Miracles: Their Importance Today

7/27/2019 Miracles: Their Importance Today

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Miracles:

Their Importance Today

By

Clinton R. LeFort

MelatiaeTrade Publishing


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What is a Miracle?

In order to better understand the nature of a miracle and the rolethey play in the growth of faith, we must rst dene it. One way toapproach this understanding is to look at the way the Church sees theway the miracles of the Saints is a help to the faithful in pursuing the

life of holiness in Jesus Christ.At the conclusion of the Council of Trent the Church Fathers made

this statement regarding the use of the images of the Saints:From all sacred images great prot is derived not only because the people are

reminded of the benets and gifts, which are bestowed upon them by Christ,but also, because through the miracles of God and salutary examples are setbefore the eyes of the faithful, so that they may give thanks to God for thosethings, may fashion their own lives and conduct in imitation of the saints, and

be stimulated to adore and love God, and to cultivate piety. (Denziger 987) We will look at several points taught by the Council.First,

we learn that the Church has always seen the importance ofmiracles, but in time, the Church saw that the miracles of Jesusand the saints-those who followed closely the Master-were alsoof great importance for providing inspiration and guidance to thefaithful.

Secondly, that sacred images which remind a person of the actsof God, the Incarnate Word, the saints, Martyrs, are given thestatus of sacred. Just as the Church has for centuries seen relicsof the Saints as a means of inspiring the faithful, so the imagesof the Saints are also seen as helpful in aiding the faithful to liftup there minds and hearts to God.1 The revised Enchiridion ofIndulgences has provided three grants for the faithful.

Thirdly, the faithful are reminded of benets and gifts, which

they accrue thru the use of these sacred images. What benetsmight the Church be referring to? The benets that come

1 The Church also provides indulgences for the faithful who raisetheir minds and hearts to God while performing their duties, andusing any form of invocation so as to unite their actions to God inprayer. Enchiridion of Indulgences (1968)


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from being part of the communion of Saints, members of thehousehold of God, called to share in the divine nature, thepromises and blessings of eternal life.

Fourthly, the miracles of God and salutary examples are given

which keep the mind and heart in God and not in the world;keep us loving God with our whole minds, hearts and soul, whileliving in the world. The examples of the Saints remind us thatthere is a right and wrong way to do anything. Christian Wisdomtells us it is better for our eternal happiness to follow thosewho choose to do things the right way. Also, there is a furtheradvantage to following the examples of the saints, we discern forourselves the Work of God.

Fifthly,we learn to give thanks to God, for the many benets thatcome to us daily from the communion of the Saints.

Sixthly,we learn to fashion our lives on those who have gainedthe prize in Christ.

Seventhly, we learn to discern more fully how our lives are inunion with Jesus life.

Eighthly, we are stimulated to adore and love God who is worthy

of our whole lives. We become less side-tracked by superuousthoughts and deeds, so that we can keep and pure heart in thehope of obtaining the prize with those who have gone before us.

Lastly, we cultivate piety, which means that we sincerely learn tocall God Our Father.

We will now look at the miracles of the Old Testament and how thesacred writers indicated them.


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WHY ARE MIRACLES ARE IMPORTANTTODAY?

Signify a Reality Above NatureMiracles are important today because they bear give witness to things

above nature. We live as humans with a human nature, yet asChristians we are called to share in the divine nature. (2 Pt. 1:4) Weshare in this divine nature thru adopted sonship given to us in Christ.Aquinas says that we share in this divine nature thru a similitude;that is, thru a likeness to God. (S.T.,I,Q13,a9)The Fathers of the

Church used to speak about divination or becoming like unto God.The spiritual writers of the Church teach that there are many degreesof union with God; beginner, procient, perfect. Persons at differentdegrees of union will understand and treat miracles differently. Theperfect always use miracles as a way of accomplishing the will of God.For example, when Jesus was raising Lazarus from the dead he spoketo his Father:

Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but

because of the crown here I have said this, that they may believe that you sentme. (Jn. 11:41-42)

It was only after he had addressed his heavenly Father that he calledLazarus from the tomb. In other words, we do need to search foranything other than the will of God in Miracles.

Man is made for eternal qualities.

Another reason miracles are important is because of the eternalqualities that are revealed in a miracle. Since Miracles reveal thingsthat are above reason and the senses as their cause, the mind seekscauses above the whole of creation. Since there is only one causeabove all creation; the mind is caught in wonder at the power of God,regardless of being unable to understand it.

As a defense against materialism

Miracles can be seen as a ladder which leads away from materialism.The power of the supernatural looms around the miracle. A person isshaken from sensible and launched on the intelligible world. Again,from the intelligible world it must seek the reality which is beyondrational causes, since there is no proof of natural causes working in


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miracles.

To give witness to the Gospel.

