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.
Born during the turbulent era of the French Revolution, Saint Jeanne Jugan rose above hardship and a lack of formal schooling to become a profound vessel of Christ’s mercy. After losing her father at a young age and working through her youth as a kitchen maid and nurse, her life radically changed one freezing night when she encountered a blind, paralyzed elderly woman with nowhere to go. Jeanne carried the woman back to her own home, placed her in her own bed, and began a lifelong mission of radical hospitality. This act of profound love blossomed into the Little Sisters of the Poor , a thriving community dedicated to sheltering and honoring the destitute elderly. Despite later facing heavy trials—including being unjustly sidelined and stripped of her leadership by a controlling chaplain—Jeanne accepted her obscurity and exile with a joyful spirit, resting her complete trust in God's hidden providence until her death in 1879. In our daily lives, Saint Jeanne Jugan invites us to lo...