many years

Read it in the source: New Advent

A blind man healed at Milan

“The miracle which was wrought at Milan when I was there, and by which a blind man was restored to sight, could come to the knowledge of many; for not only is the city a large one, but also the emperor was there at the time, and the occurrence was witnessed by an immense concourse of people that had gathered to the bodies of the martyrs Protasius and Gervasius, which had long lain concealed and unknown, but were now made known to the bishop Ambrose in a dream, and discovered by him.”

Witnesses

An immense concourse of people, with the emperor in the city at the time. Augustine says he was there

Read it in the source: New Advent

Innocentius of Carthage healed before surgery

“The dreaded day dawned. The servants of God were present, as they had promised to be; the surgeons arrived; all that the circumstances required was ready; the frightful instruments are produced; all look on in wonder and suspense. While those who have most influence with the patient are cheering his fainting spirit, his limbs are arranged on the couch so as to suit the hand of the operator; the knots of the bandages are untied; the part is bared; the surgeon examines it, and, with knife in hand, eagerly looks for the sinus that is to be cut. He searches for it with his eyes; he feels for it with his finger; he applies every kind of scrutiny: he finds a perfectly firm cicatrix!”

Witnesses

Augustine, who says the cure was wrought “in my presence, and under my own eyes”, with Alypius and others who had prayed with the patient the evening before

Medical finding

The surgeon who had come to operate examined the place and found a firm scar

Read it in the source: New Advent

Innocentia of Carthage healed of cancer of the breast

“On the approach of Easter, she was instructed in a dream to wait for the first woman that came out from the baptistery after being baptized, and to ask her to make the sign of Christ upon her sore. She did so, and was immediately cured. The physician who had advised her to apply no remedy if she wished to live a little longer, when he had examined her after this, and found that she who, on his former examination, was afflicted with that disease was now perfectly cured, eagerly asked her what remedy she had used”

Medical finding

Her physician had judged the disease incurable and advised no treatment. He examined her again afterwards and found her cured

Read it in the source: New Advent

Healings recorded at Hippo

“For when I saw, in our own times, frequent signs of the presence of divine powers similar to those which had been given of old, I desired that narratives might be written, judging that the multitude should not remain ignorant of these things. It is not yet two years since these relics were first brought to Hippo-regius, and though many of the miracles which have been wrought by it have not, as I have the most certain means of knowing, been recorded, those which have been published amount to almost seventy at the hour at which I write.”

Investigation

Augustine, the bishop, had written accounts taken from those healed. He says elsewhere in the chapter that these pamphlets were read publicly in church

Read it in the source: New Advent

Paulus and Palladia healed at Hippo

“Easter arrived, and on the Lord's day, in the morning, when there was now a large crowd present, and the young man was holding the bars of the holy place where the relics were, and praying, suddenly he fell down, and lay precisely as if asleep, but not trembling as he was wont to do even in sleep. All present were astonished. … And behold! He rose up, and trembled no more, for he was healed, and stood quite well, scanning those who were scanning him. … The whole congregation, men and women alike, saw the one standing without any unnatural movement, the other trembling in all her limbs”

Witnesses

The Easter congregation at Hippo. Augustine says he supposes no inhabitant of Hippo did not see or hear of it

Investigation

Augustine had the man's written narrative read to the people on the third day after Easter Sunday, with brother and sister standing in view

Read it in the source: New Advent

A pope's caution to a missionary who worked miracles

“For I know that Almighty God has displayed great miracles through your Love in the nation which He has willed to be chosen. Wherefore you must needs rejoice with fear for this same heavenly gift, and tremble in rejoicing:— rejoice, that is, because the souls of the Angli are drawn by outward miracles to inward grace; but tremble, lest among the signs that are done the infirm mind lift itself up to presumption about itself, and from being exalted in honour outwardly, fall inwardly through vain glory.”

