What do a grilled cheese sandwich and the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe have in common? Both bore what appeared to be images of Mary. One was determined to
be authentically miraculous, the other was not. Not to spoil any
secrets, but it’s not Our Lady of the Grilled Cheese that converted Mexico and continues to draw millions of people on pilgrimage every year. But have you ever wondered just how the Church determines the bogus from the divinely appointed? In his new book, “Exploring the Miraculous,” Michael O’Neill gives
readers a crash course of sorts in “Miracles 101” - including common
questions about the importance of miracles, an explanation of the
approval process, and descriptions of the various types of miracles
found within the Catholic Church. “This is a very rare book in that it tries to cover the entire
spectrum of miracles within the Catholic Church,” O’Neill told CNA. Catholics by definition are people who have to believe in at least
two miracles, O’Neill said - that of Christ’s incarnation and his
resurrection, two pillars on which the Catholic faith rests. For modern-day miracles, belief is never required of the faithful.
The highest recognition that the Church gives to an alleged miracle is
that it is “worthy of belief.” Investigations of reported miraculous
events – which include extensive fact-finding, psychological examination
and theological evaluation – may result in a rejection if the event is
determined to be fraudulent or lacking in super natural character. Or the Church may take a middle road, declaring that there is nothing
contrary to the faith in a supposed apparition, without making a
determination on whether a supernatural character is present. But while official investigations can take years, the mere report of a
miracle can bring Catholics from long distances, hoping to see some
glimpse of the divine reaching into the human.
The release of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s note, Mater Populi Fidelis , on November 4, 2025, seems to have sparked some immediate and widespread confusion, driven largely by sensationalist headlines from secular sources. In response to requests, particularly surrounding a potential Fifth Marian Dogma of Spiritual Maternity , the DDF addressed the usage of titles like Co-redemptrix and Mediatrix. Unfortunately, this has led to a large contingent online and in the media claiming that the Church has "tossed out" centuries of doctrine, with some outside the Church even proclaiming a "victory" over Catholic teaching (This may be the saddest part of it all, that we as Christians, are "competing" with each other). It is essential to understand that this doctrinal note is fundamentally about titles and clarity, not doctrine and change according to the Vatican News. The true teachings regarding Mary's unique role in salvation remain inviolabl...