WHAT DO CATHOLIC MIRACLES PROVE?

One of the gifts that God has given to the Catholic Church is the gift of miracles. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church,

156 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"... 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" [1].

As mentioned by the Church, miracles are part of the motives of credibility. One of its purpose why God granted miracles is to prove the authenticity of the teachings of the Catholic Church. Miracles have no natural explanations, even if there were attempts made to investigate it from a scientific perspective. Only God can cause them in order to lead people to Truth. This is why there are miracles in the Old Testament, in the New Testament, and even in the 2,000 year history of the Catholic Church. 

Unfortunately, not everyone knows these miracles while others reject them. Here, we will see some of the numerous scientifically verified miracles of the Catholic Church, and evidence that prove their validity.

Eucharistic Miracles:

In October 2006, there was a religious sister in Tixtla, Mexico who was giving out communion. Then, her eyes were filled with tears when a red substance came out of the Eucharistic host which was confirmed by doctors to be fresh blood. According to Dr. Eduardo Sanchez Lazo,

“The possibility of bleeding coming from the outside to the inside is ruled out, since the histological structure that is shown and observed of the host presents various means of absorption, and these do not allow the entry of blood towards its interior, confirming the first theory, which comes from inside the host [2].”

In this miracle, a blood which was consistent with the blood type of Shroud of Turin came out of the Host, and the blood remained fresh even years after the event. There is no natural explanation for this, and this confirms the teaching on the Real Presence where the Eucharist is truly the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ [3].

Healing Miracles:

One of the most famous saints in Catholic history is St. Pio of Pietrelcina, known then as Padre Pio, and God used him as an instrument of His miracles. In 1939, Gemma Di Giorgi was born on Christmas day without pupils in her eyes. The doctors declared that nothing could be done for her to see. When Gemma was 7 years old, her grandmother brought her to Padre Pio. While they were attending Padre Pio's Mass, he called Gemma, smiled at her, and told her to make her First communion. Padre Pio listened to her confession, and he stroked her eyes with his hands. Although the healing did not take place immediately, Fr. Charles Mortimer Carty recounted, 

“Padre Pio saw them later and said: ‘May the Madonna bless you, Gemma. Be a good girl!’ At this moment the child gave a frantic cry, she could see... The cure was permanent and complete... although her eyes still had no pupils. She was examined by many doctors who testified to the case and were able to offer no scientific explanation [4].” 

From a medical perspective, Gemma should still be blind because she did not receive new pupils. Her eyes were still similar to the eyes of the blind woman. This miracle provides evidence for the intercession of the saints, for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the healing power of God. 

Believe the Works:

There are other kinds of miracles that are scientifically verifiable besides the examples above [4]. God knows how our hearts are hardened by sins and how our minds are darkened by doubts. Even though many people rejected God and the Catholic Church, by God's grace and through His miracles, their eyes were opened, and they dedicated their lives to Him. It reminded me of the conversations between Jesus and the Jews where He said that if they could not believe His words, they should believe His works pertaining to His miracles. Miracles are signs and wonders for us to know the truth, and may His miracles in the Catholic Church act as small steps for the deepening of our relationship with Him.

John 10:37-38

37 If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me and I am in the Father.” 

Reference:

[1]http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/156.htm

[2]https://youtu.be/soCkftBBsBo

[3]http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1375.htm

[4]https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/the-gift-of-miracles