Since miracles are a gift of God, both the worker of miracles and thereceiver of miracles bring glory to the Gospel truths. Jesus said thatthose who believed would be able to do these things. (Mk. 16:18) Inother words, faith is the cause of miracles.2

The second reason is because faith is based chiey on the divine power, whichit conceived as being the motive or medium of assent to things which appearto be above reason: wherefore the divine power in miraculous works comesespecially to the assistance of faith.3

The performer of miracles and the receiver of miracles both give witnessto the divine power, which is the ultimate cause of miracles. Faithis the instrumental cause, which works as the medium of the divinepower. Thee is no greater means to union with God than faith.4 Thecause of faith is also the divine power. It is because of the divine powerthat faith, moved by charity, works in obedience to the divine power.Without me you can do nothing. (Jn. 15:5)

To encourage the transformation of society.Miracles give witness to the transformation into a Christian society;that is, since miracles are caused by faith, society will not be therecipients of miracles without the Christian presence. God will alwaysbear witness to himself thru the witness of miracles in society. Thisis evident tin the 2000 years of Church history, which has been thewitness of thousands of miracles in almost every culture on the faceof the earth and in almost every kind of circumstance in which peoplelive. See here the present Vatican Exhibition Eucharistic Miraclesof the World, which is only display throughout the world. It chartsmiracles that have take place in many countries as well as Eucharisticmiracles related to Saints lives.

We have looked at several reason why miracles are importanttoday. We will now look briey at the ways in which miracles wereknown or indicated in the Old Testament.

2 Aquinas, De Potentia, Q.6,art.9, pgs. 213-221.

3 ibid.

4 JohnoftheCross.TheCollectedWorksofSt.JohnoftheCross.

Washington,D.C.:InstituteofCarmeliteStudies,1979,pg.129-30.


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Old Testament Terminology for a Miracle

Terms Used for MiraclesThe Old Testament used several terms to indicate a miracle. One termthat the LXX (septuagint) uses is semeion or sign, which is an eventwith special emphasis on the importance of the event. In the book ofnumbers the author is recounting what happened when Dathan andAbiram revolted against Moses (Num. 26:10). The earth opened itsmouth and swallowed them as a warning.. The word for warning usedby the Hebrew text is nec, which means signal, sign, banner. It is used

throughout the Old Testament in various important texts to indicatea warning to those who do not do the will of the Lord or to indicatethe way God protects his people. When the text was translated by theMasoretes (7c-11c B.C.E.) the word semeion or sign was used.Another terms used in the Old Testament for miracle is sign ormark, transliterated as yot. It is a mark or sign associated witha person of importance. For example, in the Book of Daniel, King

Nebuchadnezzar says It has seemed good to me to publish the signsand wonders which the most high God has accomplished in myregard. (Dan. 3:99) He goes on to say How great are his signs, howmighty his wonders (Dan. 3:100) In both instances the same wordis used to designate sign, which means mark, or token by which aperson is known.5

5 NIDOTTE, 1:326.


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Miracles of the Old Testament

The Old Testament miracles are mostly related to the events oflife and deathThe Book of Genesis says said that Enoch walkedwith God, and he was no longer here, for God took him. (Gen.5:24) This is a miracle that God can go beyond the natural pathof life and death, perhaps a foreshadowing of the Resurrection.The Book of Wisdom says that

He who pleased God was loved;he who lived among sinners was

transported-Snatched away lest wickedness pervert hismind. (Wis. 4:10)

What does all this mean except that from the very beginning God wasshowing himself in signs and wonders, so as to lead his people tohimself.

Elijah

Elijah is said to have lived during the reign of Ahab (9c. B.C.E.) Elijah performs several miracles during his lifetime. It seems that

one is greater that the one that went before. His rst miracle wascoupled with his prophecy that during these years there shall beno rain except at byword. (1Kgs. 17:1) Then even though therewas no rain, God intervenes in Elijahs life and tells him to goeast and hide in the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan. You shalldrink of the stream, and I have commanded ravens to feed youthere. (1 Kgs. 17:3-4) We can understand that God had calledElijah into his service and God was miraculously providing forhis life. After he arrives at the steam at the Wadi Cherith, thebook of Kings said

Ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meatin the evening, and he drank from the stream. (1 Kgs. 17:6)

We can understand right away that Elijah was a prophet of deepfaith. In other words, God doesnt perform a miracle for justanyone, but he does this for the sake of certain persons and forthe sake of those he calls to live this faith.

Elijah moves to Zarephath. After a short while, the streamat Wadi Cherith runs dry, but God was watching over Elijahand told Elijah to move to Zarephath: move on to Zarephath


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of Sidon and stay there, I have designated a wide there toprovide for you. (1 Kgs. 17:9). The verb used in this passageis tsavahwhich is translated in the NAB as designated, butcan have a wider meaning as to command or ordain. In other

words, Elijah is under the command of God thru obedience as hisprophet, but the widow of Zarephath is also under the commandof God who moves everything according to his will.

One observation is in keeping with this narrative of the prophetslife. All we receive is the command of God and we see Elijahsfaithful response. We see no reluctance from Elijah.

The Widow of Zarephath. Zarephath was located about 50miles North of Mount Carmel. Zarephath was an industrial city,

probably, according to recent archaeological nds, responsiblefor making pottery and textiles in the trading centers of Israel.6 Arecent archaeological dig by J.B. Pritchard of the University ofPennsylvania uncovered about 22 pottery kilns.

Miracle of Bread- Elijah meets the widow of Zarephath in theopen, while she was picking up sticks to start a re for her meal.

It would be very hard to put enough emphasis on the importance of thegure of Elijah in the Old and New Testaments. He is mentioned over100 times throughout the Scriptures. The Book of Kings speaks about Elijah, being taken up in a

whirlwind. (2 Kgs. 2:11-12) This same passage has reference tothe Enoch and later when Jesus is taken unto heaven after hisresurrection. (Acts 1:9) This further conrms that God showed

his power in the Old Testament by working thru his prophets tobring forth faith in his people.

