Do miraculous healings happen today?

[mikekle]

Yes. There was nothing on my hand at all. Not a spot. The doctor dumped the basin of blue disinfectant he intended to soak my hand in, down the sink. I left with a plain hand. Plus I worked all day with that big mitt on, against his orders. Dirty work I drove a route truck. Two handed job!

So I burned my hand about 2 pm. It was clear when they unwrapped it then next day, about 3 pm.

I left the office and went to the warehouse to load my truck with two hands. I was happy. Thought I got away with something or that it was lucky. I did not think about God. I did not think about a miracle, though the doctor did.

He could not get me to react. I had a hard day working with one hand, worried for my future…and my mother’s. So I just wanted to get out of there and get back to work.

I had to tell people who saw my hand bandaged, or saw me when the accident happened, I was okay. But after a day or so, I never thought of this again for at least a dozen years.

What I’m saying is true. The doctor is still practicing. I sure he remembers me. I was an infamous character in a small town.

He said he’d heard of miracles (medical), but never seen one before. He thanked me…I just felt embarrassed. I saw no reason to be in his office. There was nothing on my hand. I guess I was embarrassed because it was a big scene the day before, and now look. Nothing. I really thought I should just go to work so that’s what I did, as soon as I could be excused!

Well, that is nothing short of a real miracle, there is no denying that, but I just wonder how often things like this happen, probably better chance at winning the lottery.

I also wonder if the medical association keeps tracks of events like this?

 

[NewishCath]

I wonder too. This doc did say he’d heard of such things. In medical school or from his peers or something. He said he was not sure if he believed stories like this or not, but this was proof, right here in his office.

I tend to think it does happen. But say I told ten people this story. On average, maybe one would believe me.

Even if I sat with the doctor, the nurse and the receptionist…along with the welder who witnessed the accident…and we all told the story, people would think we were in cahoots or up to something.

Also, specific to medical stuff, there are all those faith healer types, confusing this issue.

Personally, I can say for sure that God can do these things. Guess how I burned my hand? I mean, it’s incredible.

I burned my hand by wrapping it around a red-hot joint that had just been welded. I mean, the welder repaired the joint of a steel hand truck (I was a route driver), turned his back towards the equipment that was mounted on the truck. I picked the hand truck up, like I did 50 times a day, except this time it was HOT!. Thousands of degrees, I’m told.

I didn’t even yell, or drop the hand truck for that matter. I was in shock, I suppose. I just stood there, holding it. The welder turned back around - saw me holding it and he yelled. “DROP IT!!!”

Anyway, it was burned and I mean, BURNED. And when they scrub it…for some reason they have to do this before they numb it? Blood flow or something, I forget. It was excruciating, I’ll tell you that. Out of this world.

 

[Elena321]

One of the things that people seem to forget, or were possibly never taught, is that this world has changed dramatically since it was first created by God.

What changed the world and caused all of these abnormalities that we see in it, now? Sin. Plain and simple. Sin is caused by evil, which causes more sin, and even more evil and sin. It’s a vicious cycle that spreads all across the whole world. It effects everything in the world, and causes it to become twisted and deformed, in the same way the fallen angels were deformed into hideous demons by their sin. The more sin continues to happen, and evil spreads, the more twisted and deformed this world becomes.

So, it’s not God that creates the defective things in this world, like deformed babies. God infuses a beautiful soul into the body of a child, but the physical part of that child is a product of this imperfect and sinful world. Please, don’t blame God for something that was caused by all of us. It’s not His fault. It’s ours. Doesn’t it make you wonder how He could possibly still love us, after all we’ve done to His beautiful creation? But, He does.

But even animals can get sicknesses?
Whos sin caused this?

 

[Telstar]

But even animals can get sicknesses?
Whos sin caused this?

