How does the Vatican decide what a miracle is?

On May 1 we saw the beatification of John Paul II; this means he’s performed at least one miracle. If he is found to perform another miracle, he will be canonized a Saint. But how does the Vatican decide what a miracle is? Jo-Anne Rowney takes a look at the meticulous process.

What is a miracle?

Miracles can be of any kind, but the majority of cases have been miraculous healings from terminal medical illnesses and conditions. Political accomplishments don’t tend to come under miracles, so John Paul’s role in the downfall of Soviet Communism won’t get him canonized.

The meticulous process

John Paul’s first miracle recognised by the Vatican concerns a French Nun who was cured from an aggressive form of Parkinson’s after writing John Paul’s name on a piece of paper. The Pope had just died two months earlier of the same disease.

The actual process the Vatican undertakes can be lengthy. The ‘miracle’ has to be proved using various steps before someone can be named a saint. Mother Theresa and John Paul II may be the most famous recent beatifications, but they are far from the norm. The Vatican actually carries out about 30 beatifications per year, and few are similar to the global blessed cases.

Grassroots movement

Firstly, a grassroots movement is ideally started by people that believe the person has led a saintly life. The local Bishop then opens a “Cause for Canonisation” and begins the investigation. If this proves fruitful then the case is referred to Rome.

Silvia Correale, Postulator says: "It's that sense from the people of God, who believe a person was a saint. Today, we would refer to it as public opinion. That common sense of everyday people is a sign. The number of spiritual graces are also taken into account. "

The Congregation for the Causes of the Saints is the Vatican Office which deals with these sort of queries. They are tasked with “approving miracles, martyrdom and heroic virtues of various Saints of God.”

Heroic virtue

The Congregation undertakes a complete investigation into the person’s life. A file known as “positio” is collected for review. Special attention is given to whether the candidate followed Christian virtues to a heroic degree.

Card. José Saraiva Martins, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, had said: "These documents are reviewed by experts in history, by theologians and cardinals. Afterward, all the documents are sent to the Pope, who then approves the heroic virtues. The case of John Paul was approved by the pope on December 19, 2009.”

Scientifically inexplicable

First, the Congregation seeks the advice of a panel of doctors from around the world, who are not connected to the Vatican. For a recovery to be declared miraculous, it must be "complete," "instantaneous," and "durable" , this means the cured condition doesn't return,  as well as scientifically inexplicable. Interestingly developments in Science don’t seem to have slowed down the amount of beatifications.

Card. José Saraiva Martins, Prefect of the Congregation for Causes of Saints: "If the doctors say there is no scientific explanation in the light of modern medicine, the healing goes to the theologians, so they can see if there's a relationship between the alleged miraculous healing and intercession of the candidate to the altars."

God’s work?

Once the ‘miracle’ has passed the doctors test and is signed off a panel of theologians have to judge whether it is the sort of thing God would do.

Then the Cardinals and Bishops of the Congregations have to ensure that the beatification is in the Church’s best interest – some beatifications may offend politically, or be insensitive for example.

Lastly, it is referred to the Pope who has the final say. If the miracle passes all of this then the person is beatified. To begin the process for canonization another process is initiated with a second miracle.

The waiting game

The Congregation keeps a file of all those considered for beatification on record in the Vatican archives, but the vast majority of those who are beatified will never become saints. There are six new Saints, including the first ever Australian. There are currently over 10,000 named saints. 

Usually people are only considered for beatification after they’ve been dead for five years, but in the case of John Paul, due to overwhelming public opinion he was ‘fast-tracked’. There was no reason to wait for support to build, as he was so well loved.

In John Paul II’s case, the first miracle was the healing of the French nun Marie-Simon Pierre. She suffered from Parkinson’s but found herself cured once she prayed to John Paul after writing his name down on a piece of paper. Now he needs a second miracle to become a saint. This could take longer that his faster beatification process. At least three/four years have to pass to show the miracles are permanent and complete. However, there is already a list on the Vatican website of the alleged miracles that are under investigation.

In the mean time, the number of saints continues to grow. There are currently more than 2,000 open cases for canonization.

Did you know?

Martyrs are considered a special case in which the most important thing is to prove that they died for defending God's name. If that’s the case, a miracle is not required for beatification, only to be canonized.

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