6 ZAREPHATH (PLACE), AYBD, 6:1,041.


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Elijah Enters ZarephathScene One (Version One)2. MIRACLES IN THE OLDTESTAMENT

EXT. Elijah Caught in a Storm -DAY

Elijah walks down from over the hill thatoverlooks Zeraphath. As he descends the hilla black cloud forms overhead.He the womenand men below pointing to the sky above andrunning to get under cover form the storm. Hespeeds up to outrun the storm. Lightning and

thunder are seen and heard. As he get closerto shelter, a Woman with her son run out toget the bowls they had bene working on, withthe rewood they were using to kindle there.

ELIJAH (V.O.)

May I help you?

The Woman turns around when she hearsElijahs voice.

THE WOMANYes, please. Me and my son needto hurry home before the storm.

ELIJAHIll help you home!

The woman indicates to her son to let Elijahhelp him carry the pottery and wood.

THE BoyMomma, Im hungry!

THE WOMANWhen we get home,well use theremaining oil and wheat we haveleft for you.


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ELIJAHLet us hurry out of the storm,but do not worry, for the Lord

of Israel will bless you.

THE WOMANWe have nothing to sustain us,but this little bit of oil andour.

ELIJAHLet me join you, please, and you

will see the goodness of Goddisplayed.

THE WOMANI fear the worse now, but if yousay so.

The storm breaks out as soon as they get totheir little straw home.

Int. The womans home

As soon as they get inside, a neighbor runsover to oer help, but then she sees Elijahhelping the woman and her son.

Neighbor OneWill you be OK?

The Woman looks to Elijah who smiles at her.

THE WOMANYes, the prophet will help us.

NEIGHBOR ONEIll see you tomorrow at theKilns

The woman nods her head as her neighborleaves. As the woman leaves her husbandquickly comes in and sees Elijah

Neighbor Two


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Blessed be God!

ELIJAH (V.O.)Praying out loudLord God protect your people.

3. ELIJAH COME TO ZAREPHATH

The woman now begins picking branches o theground where Elijah had laid them. Her songoes into another room to put the potteryjars away. Elijah lifts his eyes to Heavenand sighs in relief

ThE WOMAN(Weeping, hiding her tears)

ELIJAHWOman, do not weep, As the Lordlives you wil not be in need!Thank you, Yahweh for revealingto me this woman,your servant.

THE WOMANI had a dream you would becoming. The Lord woke me up andtold me I would meet you today.

Elijah walks closer to the woman, until herecognizes her tears running down her face.

She stands attentive and bows to the groundwhen he approaches.

ElijahPlease bring me a small cupful ofwater to drink.

The woman turns away and begins to walktowards her little kitchen.

ELIJAHPlease bring me along a bit ofbread.


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The WomanAs the Lord, your God lives, Ihave nothing baked, there is

only a handful of our in myjar.

She turns to Elijah compassionatelyrecognizing his hunger and thirst.

ELIJAHLet me see your oil and our!

The woman walks over to a closet and takesout her remaining store of our and oil.

THE WOMANI have a little oil in my jug.

She turns to Elijah again, sighing out of

worry

THE WOMANJust now I was collecting acouple of sticks, to go in andprepare something for myself andmy son.

Elijah listens attentively and smiles at her

sitting under the Sycamore tree.

THE WOMAN (O.S.)indesperation

When we have eaten it (the bread)we shall die.

Elijah listens intensely to her words andwrought spirit.

ELIJAHDo not be afraid.Go and do asyou propose.But rst make me alittle cake and bring it to me.


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The Woman hears his words,holding heremotions back for fear of so little food forher son.

ELIJAH (V.O.)The jar of our shall not goempty, nor the jar of oil rundry.

FLASHBACK-Woman at prayerShe remembers Gods words to her about the prophetbeing sent to her. As she hears Elijahs words,the worry falls from her face replaced with joy.

The woman walks o to do as Elijah said.MONTAGE--Elijah preaches to the people of Zarephath.--the woman is busy making jugs and bowls of aliving.--the womans Son grows taller and stronger eachday--Summer passes,Fall arrives,Winter comes,Springreturns.

--the woman is still using the same bread from theyear before.Zarephath looms busy as a textile industry, makingpottery for the surrounding region. The womancomes and goes from her home, always havingplenty of bread for she and her son. She dailythanks God for Elijah the prophet.


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Elijah Enters Zarephath

Scene One (version Two)

EXT. ELIJAH COME TO ZAREPHATH - EVENING

Elijah walks Under the heated Sun along theJudean Country. As he comes over the ridge hesees a woman picking branches on the ground.He lifts his eyes to Heaven and sighs inrelief

Elijah

Thank you, Yahweh for revealingto me this woman,your servant.

Elijah continues walking closer to the woman,until she recognizes him approaching. Shestands attentive and bows to the ground whenhe approaches.

Elijah

Please bring me a small cupful ofwater to drink.

The woman turns away and begins to walktowards town.

ELIJAHPlease bring me along a bit ofbread.

The WomanAs the Lord, your God lives, Ihave nothing baked, there isonly a handful of our in myjar.