Read it in the source: New Advent

The body of St. Cuthbert found incorrupt

“when he had been buried eleven years, Divine Providence put it into the minds of the brethren to take up his bones, expecting, as is usual with dead bodies, to find all the flesh consumed and reduced to ashes, and the rest dried up, and intending to put the same into a new coffin, and to lay them in the same place, but above the pavement, for the honour due to him. They acquainted Bishop Edbert with their design, and he consented to it, and ordered that the same should be done on the anniversary of his burial. They did so, and opening the grave, found all the body whole, as if it had been alive, and the joints pliable, more like one asleep than a dead person”

Witnesses

The monks who opened the grave with the consent of Bishop Edbert, and who reported at once to him

Read it in the source: Fordham Sourcebook

The stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi

“In 1224, at the hermitage in La Verna, Francis had a vision of the Crucified Lord in the form of a seraph and from that encounter received the stigmata from the Seraph Crucifix, thus becoming one with the Crucified Christ. It was a gift, therefore, that expressed his intimate identification with the Lord.”

Read it in the source: vatican.va

The stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi

“I am happy to meet you, in the year in which we commemorate the eighth centenary of the gift of the stigmata, which Saint Francis received in Verna on 14 September 1224, two years before his death. Thank you for bringing here the relic of his blood, which is making a long pilgrimage in various communities”

Where it can be seen

A relic of the saint's blood, which the Pope says was brought to him and is being taken on pilgrimage to various communities

Read it in the source: vatican.va

Lourdes: the cure of Louis Bouriette

“Louis BOURIETTE of Lourdes (France). Injury to the right eye dating back 20 years, with amaurosis (loss of sight) for 2 years. Aged 54 in March 1858. Diocese and date of recognition: Tarbes, 18 January 1862.”

Our translation. The words as written, in French:

“Louis BOURIETTE de Lourdes (France). Traumatisme de l’œil droit datant de 20 ans, avec amaurose depuis 2 ans. 54 ans en mars 1858. Diocèse et date de reconnaissance : Tarbes, 18-01-1862.”

Medical finding

The diagnosis on the sanctuary's list: an injury to the right eye twenty years old, with loss of sight for two years

Church ruling

Recognized as miraculous in the diocese of Tarbes, 18 January 1862

Read it in the source: lourdes-france.com

Lourdes: the bishop's decree on the first seven cures

“On that same day (18 January 1862), he declared by Decree that seven cures, among the hundreds examined by Prof Henri Vergez, were “miraculous”.”

Investigation

Hundreds of cures were examined by Prof Henri Vergez

Church ruling

Mgr Bertrand-Sévère Laurence, Bishop of Tarbes, declared seven cures miraculous by decree of 18 January 1862

Read it in the source: lourdes-france.com

Miracles as signs of revelation

“Nevertheless, in order that the submission of our faith should be in accordance with reason, it was God’s will that there should be linked to the internal assistance of the holy Spirit external indications of his revelation, that is to say divine acts, and first and foremost miracles and prophecies, which clearly demonstrating as they do the omnipotence and infinite knowledge of God, are the most certain signs of revelation and are suited to the understanding of all.”

Read it in the source: Papal Encyclicals Online

Miracles as signs of revelation

“If anyone says that all miracles are impossible, and that therefore all reports of them, even those contained in sacred scripture, are to be set aside as fables or myths; or that miracles can never be known with certainty, nor can the divine origin of the christian religion be proved from them: let him be anathema.”

Read it in the source: Papal Encyclicals Online

Lourdes: the cure of Pierre De Rudder

“Pierre DE RUDDER of Jabbeke (Belgium). Open fracture of the left leg, with pseudarthrosis (a break that had failed to knit). Aged 52 on 7 April 1875. Diocese and date of recognition: Bruges (Belgium), 25 July 1908.”

Our translation. The words as written, in French:

“Pierre DE RUDDER de Jabbeke (Belgique). Fracture ouverte de la jambe gauche, avec pseudarthrose. 52 ans au 07-04-1875. Diocèse et date de reconnaissance : Bruges (Belgique) 25-07-1908.”