Our sins affect this whole physical world, because sin opens the door to the devil. It gives him more power over us. People don’t even want to believe that the devil exists. He likes it that way, because then he can do a lot of things that people will just blame on God, instead of him. Jesus referred to him as “the prince of this world”. He was cast down from heaven and roams the earth, trying to drag us into hell with him."Apocalypse 12: [12] Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein. Woe to the earth, and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time."Lucifer was the most powerful angel in Heaven. He still has immense power, which he uses to do whatever he can (within limits) to steal us away from God, while he still has time. Heaven rejoiced when he was cast out, but now, we have to deal with him on earth. The more we sin, the stronger he gets. Plants and animals are also affected by him, because they live in this world just like we do. He can affect the whole natural world. It’s not God that causes freak storms and other natural disasters, it’s that moron from hell. He hates us. He wants us all to be his subjects and serve him in hell. In the end, he will finally lose the war, but how many of us will get caught in his traps in the meantime? Especially, if we put blinders on and refuse to admit that he really does exist. He’s not a myth.

 

[Elena321]

Our sins affect this whole physical world, because sin opens the door to the devil. It gives him more power over us. People don’t even want to believe that the devil exists. He likes it that way, because then he can do a lot of things that people will just blame on God, instead of him. Jesus referred to him as “the prince of this world”. He was cast down from heaven and roams the earth, trying to drag us into hell with him."Apocalypse 12: [12] Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein. Woe to the earth, and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time."Lucifer was the most powerful angel in Heaven. He still has immense power, which he uses to do whatever he can (within limits) to steal us away from God, while he still has time. Heaven rejoiced when he was cast out, but now, we have to deal with him on earth. The more we sin, the stronger he gets. Plants and animals are also affected by him, because they live in this world just like we do. He can affect the whole natural world. It’s not God that causes freak storms and other natural disasters, it’s that moron from hell. He hates us. He wants us all to be his subjects and serve him in hell. In the end, he will finally lose the war, but how many of us will get caught in his traps in the meantime? Especially, if we put blinders on and refuse to admit that he really does exist. He’s not a myth.

I though God made “natural disasters”?

 

[ericc]

If He can do it, why is it so rare?

Miracles logically should be rare. If it is an everyday thing, it wouldn’t be called a miracle. Short answer.

Long answer. God created the world to operate within laws of nature i.e. physics, chemistry, biology, genetics etc. An interventionist God would caused this world to operate inconsistently to his laws of nature. It would have resulted in madness if these laws of nature do not operate consistently and if God were to intervene every so often.

And yet God does intervene to show his love and glory or according to some plan of his.

 

[Telstar]

I though God made “natural disasters”?

No, He doesn’t. That’s why I said what I did, below. The devil is the cause of all evil, not God. God allows the devil to use his evil powers within certain limits. Sometimes, God might allow it in order to test our faith in Him, or to get our attention when we wander away, in order to call us back to Him, even if we only seek His help during those kinds of extreme circumstances. He wants us to think about Him more often, but we’re easily distracted by the world around us. So, God will use the things that the devil does to cause trouble, to remind us that He’s still there waiting for us. He will always turn any disasters that the devil might cause, into something good that will somehow benefit us in the long run.

People don’t even want to believe that the devil exists. He likes it that way, because then he can do a lot of things that people will just blame on God, instead of him.

 

[Faith1960]

t

I think the OP wants to know if Go has ever cured Alzheimer’s, Downs etc. And if not, why not?

?

 

[Ignatius]

I though God made “natural disasters”?

Actually, they wouldn’t be natural disasters if God made them.

 

[Faith1960]

I think the OP wants to know if Go has ever cured Alzheimer’s, Downs etc. And if not, why not?

Anyone?

 

[Faith1960]

Actually, they wouldn’t be natural disasters if God made them.

Why doesn’t he intervene?

 

[Blue_Horizon]

Miracles logically should be rare. If it is an everyday thing, it wouldn’t be called a miracle. Short answer.

Long answer. God created the world to operate within laws of nature i.e. physics, chemistry, biology, genetics etc. An interventionist God would caused this world to operate inconsistently to his laws of nature. It would have resulted in madness if these laws of nature do not operate consistently and if God were to intervene every so often.