She turns to Elijah compassionatelyrecognizing his hunger and thirst.

THE WOMANI have a little oil in my jug.

The woman turns to Elijah again,sighing outof worry.


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THE WOMANJust now I was collecting acouple of sticks, to go in and

prepare something for myself andmy son.

Elijah listens attentively and smiles at hersitting under the Sycamore tree.

THE WOMAN (O.S.)desperately

When we have eaten it (the bread)

we shall die.

Elijah listens intensely to her words andwrought spirit.

ELIJAHDo not be afraid.Go and do asyou propose.But rst make me alittle cake and bring it to me.

The Woman hears his words,holding heremotions back for fear of so little food forher son.

ELIJAH (V.O.)The jar of our shall not goempty, nor the jar of oil rundry.

FLASHBACK-Woman at prayerShe remembers Gods words to her about the prophet

being sent to her. As she hears Elijahs words,

the worry falls from her face replaced with joy.

The woman walks o to do as Elijah said.

MONTAGE

--Elijah preaches to the people of Zarephath.

--the woman is busy making jugs and bowls of a

living.

--the womans Son grows taller and stronger each

day

--Summer passes,Fall arrives,Wintercomes,Spring

returns.


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the same jug of oil and our is still producing

our and oil as after Elijah had prophesied.

Zarephath looms busy as a textile industry, making

pottery for the surrounding region. The woman

comes and goes from her home, always havingplenty of bread for she and her son. She daily

thanks God for Elijah the prophet.


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Miracles of Jesus

The miracles of Jesus are the works of God. Jesus said,whoever sees me sees him who sent me. We need to look at themiracles before the Incarnation of the Word, the public life of theWord of God and the miracles after the resurrection. The preparationfor the Word of Gods Incarnation were prophecies spanning severalcenturies. Blaise Pascal in his Pensees says that one of the proofs ofthe Christian religion is the miracles of Christ.7 In the same passagePascal lists several other proofs of the Christian religion. Among themis the miracles of Holy Scripture,the Jewish people, the sanctity,dignity, and the humility of a Christian soul.8 Miracles say somethingmore than what they do not say; that is, they point in a direction abovenature, which tells more than nature can bear. The ThomisticPhilosopher Henri Grenier denes a miracle as a fact produced byGod in the world which is beyond the order of action in the whole ofcreated nature. In other words, the miracle comes from the action of

God, who is above nature, yet works in our nature.Jesus performed many kinds of miracles, but each one of them

was done in order to glorify the heavenly Father. There was nothingJesus said or accomplished that didnt point back to the One who senthim.

7 Pascal,Blaise.Penses[by]BlaisePascal.London;NewYork:

J.M.Dent;E.P.Dutton,1908,#289.

8 ibid.


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Jesus Authority Over NatureJesus conrmed that he had authority over nature and all its forces.

In order to show proof of this power he performed miracles which

testied to this power before others. HE performed these miracles byhis word of command.For example his withering of the g tree (Matt.21:18-22).

When he was going back to the city in the morning, he was hungry. Seeing ag tree by the road, he went over to it, but found nothing on it except leaves.And he said to it, May no fruit ever come from you again. And immediatelythe g tree withered. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed andsaid, How was it that the g tree withered immediately? Jesus said to themin reply, Amen, I say to you, if you have faith and do not waver, not only

will you do what has been done to the g tree, but even if you say to thismountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea, it will be done. Whateveryou ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.

Jesusshowedthatnotonlyhewasabletoshowpowerovernature,but

thatthosewhoactedinfaithwouldshowthesamepower.Inotherwords,

thosewhohavefaithandactonit,riseabovehumannatureanduse

natureasaninstrumentundertheruleofthedivinepower.Aquinassaid

thatthiswasoneoftheeffectsoffaiththatactedthruhisauthorityinthe

miracle-worker.9

Thirdly,becausemiracleswroughtauthoritativelyaredonebywayofcommand,

andthereforeamanisespeciallyttedtoworkmiraclesauthoritativelybythat

whichtshimtocommand:andthisisacertainaloofnessandwithdrawalfrom

thosewhomhehastocommand.(AquinasPowerQ6.,art.9)

OnetimeJesusandhisdisciplesweretravelinginaboat.Thedisciples

encounteredastormandwokeJesusuptobringittohisattention:He got into a boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm

came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he wasasleep. They came and woke him, saying, Lord, save us!We are perishing!He said to them, Why are you terried, O you of little faith?Then he gotup, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men wereamazed and said, What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the seaobey?(Matt. 8:23-27)

Another time the disciples were crossing the sea to Capernaum andJesus came walking towards them on the water:

When it was evening, his disciples went down to the sea, embarked in a boat,and went across the sea to Capernaum. It has already grown dark, and Jesushad not yet come to them. The sea was stirred up because a strong wind wasblowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesuswalking the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. But hesaid to them, It is I. Do not be afraid. (Jn. 6:16-21)

9 Aquinas, De Potentia, Q.6,art.9. On the Contrary.


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We come to understand thru these examples that Jesus had power overnature and could change it at will. As Grenier said a miracle is a factproduced by God in the world, which is beyond the realm of actionover the whole of creation. Two other miracles worthy of noting are thefeeding of the 5000 and Jesus turning water into wine.The crowds had followed Jesus into the wilderness where he and hisdisciples were retreating, but when Jesus saw the cords gathering tocome to him, he asked the disciples to get something for them to eat, sothat the crowds would not hunger.