Medical finding

The diagnosis on the sanctuary's list: an open fracture of the left leg that had not united

Church ruling

Recognized as miraculous in the diocese of Bruges, 25 July 1908

Read it in the source: lourdes-france.com

Lourdes: the Medical Bureau is founded

“At the request of Father Rémi Sempé, Father of Garaison, first Rector of the Sanctuary, Dr Georges-Fernand Dunot de Saint-Maclou established the “Bureau des Constatations Médicales” (Medical Bureau of the Sanctuary), so that no one would leave Lourdes claiming to be “cured” without having submitted his or her healing story to a rigorous and collegiate medical assessment. In 1886, through the Archbishop of Cagliari, Monsignor Vincenzo Gregorio Berchialla, Pope Leo XIII gave his approval to the rigorous procedures of the Medical Bureau of Lourdes. And in 1905, the Bishop of Tarbes received confirmation from the Holy See of his right to use the procedures of the Medical Bureau of the Sanctuary to study the reported cures.”

Investigation

A permanent medical office at the shrine, founded in 1883, examines reported cures

Church ruling

Pope Leo XIII approved the Bureau's procedures in 1886. The Holy See confirmed the Bishop of Tarbes's right to use them in 1905

Read it in the source: lourdes-france.org

Fatima: a miracle announced three months ahead

“- I would like to ask you to tell us who you are, and to work a miracle so that everybody will believe that you are appearing to us. - Continue to come here every month. In October, I will tell you who I am and what I want, and I will perform a miracle for all to see and believe.”

Witnesses

The shrine gives the number present on 13 July as 4000 to 5000 or 2000 to 3000, and on 13 October as 50000 to 70000

Investigation

The shrine notes that parts of its narrative come from the parish priest's questioning of the children on 14 July 1917

Read it in the source: fatima.pt

Fatima: the miracle of the sun

“On the last apparition day, on October 13, the Cova da Iria is presented with a sea of people. The account of the newspaper O Século, October 15, describes what the 70 thousand people could see on the spot: “Before the dazzled eyes of those people, whose attitude transfers us to the biblical times, and which, dumbfounded, with the head uncovered, look up into the blue sky, the sun trembled, the sun had never seen sudden movements against all cosmic laws - the sun "danced", according to the typical expression of the peasants.””

Witnesses

70 thousand people, the figure the shrine gives with the account of O Século

Investigation

The account was printed in the Lisbon newspaper O Século two days later, written by Avelino de Almeida

Read it in the source: fatima.pt

Fatima: the miracle of the sun

“The last seer of Fatima responds, in Oporto, to the official interrogation of the Diocesan Canonical Commission, named by José Alves Correia da Silva, Bishop of Leiria, about the events of Fatima. This statement was enclosed with the Diocesan Canonical Process. Following this process, the Bishop of Leiria declared on October 13, 1930, in the Pastoral Letter on the cult of Our Lady of Fatima, «worthy of belief the visions of the children in the Cova da Iria, parish of Fatima, of this Diocese, on 13 May through October 1917».”

Investigation

A Diocesan Canonical Commission named by the Bishop of Leiria. It questioned Lucia officially on 8 July 1924

Church ruling

The Bishop of Leiria declared the visions of the children worthy of belief in a pastoral letter of 13 October 1930

Read it in the source: fatima.pt

The stigmata of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

“Because he said Mass humbly, heard confessions from dawn to dusk and was – it is not easy to say it – one who bore the wounds of our Lord. He was a man of prayer and suffering”.”

Investigation

The biography says he had to submit to investigations and to restrictions on his priestly ministry, and accepted them

Read it in the source: vatican.va

Lourdes: the cure of John Traynor

“John Jack Traynor (England). Seriously wounded during the First World War; [the cure] took place at Lourdes in 1923 during the first pilgrimage of the diocese of Liverpool (England). Diocese and date of recognition: Liverpool, 8 December 2024.”

Our translation. The words as written, in French:

“John Jack Traynor, (Angleterre). Grièvement blessé pendant la première guerre mondiale, survenue à Lourdes en 1923 à l’occasion du premier pèlerinage du diocèse de Liverpool (Angleterre) Diocèse et date de reconnaissance : Liverpool, 8-12-2024”

Church ruling

Recognized as miraculous, Liverpool, 8 December 2024

Read it in the source: lourdes-france.com

Lourdes: the cure of Jean-Pierre Bély

“Jean-Pierre BÉLY of La Couronne (France). Multiple sclerosis, progressing for 15 years. Aged 51 on 9 October 1987. Diocese and date of recognition: Angoulême, 9 February 1999.”