And yet God does intervene to show his love and glory or according to some plan of his.

If God set the clock of creation to run by laws then a single intervention is inconsistent of God.
So maybe God is “intervening” all the time, even when it seems there are impersonal laws operating but we just don’t realise it?

 

[Telstar]

If God set the clock of creation to run by laws then a single intervention is inconsistent of God.
So maybe God is “intervening” all the time, even when it seems there are impersonal laws operating but we just don’t realise it?

I think it would be safe to say that God does ‘intervene’, but only by limiting the power of the devil, and keeping him from doing everything that he would actually want to do to us, on earth. If he was not limited by God, he would most likely do many more horrendous things than he does, now.

 

[alphawoman]

Yes. I have an aunt by marriage who had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis who visited Lourdes and was subsequently found to have no evidence of MS by her doctors upon her return. Miracles do happen.

Just today, there was a prayer intention on the forum for a baby in utero who had been identified as being severely deformed. The mother had been recommended to have an early induction to abort her son. A scan was performed prior to the procedure, and no evidence of deformity was found. The mother has since decided to carry her son to term and raise him!

 

[Blue_Horizon]

I think it would be safe to say that God does ‘intervene’, but only by limiting the power of the devil, and keeping him from doing everything that he would actually want to do to us, on earth. If he was not limited by God, he would most likely do many more horrendous things than he does, now.

It’s an interesting question as to whether the evil one intervenes in nature or in fact is fully part of nature but due to his own powerful nature influences all creation against its God given purpose.

Another question would be the manner he does this. Does he do so by planned and actively willed acts or by corrupting at the level of individual substance which means, like planting a virus, he doesn’t actually intervene day by day at all. He just sits back and watches things unravel.

I think he does both. The very nature of created things is changed for the worse and just unravel like clockwork. But souls he may be able to influence constantly through imagination.
I do not believe the devil has power to act on inanimate creation in a daily interventionist way. He doesn’t really cause storms or earthquakes or volcanoes or global warming. If these things are evil, it is because he influences souls to behave in such a way that due to our unthinking greed we ourselves do this.

How God intervenes I do not know. Perhaps the way he arranged atoms etc at the very moment of creation anticipated all the decisions of men angels and demons so that creation itself, even though weakened in its purpose by the evil one… Will still achieve His ultimate purpose. And perhaps miracles are not direct interventions at all but rare potentialities of human nature itself. Such souls who respond to God’s grace and work miracles we call Saints, those who do the reverse are possessed or demons.

We just don’t know for sure I suppose.

 

[Telstar]

It’s an interesting question as to whether the evil one intervenes in nature or in fact is fully part of nature but due to his own powerful nature influences all creation against its God given purpose.

Evil has become a part of the natural world through sin; beginning with Original Sin and including all individual sin, since that time. The devil is the personification, and the cause, of all evil.

Another question would be the manner he does this. Does he do so by planned and actively willed acts or by corrupting at the level of individual substance which means, like planting a virus, he doesn’t actually intervene day by day at all. He just sits back and watches things unravel.

I think the old dragon does anything he can to actively influence what happens on the earth itself, and within individuals. I think what you refer to as a “virus” is evil, itself, that’s caused by the sins of the demons, as well as all mankind.

I think he does both. The very nature of created things is changed for the worse and just unravel like clockwork. But souls he may be able to influence constantly through imagination. I do not believe the devil has power to act on inanimate creation in a daily interventionist way. He doesn’t really cause storms or earthquakes or volcanoes or global warming. If these things are evil, it is because he influences souls to behave in such a way that due to our unthinking greed we ourselves do this.

The devil certainly plants his evil seeds, everywhere, and in every thing on earth. But, I also think he actively tries to manipulate the world through his own plan of destruction. He wages a constant war against God, and does all he can to destroy everything that God created, especially us. He hates us because God loves us. I do agree that we are the ones that cause the evil that results in storms, volcanoes, etc., but not in a direct way like modern scientists think we do. We cause it indirectly through our sins, which feed every evil in this world. And, the devil is the instigator that eggs us on into committing those sins.

