What is a miracle?

The intercessory power of the person being studied is usually established through the proof of a miracle.  The subject of a miracle is usually an organic illness so that there can be scientific proof.  Psychological and other conditions are too difficult to prove in a scientific manner even though there may be many such “miracles”.  A second miracle is currently required after beatification as verification that this person is worthy of honour throughout the world.

For a cure to be declared a miracle there are two aspects to be examined – the theological and the medical.

Theological:  Did it happen in the context of prayer to God through the intercession of the holy person?  It is God who does the curing. 

Medical:  Was the cure beyond normal medical and scientific explanation?  This proof is by documentary and anecdotal evidence.  Six questions need to be answered:

• Did the person really have the illness?  Was it a valid diagnosis?

• Is there proof that, at another point in time, the illness was gone?

• Is there proof that the cure was not brought about by medical or surgical means?

• Is there proof that it was morally instantaneous i.e. outside the normal curative process?

• Is there proof that the cure was complete?

• Is the cure permanent?  Before a cure can be examined as a possible miracle, five years must have elapsed for an adult and ten years for a child.

When all the documentation has been examined locally, and there appears to be no scientific explanation for the cure, a special tribunal is constituted and the findings sent to Rome.

There, all the pertinent documents are examined by both the theological and medical teams.  If the outcome is successful the blessed person can be declared a saint for the universal Church.

It is a slow process.  Please pray that the canonisation of Blessed Mary MacKillop will proceed for the greater glory of God and the inspiration of the universal Church.