After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (of Tiberias). A large crowdfollowed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,There

is a boy here who has ve barley loaves and two sh; but what good arethese for so many?Jesus said, Have the people recline. Now there was agreat deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about ve thousand innumber.Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them tothose who were reclining, and also as much of the sh as they wanted.Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make

him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

Water into Wine

Jesus and his disciples had been invited to a wedding feast. In themiddle of the wedding the wine ran short, so Jesus Mother brought itto Jesus attention, leaving it up to him to do what he willed. She toldthe waiters to do whatever Jesus asked of them. He simply told themto ll the jars with water and bring some to the headwaiter. When thewaiters did they discovered that the water had been turned to wine.

(Jn. 2:1-11)


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Early Miracles in the Church

One of the earliest miracles we have in the New Testament comesfrom after Jesus resurrection and after Pentecost. The Apostles usedot go to the temple at certain times of the day to pray. (Acts. 3:1-4:4)This man who was crippled from birth used to come to the Beautifulgate to beg for alms.10 As Peter and John were passing yon their wayto the temple, the beggar looked up at Peter and John hoping to getsomething from them. The Holy Spirit moved St. Peter to enrich thebeggar in a different way. He told the beggar I have neither silvernor gold, but what I do have I give to you; in the name of Jesus Christthe Nazarean, [rise and] walk. The man was immediately healedat St. Peters command. The beggar got up praising God and beganto jump and shout. The people in the temple area recognized him asthe one who used to beg daily at the gate. This Gospel miracle tellsus something about the way God works miracThe miracle is a giftfrom someone to someone and is done out of charity.The miracle has

a admirable quality in that there is no natural explainable cause.It isaccompanied by a show of power which is expressed but hidden. Godoften uses human instruments to work miracles like in this instance.St. Peters faith was ready to receive what God was ready to giveto the beggar. St. Peter was working in obedience to God who wasmoving him to bestow the gift.It is an argument of faith. St. Peteracknowledged that he was not working in his own name but inthe name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean. The miracle conrms theteaching of Jesus Christ that foretold that his disciples who believed inhim would have the power to work miracles.The miracle has a positiveeffect on the receiver. The beggar showed joy and enthusiasm and achanged state of body and spirit.The miracle alway points to a higherauthority than itself or the person working it. When Jesus workedmiracles he said he was doing the will of the Father. When the Apostlesworked miracles they were doing them in the Name of Jesus the

Nazorean. It gives evidence of things above reason and people respondto it with faith. That day, despite the fact that Saints Peter and Johnwere thrown in prison, the Church grew to about 5000 people. (Acts.

10 Mourret,Fernand.AHistoryoftheCatholicChurch,.St.Louis,

Mo.;London:B.HerderBookCo.,1930,pgs.16-17.


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4:4)

St. Thomas AquinasOn the Power of God (De Potentia)

St. Thomas Aquinas in his work de Potentia, or On the Power ofGod, has addressed many of these issues regarding miracles. The rstquestion he raises is Can God do anything in creatures that is beyondnature, against nature, or contrary to the course of nature?.11 Therst insight Aquinas gives to us is that nature cannot restore a losthabit or life once it is lost; that is, sight, hearing,taste, loss of limb,

death. Nature has a limitation to what it can do. It has power over themutable, limited, temporal world.On the other hand, there must bea power greater than nature to command nature, which is below it.Such a power is God or the servants of God; that is, when God wishesto use a human agent. Aquinas falls back on divine authority thru St.Matthew, The blind see, the deaf hear. (Mt. 11:5) In short, Aquinassays that what nature cannot do, God can easily do, since he is theauthor of nature; that is, he is the one who brings all natural things

into being; furthermore, he IS AUTHORITY. St. John says of JesusChrist all things came to be thru him. (Jn. 1:3)a. Aquinas rst presents some contrary opinions of the

philosophers regarding the power of some higher authority overnature. First, he shows that Anaxagoras held that intelligencewas the cause of these natural elements and that their lawscannot be changed. Aquinas refutes this opinion of Anaxagoras,

because of the innite power of God.

12

Secondly, he shows that those who held that God has a universalknowledge of things, but he doesnt know each thing individually.These philosophers understood that since God had only a generalknowledge of things in creation, he couldnt create particular effectswithout a particular knowledge of each things. Aquinas refutes thisopinion because since God has perfect self-knowledge, he cannotbe ignorant of anything that comes from himself. Creation is the

very work of God, which he has a perfect knowledge of. Therefore,

11 Thomas,Dominicans,andEnglishProvince.OnthePowerofGod

=(QustionesDisputatdePotentiaDei).Eugene,OR:Wipf&Stock,

2004,Q.6,art.1,Onthecontrary.

12 ibid. Q1.art. 1&2.


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God cannot be lacking the most particular knowledge of each andeverything that comes forth from his handwork; else someone couldsay that God worked imperfectly in his creation, which is not onlyheretical but also absurd. God is innitely perfect in all of his attributesand there is nothing lacking in Him.The third group of opinions held that God cannot act against nature,since God must follow the natural laws he has established. Aquinasdismisses this opinion because God cannot be limited to how he can actin nature. If God didnt have perfect control over nature, nature wouldnot be limited as it is. But nature cannot act above its own nature,unless it is raised above itself by a greater power than itself and that isonly the divine power of God.

