| Question Title | Posted By | Question Date |
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| Miracles for canonization of saints | Chad | Saturday, October 25, 2014 |
Question: With so many recent popes being canonized/beatified I have a question. I know miracle(s) are a requirement for sainthood. How do the investigators know that a miracle was due to, and ONLY because of, a particular person's intercession? Presumably desperate people pray to the Blessed Virgin, other saints, and hopefully directly to God. Others (on this earth) may also be praying for them. If a request is answered favorably, who knows why?? |
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| Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD
Dear Chad: As I understand it a local bishop, usually, receives a report that someone has been praying to a potential saint and thereby has been miraculously healed. The bishop passes that information on to the Holy See. The Church then investigates the miracle to verify that it is genuine. If it is genuine then it is counted in favor of the saint the person was praying to. The Church determines this by medical evidence and other objective factors, plus the discernment of the Holy Spirit The point is that a miracle took place due to the devotion and prayers of the person to the potential saint. While other people's prayers are helpful, it is the person's own prayers provide the focus for God's action. The Church has a great deal of experience in these matters. We can trust her investigations. And remember, the declaration of sainthood itself is an infallible declaration that we cannot challenge. God Bless, Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum
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