Rachel Evans
Miracles are a significant aspect of the Catholic faith, and the Church acknowledges the existence of extraordinary phenomena that transcend the laws of nature. These phenomena are known as miracles and are considered reminders of God's power and glory. The Catholic Church has a specific procedure for recognizing miracles, and a Vatican-appointed Miracle Commission of scientific experts and theologians works to determine their authenticity. While the exact number of recognized Catholic miracles is challenging to pinpoint, there are dozens, if not more, of miracles acknowledged by the Church, with new miracles being reported and investigated each year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of miracles recognized by the Catholic Church | Dozens, with around 70 miracles recognized at Our Lady of Lourdes alone |
| Requirements to be considered a miracle | Attributable to divine power, manifested directly or indirectly through the intercessions and prayers of specific Catholic saints |
| Examples of miracles | Shroud of Turin, Eucharistic Miracles, Apparitions of the Virgin Mary, Incorrupt Saints, Healings, Exorcisms, Resurrection |
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What You'll Learn
The Shroud of Turin
The documented history of the shroud dates back to 1354, when it was exhibited in a collegiate church in Lirey, a village in north-central France. It was denounced as a forgery by the bishop of Troyes, Pierre d’Arcis, in 1389. It was acquired by the House of Savoy in 1453 and deposited in a chapel in Chambéry, where it was damaged by fire in 1532. In 1578, the shroud was moved to Turin, where it has remained ever since.
The shroud has been the subject of intense research and controversy. In 1978, microscopist and forensic expert Walter McCrone examined samples taken from the surface of the shroud and found that the image had been painted with a dilute solution of red ochre pigment in a gelatin medium. However, carbon dating attempts have produced conflicting results, with some suggesting the shroud was made in medieval times, while a recent controversial study dates it to the first century AD.
In 2002, the Holy See had the Shroud restored, making it possible to photograph and scan the reverse side of the cloth. A faint part-image of the body was found on the back of the Shroud in 2004. The Shroud was placed back on public display in Turin from 10 April to 23 May 2010, attracting over 2 million visitors. On Holy Saturday (30 March) 2013, images of the Shroud were streamed on various websites and television for the first time in 40 years.
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Incorrupt Saints
In Catholicism, an incorrupt saint is a person whose body experiences little to no decomposition after death. This is believed to be a result of divine intervention, symbolizing the holiness of the deceased during their time on Earth. The bodies of incorrupt saints are often found to be soft and pliable, with some even emitting a sweet fragrance. The phenomenon of incorruptibility is not limited to the Catholic Church, as it has also been observed in Eastern Orthodox saints.
The bodies of incorrupt saints are inspected by medical officials and sealed with wax to preserve their state. While the state of incorruptibility was previously considered a miracle towards an individual's cause for sainthood, it is no longer counted as such. However, it is still recognized as a supernatural occurrence by the Church. Incorruptibility is distinct from mummification, as the bodies of incorrupt saints are not dried or skeletal.
There are approximately 100 known incorrupt saints, with about half of them located in Italy. Some popular and well-known incorrupt saints include:
- St. Anthony of Padua (tongue) - Padua, Italy (1231)
- St. Clare of Assisi - Assisi, Italy (1253)
- St. Silvan - Dubrovnik, Croatia (350)
In recent times, Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, who died in 2019, was found to be incorrupt when exhumed in 2023.
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Eucharistic Miracles
A Eucharistic miracle is any miracle involving the Eucharist, where Christ is believed to be truly present in the Eucharist. Belief in approved miracles is not mandated by the Catholic Church, but they often serve to reassure believers of God's presence or as a means to "send a message" to the population.
The rarest reported types of Eucharistic miracles are where the Eucharist becomes human flesh, as in the Miracle of Lanciano, which is believed to have occurred in the 8th century in Italy. Another miracle is that of the Eucharist becoming human blood, as in the miracle of Santarém, Portugal, in the 13th century. The Catholic Church officially recognized both miracles as authentic.
A more commonly reported Eucharistic miracle is that of the Bleeding Host, where blood starts to trickle from a consecrated host, the bread consecrated during Mass. Other types of purported miracles include consecrated hosts being preserved for hundreds of years, such as the Miraculous Hosts of Siena; consecrated hosts passing through fire unscathed; stolen consecrated hosts vanishing and turning up in churches; and levitating consecrated hosts.
The Miracle of Bolsena-Orvieto is another example of a Eucharistic miracle. It is said to have appeared to a priest who doubted the doctrine of transubstantiation—that bread and wine turn into the literal body and blood of Christ during Communion. After consecrating the Eucharist, the host began bleeding onto the altar cloth. The liturgical cloth remains on display in the Cathedral of Orvieto, where people visit to venerate and honour this sign of one of the earliest Catholic Eucharistic miracles.
In Amsterdam in 1345, a devout Catholic man who had fallen ill desired to receive Communion. After administering the sacrament, the priest told the family to burn the sacraments in the fire if the sick man threw up. The man did throw up that evening, and his family cast the purged Eucharist into the fire, only to find the host had remained unscathed.
