Good to Know

December 13, 2023

By The Catholic Week
This week's Good to Know focuses on miracles and what the Catholic Church teaches.

Q: What is a miracle?
A: The glossary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) defines a miracle as “a sign or wonder, such as a healing or the control of nature, which can only be attributed to divine power. The miracles of Jesus were messianic signs of the presence of God.” (see CCC 547)

Q: Are miracles possible? What was the first miracle?
A: Miracles are possible because of the first miracle, creation, when God created all things out of nothing.
Logic says that if one miracle can happen, then so can others.

Q: Why did Jesus perform miracles?
A: Jesus performed many signs and miracles that revealed the presence of God’s kingdom in His person, thus proving that He was indeed the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus pointed to His own miracles as evidence of His divine mission. Jesus’ miracles revealed truths that were life-changing to those who saw or heard about them. The story of the lame man lowered through the roof into Jesus’ presence is a great example (Mark 2:1-12). Jesus asked His critics, “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’, or to say, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, I say to you, Rise, take up your pallet, and go home.” This healing highlighted Jesus’ authority to forgive sins. Those who saw the miracle were challenged to recognize Jesus as the divine source of forgiveness. The Catechism of the Catholic Church repeats this teaching, mentioning “the miracles of Christ and the saints” as being among “the most certain signs” and “external proofs” of divine revelation (CCC 156).

Q: Why did Jesus often tell those he miraculously cured not to tell others about it?
A: The full meaning of Christ’s ministry could only be understood in light of His passion, death, and resurrection. Speaking about Jesus’ miracles without that context, focusing on Jesus’ miracles alone, could result in misguided expectations about Jesus. Jesus did not come to be a miracle worker; He came to be our Savior. Jesus performed miracles to confirm the truth of the gospel message.

Q: How does the Church determine whether something is a miracle?
A: A true miracle “can only be attributed to divine power.” It cannot be explained by the action of created beings. When the Church investigates whether something is miraculous, all natural possibilities must first be eliminated. In fact, in its discernment process the Church often employs non-believing experts, doctors when discerning a physical healing or scientists when examining other material phenomena.
The Church would prefer the investigating expert to have a bias against rather than in favor of an authentic miracle.

Q: Why are miracles important to the Church?
A: Jesus prophesied that His disciples would have their preaching of the Gospel confirmed by further supernatural signs (Mk 16:17-18). The Acts of the Apostles recorded the fulfillment of that prophecy in the signs and wonders worked by the Apostles. That prophecy has continued to be fulfilled in the lives of many saints ever since.
The Church teaches that miracles supply “ammunition for apologetics” and can be used to persuade skeptics that Catholic Christianity is true. Just as miracles confirmed the authenticity of Jesus’ teaching 2,000 years ago, the miracles performed throughout the history of the Catholic Church prove the Church’s claims to be true — namely, that it is the Church founded by Christ.