By refuting these three opinions Aquinas shows that God is the causeof all things, that he has specic knowledge of all things he creates andthat he is can work above nature, thus showing that God can do innature what is beyond nature, against nature, or contrary to nature.

Aquinas gives us several reason why miracles are important tous. First, he says miracles lift us outside of nature and reason; inshort he says that they are arguments of faith. But they went forth

and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them andconrmed the word through accompanying signs. (Mk. 16:20) TheLord had not abandon the Apostles. Just as the cloud went forth aheadof the Israelites in the desert, so the Lord Jesus Christ accompaniedthe Apostles and proved their words with signs.

Secondly, Aquinas says miracles require us to rely upon the Divinepower for help.We cannot make an act of faith in the miracles of Godwithout his power. Our assent to Gods power is already his power

working in us. The Fathers of the Church, like Augustine , whilecommenting on the biblical passage, without me you can do nothing,say that both the natural and divine order are under the divinegovernment. Augustine even goes so far as to say that not one leaf fallsto the ground without Gods power at work. If even the natural lawsare under his power, how much more are the things that are above hisnature and are closer to him under his power?

Thirdly, Aquinas shows that miracles happen not because we are doingthe right things from within human nature, but because the divinenature has been allowed free reign within us. If I were to carry out thissyllogism. I want a cookie that is good. This chocolate cookie is good.Therefore, I want this chocolate chip cookie. That is natural reasoning.We do attain the cookie, but it is not a miracle. We can only desire to


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do something supernatural, but it is God who puts in us both the willto do and accomplish.


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Conrmation of Miracles as Part ofCanonization

Every person who is canonized in the Catholic Church requires theapproval of 2 miracles before the canonization is complete. In therecent document published by the Vatican called Sanctorum Mater13which gives strict instructions regarding the process of canonization,the instructions says:

It is the right of diocesan Bishops, Eparchs and those who are equivalent tothem in law to investigate, within the limits of their own jurisdiction, the life,virtues or martyrdom, and reputation of holiness or of martyrdom, allegedmiracles and, if it be the case, the ancient cult of the Servant of God, whosebeatication and canonization are asked.

Two miracles are required in the Catholic Church today in orderfor the candidate under investigation to be declared a Saint in theCatholic Church. The rst miracle is required as a prayer requestfrom the faithful that the candidates prayer for healing is answered.The conditions and details of the miracle are handed over to certainauthorities who are members of the Congregation for the Cause ofSaints.

Before any declaration of miracles take place, investigation into certainproposed miracles must go thru certain channels of the Canonizationprocess.14 The investigation into the heroic virtues of the candidatemust e separate form the investigation into the proposed miracles of thecandidate. Both investigations are orchestrated by the Postulator of thecause and the Bishop of the Diocese in which the candidate originated.In sections 33-35 of the document issued by the Congregation of theCause of Saints, Normae Servendae, instructions are given to the

Bishop and other members working with the Postulator how theinvestigation into the miracle of the candidate should proceed. First,the Bishop (presiding Bishop of the diocese in which the candidatepresided) after he has heard form the Postulator of the cause regardingthe alleged miracle must seek out at least two judgments from relevantauthorities.

13 SanctorumMater.DocumentsFormtheCongregationforthe

CauseofSaints.VaticanCity;Rome,Italy,2007.http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/csaints/documents/rc_con_csaints_

doc_20070517_sanctorum-mater_en.html,Art.20.

14 NormaeServendae.Promulgation.VaticanCity;Rome,Italy,

February7,1983.http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/

csaints/documents/rc_con_csaints_doc_07021983_norme_en.html.


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In short,15 the Bishop must draw up a questionnaire and gathertogether a group of theologians, medical investigators, living rst-handwitnesses, who will call in the witnesses, gather together the answers tothe questionnaire, which will be transcribed and veried by a notary;

lastly, the written judgments of the medical investigators will swearby a n oath that what hey have examined is tree to their given abilityand profession. All of these testimonies are given to the Bishop. At theBishops judgment, if approving of the investigation, all of the materialswill be copied, sealed with the seal of the Bishop, and sent to Rome forthe Postulator and the Cause of Saints.This rst miracle takes place during the time in which the candidatesvirtues are declared heroic by the Holy Father at the request of the

Postulator of the Cause and the Council Fathers of the Congregationof the Cause of Saints. After the rst miracle is examined by medicaldoctors and veried that there is no natural explanation of the cure, thecandidate is declared Blessed. Before the candidate is declared a Saintin the Catholic Church one more miracle is needed.After the second miracle is established by the medical staff appointedby the Postulator of the Cause, and is veried by the Congregation of

the Cause of Saints, theologians and the Pope, the candidate can thenbe raised to the level of Sainthood.Carrying on the TraditionAs we can gather from the process of Canonization, the standards are

high, the criteria are strict, and the validation is comes thru a longprocess. One thing should be kept in mind is that this is the householdof God, the Church is the Body of Christ, so what the Congregation ofthe Cause of Saints promulgates, reects the tradition of the Catholic

Church, the Communion of Saints, and the Head of the Church, Christhimself.

15 ibid. #15,16-18,21-24.


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What do You Think of Miracles?