Our translation. The words as written, in French:

“Jean-Pierre BÉLY de La Couronne (France). Sclérose en plaques évolutive depuis 15 ans. 51 ans au 9.10.1987. Diocèse et date de reconnaissance : Angoulême 9.02.1999”

Medical finding

The diagnosis on the sanctuary's list: multiple sclerosis that had been progressing for fifteen years

Church ruling

Recognized as miraculous in the diocese of Angoulême, 9 February 1999

Read it in the source: lourdes-france.com

What moves us to believe

“What moves us to believe is not the fact that revealed truths appear as true and intelligible in the light of our natural reason: we believe "because of the authority of God himself who reveals them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived". So "that the submission of our faith might nevertheless be in accordance with reason, God willed that external proofs of his Revelation should be joined to the internal helps of the Holy Spirit." Thus the miracles of Christ and the saints, prophecies, the Church's growth and holiness, and her fruitfulness and stability "are the most certain signs of divine Revelation, adapted to the intelligence of all"; they are "motives of credibility" (motiva credibilitatis), which show that the assent of faith is "by no means a blind impulse of the mind".”

Read it in the source: vatican.va

What the miracles of Jesus are for

“The signs worked by Jesus attest that the Father has sent him. They invite belief in him. To those who turn to him in faith, he grants what they ask. So miracles strengthen faith in the One who does his Father's works; they bear witness that he is the Son of God. But his miracles can also be occasions for "offence"; they are not intended to satisfy people's curiosity or desire for magic Despite his evident miracles some people reject Jesus; he is even accused of acting by the power of demons.”

Read it in the source: vatican.va

How the Church now rules on reported supernatural events

“it must be noted that, as a general rule, it is not foreseen in these Norms that ecclesiastical authority would give a positive recognition of the divine origin of alleged supernatural phenomena. 12. Whenever a Nihil obstat is granted by the Dicastery (cf. Par. 17, below), such phenomena do not become objects of faith, which means the faithful are not obliged to give an assent of faith to them.”

Read it in the source: vatican.va

Lourdes: how a cure is examined

“If the doctors collectively decide to continue the investigation, the cure is then subject to a long research process, which may last several years, and at the end of which the members of the International Medical Committee of Lourdes (CMIL) vote that the cure is “unexplained in the present state of our knowledge”. The result of the CMIL vote is then reported to the bishop of the cured person’s place of residence. It is then up to the bishop, as the representative of the Church hierarchy, to decide whether to declare a miracle.”

Investigation

The permanent doctor of the Medical Bureau, then the doctors present at Lourdes, then the International Medical Committee of Lourdes

Medical finding

The doctors vote only on whether the cure is “unexplained in the present state of our knowledge”

Church ruling

The bishop of the cured person's place of residence decides whether to declare a miracle

Read it in the source: lourdes-france.org

Lourdes: the criteria the doctors apply

“The 1st criterion is that the disease is serious, with an unfavourable prognosis. Secondly, the disease must be known and recorded by medicine. Thirdly, this disease must be organic, lesional, that is to say, there must be objective, biological, radiological criteria, everything that currently exists in medicine; … Fourthly, there must not have been any treatment to which the cure could be attributed. The 5th criterion concerns the timing of the cure itself: recovery must be sudden, instantaneous, immediate and without convalescence. Finally, after the cure, there are two additional criteria: it must not simply be a regression of symptoms but a return of all vital functions, and finally, it must not simply be a remission but a cure, i.e. lasting and definitive.”

Medical finding

Seven criteria: a serious disease, known to medicine, organic with objective evidence, no treatment that could account for the cure, a sudden recovery, a return of all functions, and a lasting cure

Read it in the source: lourdes-france.org

Lourdes: 72 cures recognized out of more than 7,000 reported

“Of the more than 7,000 cases of healing reported at Lourdes since the apparitions, 72 have so far been recognised as miraculous by the Church. More than 80% of the cures recognised as miraculous have been women. The youngest person whose cure was recognised as miraculous was 2 years old.”

Investigation

More than 7,000 cases of healing reported at Lourdes since the apparitions

Church ruling

72 recognized as miraculous by the Church so far. The page lists each by name with the date of recognition

Read it in the source: lourdes-france.com