Difference between revisions of "Miracle"
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Though the term "miracle" can often be heard from Christians and non-Christians alike, the entire [[Bible]] only contains one genuine reference to "miracle" and that was a quote of a non-believer (the Pharaoh) in Exodus 7:9 (RSV): "When Pharaoh says to you, 'Prove yourselves by working a '''miracle''',' then you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your rod and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.'" | Though the term "miracle" can often be heard from Christians and non-Christians alike, the entire [[Bible]] only contains one genuine reference to "miracle" and that was a quote of a non-believer (the Pharaoh) in Exodus 7:9 (RSV): "When Pharaoh says to you, 'Prove yourselves by working a '''miracle''',' then you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your rod and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.'" | ||
| − | Under [[Christianity]] and [[Judaism]], God is truth and a miracle is nothing more than a "sign" of the truth. "Miracle" is the non-believer's term for what believers properly describe as a "sign", a term that does appear repeatedly in the [[Bible]]. | + | Under [[Christianity]] and [[Judaism]], God is truth and a miracle is nothing more than a "sign" of the truth. "Miracle" is the non-believer's term for what believers properly describe as a "sign", a term that does appear repeatedly in the [[Bible]]. The scholar [[Chad Walsh]] echoes [[C.S. Lewis]]—''Miracles: A Preliminary Study''(1947, Macmillan)—when he states that no other religion bases its ideas upon miracles as much as does Christianity. Its foundation is the [[Incarnation]].<ref> ''C.S. Lewis: Apostle to the Skeptics'', Chad Walsh, Macmillian company, 1949, page 34 </ref> |
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==List of miracles approved by the [[Congregation for the Causes of Saints]]== | ==List of miracles approved by the [[Congregation for the Causes of Saints]]== | ||
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*Blood miracle of St. Januarius (also know St. Gennaro) | *Blood miracle of St. Januarius (also know St. Gennaro) | ||
*The Virgin of the tears: 1953, Syracuse (Sicily) - A statue of the Virgin Mary produces real human tears. | *The Virgin of the tears: 1953, Syracuse (Sicily) - A statue of the Virgin Mary produces real human tears. | ||
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| + | [[category:Christian Theology]] | ||
Revision as of 21:31, December 20, 2008
A miracle is defined by Merriam-Webster (1997) as "an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs." Alternative definitions might include:
- a remarkably good event that has no plausible scientific explanation
- an extremely unlikely occurrence consistent with faith or prayer
- a joyous happening contrary to all reasonable expectation
- "a violation of the laws of nature" (David Hume)
Though the term "miracle" can often be heard from Christians and non-Christians alike, the entire Bible only contains one genuine reference to "miracle" and that was a quote of a non-believer (the Pharaoh) in Exodus 7:9 (RSV): "When Pharaoh says to you, 'Prove yourselves by working a miracle,' then you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your rod and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.'"
Under Christianity and Judaism, God is truth and a miracle is nothing more than a "sign" of the truth. "Miracle" is the non-believer's term for what believers properly describe as a "sign", a term that does appear repeatedly in the Bible. The scholar Chad Walsh echoes C.S. Lewis—Miracles: A Preliminary Study(1947, Macmillan)—when he states that no other religion bases its ideas upon miracles as much as does Christianity. Its foundation is the Incarnation.[1]
List of miracles approved by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
- Stigmata (and other signs) of St. Francis of Assisi
- Prophecies and miraculous apparitions of St. Bernadette
- Apparition of the Mary at Fatima on the 13th day of six consecutive months in 1917, starting on 13 May.
- Stigmata, bilocation, levitation and prophecy of St. Pio of Pietrelcina (born Francesco Frocione)
- Blood miracle of St. Januarius (also know St. Gennaro)
- The Virgin of the tears: 1953, Syracuse (Sicily) - A statue of the Virgin Mary produces real human tears.
- ↑ C.S. Lewis: Apostle to the Skeptics, Chad Walsh, Macmillian company, 1949, page 34