Now that we have looked at the denitions, theology, verication andhistory of miracles in the Old and New Testaments, the history of the

Church, the lives of the Saints, and in the teaching of the Church, whatdo You think of miracles? Have they helped you? Have they inspired

you? Drawn you closer to Christ? Have you sought them in your life?Have you witnessed them in other people lives? What has been your

encounter with miracles?These are questions which we have probably all faced.


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Sources

BenedictXIV,Pope.HeroicVirtue :aPortionoftheTreatiseofBenedictXIVontheBeaticationandCanonizationoftheServantsofGod.

London :ThomasRichardsonandSon,1850.http://archive.org/details/

heroicvirtue01beneuoft.

.HeroicVirtue :aPortionoftheTreatiseofBenedictXIVon

theBeaticationandCanonizationoftheServantsofGod.London :

ThomasRichardsonandSon,1850.http://archive.org/details/

heroicvirtue02beneuoft..HeroicVirtue :aPortionoftheTreatiseofBenedictXIVon

theBeaticationandCanonizationoftheServantsofGod.London :

ThomasRichardsonandSon,1850.http://archive.org/details/

heroicvirtue03beneuoft.

Ott,Ludwig.FundamentalsofCatholicDogma.Re-issue.RomanCatholic

Books,2012.

CatholicChurch.CatechismoftheCatholicChurch.VaticanCity;

Washington,D.C.:LibreriaEditriceVaticana ;[Distributedby]United

StatesCatholicConference,2000.

Denzinger,Heinrich,andCatholicChurch.TheSourcesofCatholic

Dogma.St.Louis:Herder,1957.

CatholicBiblicalAssociationofAmerica,ConfraternityofChristian

Doctrine,andBishopsCommittee.TheNewAmericanBible.New

York:Benziger,1970.

Thomas,andEnglishProvince.SummaTheologica.NewYork:Benziger

Bros.,1947.

Thomas,Dominicans,andEnglishProvince.OnthePowerofGod=

(QustionesDisputatdePotentiaDei).Eugene,OR:Wipf&Stock,

2004.

Thomas,andFabianRLarcher.CommentaryontheGospelofSt.John.Albany,N.Y.:MagiBooks,1980.

Mourret,Fernand.AHistoryoftheCatholicChurch,.St.Louis,Mo.;

London:B.HerderBookCo.,1930.


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Botterweck,G.Johannes,andHelmerRinggren.Theologicaldictionaryof

theOldTestament.Vol.15,Vol.15,.GrandRapids,Mi.;Cambridge:

Eerdmans,2006.

Pascal,Blaise.Penses[by]BlaisePascal.London;NewYork:J.M.Dent;

E.P.Dutton,1908.Grenier,Henri,andJ.P.EOHanley.ThomisticPhilosophy.

Charlottetown,Canada:St.DunstansUniversity,1950.

SanctorumMater.DocumentsFormtheCongregationfortheCause

ofSaints.VaticanCity;Rome,Italy,2007.http://www.vatican.va/

roman_curia/congregations/csaints/documents/rc_con_csaints_

doc_20070517_sanctorum-mater_en.html.

NormaeServendae.Promulgation.VaticanCity;Rome,Italy,February

7,1983.http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/csaints/

documents/rc_con_csaints_doc_07021983_norme_en.html.

JohnoftheCross.TheCollectedWorksofSt.JohnoftheCross.

Washington,D.C.:InstituteofCarmeliteStudies,1979.


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Ninth Article

Whether this name God is communicable?WeproceedthustotheNinthArticle:

Objection1.ItseemsthatthisnameGodiscommunicable.Forwhosoever

sharesinthethingsigniedbyanamesharesinthenameitself.Butthis

nameGodsigniesthedivinenature,whichiscommunicabletoothers,

accordingtothewords,Hehathgivenusgreat[Vulg.,mostgreat]and

preciouspromises,thatbythesewe[Vulg.,ye]maybemadepartakersof

thedivinenature(2Pet.1:4).ThereforethisnameGodcanbecommuni-

catedtoothers.Obj.2.Further,onlypropernamesarenotcommunicable.Nowthisname

Godisnotaproper,butanappellativenoun;whichappearsfromthefact

thatithasaplural,accordingtothetext,Ihavesaid,Youaregods(Ps.

81:6).ThereforethisnameGodiscommunicable.

Obj.3.Further,thisnameGodcomesfromoperation,asexplained.But

othernamesgiventoGodfromHisoperationsoreffectsarecommuni-

cable;asgood,wise,andthelike.ThereforethisnameGodiscommuni-cable.