How God intervenes I do not know. Perhaps the way he arranged atoms etc at the very moment of creation anticipated all the decisions of men angels and demons so that creation itself, even though weakened in its purpose by the evil one… Will still achieve His ultimate purpose.

I certainly have no idea if God created or arranged atoms in such a way as you propose. I guess it’s possible. But, I am very sure that God is capable of turning everything evil in this world into something good, that will ultimately serve His purpose.

And perhaps miracles are not direct interventions at all but rare potentialities of human nature itself. Such souls who respond to God’s grace and work miracles we call Saints, those who do the reverse are possessed or demons.

We just don’t know for sure I suppose.

I would have to disagree with your thinking that miracles are not direct interventions from God. They most certainly are. But, if God did them all the time, we couldn’t really call them miracles, could we? They would only be a common occurrence that, after a while, no one would pay any attention to. I think the main reason God performs truly amazing miracles is to get our attention; to let us know that He really does exist; and that He’s waiting for us to recognize Him through those amazing works, and fall deeply in love with Him. All He wants is for us to love Him, as much as He already loves us.

The only thing the devil wants is for us to hate God, just as much as he hates Him. We fall into his traps whenever there’s some kind of disaster, or a personal crisis that we face, and we immediately think, “why did God do that?”, or “why did God let that happen?”, or “why didn’t God help, or stop that from happening?”. We never even consider the fact that we’re putting all of the blame for those things happening in the wrong place. It’s through the influence of the devil, and our own acts of turning away from God by committing every kind of sin, that ultimately causes all of those evil things to happen. We should be blaming the devil, and ourselves when we follow the little creep, for all the evil in this world. It’s not God’s fault that we refuse to listen to Him, and choose to do whatever we want to do.

 

[Elena321]

Actually, they wouldn’t be natural disasters if God made them.

I guess we perceive them as natural disasters or popular media calls them that but some Christians including Catholics believe earthquakes etc are punishment from God or at the very least the His “passive will” allows them because nothing can happen without His approval?

 

[Elena321]

I also wish God would heal people with incurable things like Alzheimers etc.
At the same time I wish society valued theae people more instead of valuing those who are beautiful or movie stars etc.

 

[Faith1960]

I also wish God would heal people with incurable things like Alzheimers etc.
At the same time I wish society valued theae people more instead of valuing those who are beautiful or movie stars etc.

Why wont He cure people with Alzheimers etc?

 

[Blue_Horizon]

Originally Posted by Blue Horizon View Post
And perhaps miracles are not direct interventions at all but rare potentialities of human nature itself. Such souls who respond to God’s grace and work miracles we call Saints, those who do the reverse are possessed or demons.
We just don’t know for sure I suppose.

While this view certainly isn’t the common explanation I cannot find anything in the Catechism about miracles that it would contradict.

Apart from your natural enough assumption (that Catholics can have only one view on the nature of miracles) why would you be opposed to this explanation?
It seems to better explain miraculous phenomena than the traditional explanation.

For example, its seems that the shrines and holy men of other religions are similarly known for miracles, incorrupt bodies etc. And also to have their witches, demons and possessed also.

Then there are totally inexplicable miracles that seem to have no religious message whatsoever (eg our contributor below whose hand miraculously healed itself).

These things suggest the phenomena are a rare potentiality or “talent” of human nature itself. Some have it and some don’t.

It is “accessed” only by those with deep devotional powers perhaps. Those devoted wholly to God … or those to evil.

Those who do not know of God can still be devoted to goodness itself, just as they can be to evil itself without even knowing of Satan.

Or maybe these powers are accessed by some other “mechanism” such as the Jhana methods of meditation described by ancient Buddist texts. Prayer and fasting is often involved.

Who really knows the mechanism, I am not sure the Church has ever pronounced or felt the need to pronounce on such a topic. Perhaps I am mistaken and someone has a clear Magisterial teaching on this topic.