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Apparitions of the Virgin Mary
The evaluation and approval process for Marian apparitions has evolved over time. According to Catholic Church norms that have been in effect since the Council of Trent in the 16th century, the initial responsibility for evaluating the merits of an apparition falls to the bishop of the area in which the events allegedly occurred. The bishop considers various factors and can make one of three determinations: true and worthy of belief, not true but open for appeal, or unclear and requiring more information. If the bishop approves a Marian apparition, it is officially approved by the Church, although the Vatican may also provide additional approval. In 2024, the Church introduced a new process for approval to address the length and disagreement associated with the previous process. Now, the Church will no longer officially declare an apparition as worthy of belief unless the pope decides to do so.
There are several notable Marian apparitions that have been approved by the Church. One well-known apparition is Our Lady of Guadalupe, which occurred in 1531 in Mexico. Mary appeared to Juan Diego, an Aztec convert to Christianity, and instructed him to build a shrine outside Mexico City. When the local bishop did not believe Juan Diego, Mary instructed him to gather flowers in the snow, which he presented to the bishop. As the flowers fell to the floor, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe miraculously appeared on Juan Diego's cloak, which remains preserved today. This apparition led to the conversion of over nine million people to Catholicism.
Another famous apparition is Our Lady of Fatima, which occurred in 1917 in Fatima, Portugal. Three children, Jacinta Marto, Francisco Marto, and Lucia dos Santos, reported seeing the Virgin Mary several times. On October 13, 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared and predicted the end of World War I. The apparition at Knock, Ireland in 1879 had the greatest number of witnesses, with at least 15 people claiming to have seen Mary alongside other holy figures. Additionally, the Coptic Orthodox Church recognizes a mass apparition in Zeitoun, Cairo, where Mary appeared on the roof of a church between 1968 and 1971, attracting thousands of people.
Marian apparitions that have not received approval from the Church are known as "non constat de supernaturalitate" or "non constat" for short. These apparitions lack approval for public veneration or pilgrimages. However, some rejected apparitions continue to have a substantial following and may be approved later if new evidence emerges.
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Healings and Exorcisms
The Catholic Church believes in miracles, which are considered deeply rooted in the faith, representing the life and work of God. These miracles can be manifested through the prayers of saints or directly by God. Healings and exorcisms are two types of miracles recognised by the Catholic Church.
Healings
The Catholic Church recognises miracles that involve healing from grave medical conditions. One of the most well-known healing miracles is the healing of the blind man, as described in John 9:1-7. In this account, Jesus passed by a man blind since birth and anointed his eyes. He then told the man to wash in the Pool of Siloam, and the man's sight was restored.
Another healing miracle recognised by the Church is the raising of Lazarus from the dead, as recorded in John 11:1-45. This miracle demonstrates Jesus' power over death.
In addition to these biblical miracles, the Church has also recognised more recent healing miracles. For example, in 2008, a miracle was recognised at the Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France, marking the 70th recognised Lourdes miracle.
Exorcisms
Exorcism is a ritual performed by the Catholic Church to drive out demons or evil spirits from a person or place. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines exorcism as "the Church asking publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected from the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion." Exorcisms are considered a legitimate religious rite, distinct from superstition or magic.
The Catholic Church has established guidelines and procedures for performing exorcisms, including the Rituale Romanum, which was revised by the Vatican in 1999. According to these guidelines, exorcisms can only be performed by ordained priests or higher prelates with express permission from the local bishop. Additionally, a careful medical examination is required to rule out the possibility of mental illness or personality disorders before proceeding with an exorcism.
The ritual of exorcism involves restraining the possessed person to prevent harm to themselves or others. The exorcist then recites prayers such as the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, and the Athanasian Creed, while using a cross and holy water.
While exorcisms have been portrayed in popular culture through movies like "The Exorcist" and "The Exorcism of Emily Rose," it's important to distinguish fact from fiction. Exorcisms are not limited to Catholics, as Christians also believe in the power to command demons in the name of Christ.
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Frequently asked questions
There are dozens of miracles recognized by the Catholic Church, with around 70 miracles recognized at the sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes alone. Each year, thousands of people inform the Catholic Church of potential miracles.
Some of the most well-known Catholic miracles include:
- The Shroud of Turin
- The Virgin Mary's apparition to children in a Portuguese village in 1917
- The Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France in 2008
- The Eucharistic Miracle at the Marian Shrine of Finca Betania in Cúa, Venezuela, in 1991
- The incorrupt body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, exhumed in 2023, four years after her death
The Catholic Church acknowledges the existence of miracles, which are viewed as signs of God's power, love, and compassion. Miracles are considered a reminder of God's presence and a way to bring people closer to Him.
For an act to be considered a Catholic miracle, it must meet specific requirements set by the Catholic Church. One of the most important criteria is that the event can be directly attributed to divine power and cannot be explained by natural causes.