Onthecontrary,Itiswritten:Theygavetheincommunicablenameto

woodandstones(Wis.14:21),inreferencetothedivinename.Therefore

thisnameGodisincommunicable

Ianswerthat,Anameiscommunicableintwoways,properly,andby

similitude.Itisproperlycommunicableinthesensethatitswholesigni-

cationcanbegiventomany;bysimilitudeitiscommunicableaccord-

ingtosomepartofthesignicationofthename.Forinstancethisnamelionisproperlycommunicatedtoallthingsofthesamenatureaslion;by

similitudeitiscommunicabletothosewhoparticipateinthenatureofa

lion,asforinstancebycourage,orstrength,andthosewhothuspartici-

patearecalledlionsmetaphorically.Toknow,however,whatnamesare

properlycommunicable,wemustconsiderthateveryformexistinginthe

singularsubject,bywhichitisindividualized,iscommontomanyeither

inreality,orinidea;ashumannatureiscommontomanyinreality,andinidea;whereasthenatureofthesunisnotcommontomanyinreality,

butonlyinidea;forthenatureofthesuncanbeunderstoodasexisting

inmanysubjects;andthereasonisbecausethemindunderstandsthe

natureofeveryspeciesbyabstractionfromthesingular.Hencetobein

onesingularsubjectorinmanyisoutsidetheideaofthenatureofthe


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species.So,giventheideaofaspecies,itcanbeunderstoodasexist-

inginmany.Butthesingular,fromthefactthatitissingular,isdivided

offfromallothers.Henceeverynameimposedtosignifyanysingular

thingisincommunicablebothinrealityandidea:forthepluralityofthis

individualthingcannotbe;norcanitbeconceivedinidea.Hencenonamesignifyinganyindividualthingisproperlycommunicabletomany,

butonlybywayofsimilitude;asforinstanceapersoncanbecalled

Achillesmetaphorically,forasmuchashemaypossesssomethingofthe

propertiesofAchilles,suchasstrength.Ontheotherhand,formswhich

areindividualizednotbyanysuppositum,butbyandofthemselves,as

beingsubsistingforms,ifunderstoodastheyareinthemselves,could

notbecommunicableeitherinrealityorinidea;butonlyperhapsbyway

ofsimilitude,aswassaidofindividuals.Forasmuchasweareunabletounderstandsimpleself-subsistingformsastheyreallyare,weunderstand

themascompoundthingshavingformsinmatter;therefore,aswassaid

intherstarticle,wegivethemconcretenamessignifyinganatureexist-

inginsomesuppositum.Hence,sofarasconcernsnames,thesamerules

applytonamesweimposetosignifythenatureofcompoundthingsasto

namesgivenbyustosignifysimplesubsistingnatures.

Since, then, this name God is given to signify the divine nature asstated above (A. 8), and since the divine nature cannot be multipliedas shown above (Q. XI., A. 3), it follows that this name God isincommunicable in reality, but communicable in opinion; just in thesame, way as this name sun would be communicable according to theopinion of those who say there are many suns. Therefore, it is written:You served them who by nature are not gods (Gal. 4:8), and a glossadds, Gods not in nature, but in human opinion. Nevertheless this

name God is communicable, not in its whole signication, but in somepart of it by way of similitude; so that those are called gods who sharein divinity by likeness, according to the text, I have said, You are gods(Ps. 81:6).

But if any name were given to signify God not as to His nature but asto His suppositum, accordingly as He is considered as this something,that name would be absolutely incommunicable; as, for instance,

perhaps the Tetragrammaton among the Hebrews; and this is likegiving a name to the sun as signifying this individual thing.Reply Obj. 1. The divine nature is only communicable according to theparticipation of some similitude.

Reply Obj. 2. This name God is an appellative name, and not a propername, for it signies the divine nature in the possessor; although God


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Himself in reality is neither universal nor particular. For names do notfollow upon the mode of being in things, but upon the mode of being asit is in our mind. And yet it is incommunicable according to the truth ofthe thing, as was said above concerning the name sun.

Reply Obj. 3. These names good, wise, and the like, are imposed fromthe perfections proceeding from God to creatures; but they do notsignify the divine nature, but rather signify the perfections themselvesabsolutely; and therefore they are in truth communicable to many. Butthis name God is given to God from His own proper operation, whichwe experience continually, to signify the divine nature.16

16 Saint Thomas Aquinas and Fathers of the English Dominican

Province, Summa Theologica, Complete English ed. (Bellingham, WA:

Logos Bible Software, 2009).


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Information

Eucharistic Miracles of the World. You can nd the entire presentationonline at The Real Presence http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/engl_mir.htm This is an excellent presentation given by the groupstarted by Fr. John Hardon, S.J. Whose life is being studied forpossible beatication.


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Personal ReectionIt doest come as a surprise to that it is difcult to speak

about miracles, since they are way beyond us. After all, ifthey were easily understood, and Im not attempting to befacetious, they wouldnt be called miracles. Perhaps that is

the very reason why they are called miracles, because theycause this need to contemplate their cause, even if we cantunderstand them.

On the other hand we do fear what we do not

understand. That is normal, not only for an animal, but alsofor a human being. I mean, that as we grow older we aresupposed to become smarter, comprehend better, becomemature in our viewpoints. When a miracle comes along, weseem to become children again, since God reveals to us justhow far he is above our own understanding. We want to be

able to reason about them and come to an conclusion, butaccording to Gods will, we are led to surrender to something

we do not understand and that humbles our intelligence.I agree that miracles are hard to understand, but

where would we be without them. Have you every triedto comprehend your life without the inexplainable in it.The Mystery of your life wouldnt be a mystery even if youcomprehended it all. Life is supposed to be mysterious anda journey; exciting and lled with enthusiasm. It is when wedont feel the mystery that is when we become bored. We

begin to think that we have gured it all out-that is not GoodNews.

Miracles are not puzzles to gure out. They are not

formulas to prove. They are not enigmas to unravel. Miraclesare Gods handiwork to call us to adore him.

les: