Gifts and Miracles in the Catholic Church

[jmcrae]

Since I am exploring the beliefs of Catholics I am interested in what they believe about spiritual gifts. You guys may know that the christian church is very divided on the issue. I read a biography about Fr. Rookey from Chicago that has a healing ministry. Personally, God healed my son Daniel from a terrible disease and lately, I just got back from Suriname South America(at the end of Jan 2007). During this missions trip many, many people were healed and delivered. One woman was blind and can now see.

Many christians hold to the doctrine that the age of miracles is past. One book is called Charismatic Chaos by John Mc Arther.
There are many others on prophesy. What do you guys say?

Curiously,
arcadia

Hi, Arcadia;

We Catholics certainly believe in miracles!!

We also believe that we can have the Charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit, although we don’t believe that everyone is given these, or that they are necessary in order to be a good Catholic. Some Catholics have them, and many do not.

I was recently “slain in the Spirit” while seeking healing for a bad accident I had a couple of months ago.

I received the healing, as well. The person through whom the healing came is a very orthodox and learned Catholic gentleman.

 

[Eileen_T]

I briefly met a Hindu gentleman some time ago who carried a prayer booklet to Our lady of Perpetual Help. He was talking to me about insurance and recognised the picture on my wall.

If seemed his daughter had an accident which totally crushed the bone of her finger and was due to be amputated when a cetholic friend gave him this booklet and told him to pray to Our Lady.

He did and the finger was not amputated because the bone was miraculously restored.

I pray for his conversion.

Luke 10:21 *In that same hour, he rejoiced in the Holy Ghost, and said: I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because **thou hast hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little ones. *Yea, Father, for so it hath seemed good in thy sight.

Some people are so well educated they no longer believe with the faith of little children.

 

[Janet_S]

Dr Bob Rice and his wife, Anita, are Catholic lay Evangelists who travel around the world with their healing ministry. They visited my parish a few years ago.

You can find out about Bob’s book and their itinerary here:

users.aol.com/franwebb7/fire4jc/rice.htm

 

[Janet_S]

Here’s a website about the Eucharistic Miracle at Lanciano, Italy (8th Century A.D.)
therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/lanciano.html

Ancient Anxanum, the city of the Frentanese, has contained for over twelve centuries the first and greatest Eucharistic Miracle of the Catholic Church. This wondrous Event took place in the 8th century A.D. in the little Church of St. Legontian, as a divine response to a Basilian monk’s doubt about Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist.

**During Holy Mass, after the two-fold consecration, the host was changed into live Flesh and the wine was changed into live Blood, which coagulated into five globules, irregular and differing in shape and size. **

The Host-Flesh, as can be very distinctly observed today, has the same dimensions as the large host used today in the Latin church; it is light brown and appears rose-colored when lighted from the back.

The Blood is coagulated and has an earthy color resembling the yellow of ochre.

Various ecclesiastical investigation (“Recognitions”) were conducted since 1574.

In 1970-'71 and taken up again partly in 1981 there took place a scientific investigation by the most illustrious scientist Prof. Odoardo Linoli, eminent Professor in Anatomy and Pathological Histology and in Chemistry and Clinical Microscopy. He was assisted by Prof. Ruggero Bertelli of the University of Siena.

The analyses were conducted with absolute and unquestionable scientific precision and they were documented with a series of microscopic photographs.

These analyses sustained the following conclusions:

The Flesh is real Flesh. The Blood is real Blood.

The Flesh and the Blood belong to the human species.

The Flesh consists of the muscular tissue of the heart.

In the Flesh we see present in section: the myocardium, the endocardium, the vagus nerve and also the left ventricle of the heart for the large thickness of the myocardium.

The Flesh is a “HEART” complete in its essential structure.

The Flesh and the Blood have the same blood-type: AB (Blood-type identical to that which Prof. Baima Bollone uncovered in the Holy Shroud of Turin).

In the Blood there were found proteins in the same normal proportions (percentage-wise) as are found in the sero-proteic make-up of the fresh normal blood.

In the Blood there were also found these minerals: chlorides, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium.

The preservation of the Flesh and of the Blood, which were left in their natural state for twelve centuries and exposed to the action of atmospheric and biological agents, remains an extraordinary phenomenon.

 

[Kitty_Chan]

Are there any instances anyone knows of a person who was healed but can provide medical documention? There was a show on Benny Hinn (just dont know what to do with him) and they asked him “some people get a healing then loose it the next day” he responded " I dont know why that happens, I . . ." the show cut him off mid sentence. I would have liked to hear the answer.

Regardles of what one thinks of Benny, the show still cut him off there I suspect to make Christians as a whole look bad. sigh

 

[I_A]

Many shrines known for their healing have rooms with offerings of crutches, wheel chairs, medical equipment that people have left behind. You can go to these shrines and see all the offerings people have made.

A saint needs at least three documented miracles to be canonized. (As in conclusive evidence before that a serious life threatening disease existed and conclusive evidence after the miracle that it was gone.) You can write to the causes of any of the blessed people are trying to get canonized to get details or copies of the original documents (like x-rays or cat scans, etc.) (Other miracles of course are acceptable too, it just seems that healings fit the criterion well and God has been generous.)

The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes is very well known and is particularly stringent when they announce unexplained events. (Notice the last official cure announced was done in the 50s but the bishop didn’t officially recognize the cure until 2005. The story is on the website.)

lourdes-france.org/upload/pdf/gb_guerisons.pdf

Most miracles though arn’t shouted from the rooftop, they are gifts from God intended to be just that, gifts. They are from God to you, your family, or your parish in sometimes a particularly difficult time, sometimes when you need them, or sometimes whenever God just feels like it.

 

[Eileen_T]

I love the caution of the Church in declaring a miracle has taken place. It makes it more powerful a witness when it does.

 

[arcadia]

You said: Are there any instances anyone knows of a person who was healed but can provide medical documention? There was a show on Benny Hinn (just dont know what to do with him) and they asked him “some people get a healing then loose it the next day” he responded " I dont know why that happens, I . . ." the show cut him off mid sentence. I would have liked to hear the answer.

Regardles of what one thinks of Benny, the show still cut him off there I suspect to make Christians as a whole look bad. sigh

My son was instantly healed at the hands of a young 20 year old musician and our God. Would a doctor have documentation? I don’t know. He would probably say that he just got better and it was coincidence that he happened to be prayed for that day. I don’t know.

As for Benny Hinn. I do not know him but you need to remember that the gifts and calling of God are irrevokable. So if an evangelist does get caught up in money etc. (It’s probably happened more than once) it does not mean that the healings are fake.

When in Suriname God used me in the healing ministry. Many people were healed. Since I have returned to Canada people are still being healed. Why? Perhaps if had to do the person’s faith. These people were exited and expecting something from these 2 strange white guys (a prophet is not honoured in own home town). After this experience, my faith is stronger. During the ministry time I almost always asked people if they were healed. If they said yes great. If they said no I would pray again and usually that would be it. Great time!

Later, in Canada I prayed for a friend who had been in a car accident. He had weak faith having been prayed for several times before with no results. I Prayed 2 or 3 times. Each time I would ask him how do you feel? He would reply “still in pain, still in pain”. I started to get desperate. I said hold your arms up and thank God for the healing. Again and again I asked him. Louder. Louder. Finally he said “Rob I don’t need to do anything more THE PAIN IS GONE!!!” It has been a few months now and he is working as builder ever since. When praying pray in the name of Jesus, In the name of Jesus, be bold and do not give up.

PS: His name is Duane Boisclair
Take what you will from this. Glory to God.

truthfully,

arcadia

 

[puzzleannie]

Hi, Arcadia;

We Catholics certainly believe in miracles!!

We also believe that we can have the Charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit, although we don’t believe that everyone is given these, or that they are necessary in order to be a good Catholic. Some Catholics have them, and many do not.
.

all Catholics receive both the gifts and charisms of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation. The gifts are for building up the faith of the individual. The charisms are for building up the Church. We all have those charisms, but one usually predominates in each person. Tongues is the least of the gifts, and the least needed, so does not manifest very often. The most needed gifts–preaching, administration, teaching–predominate and we all have them, most of us choose not to recognize them and use them. The charisms are actually very prosaic, everyday things, not very dramatic like tongues or working miracles. Miracles are permitted when they will benefit the person being healed or experiencing the miracle. That is God’s determination not ours.

 

[arcadia]

Hi, Arcadia;

We Catholics certainly believe in miracles!!

We also believe that we can have the Charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit, although we don’t believe that everyone is given these, or that they are necessary in order to be a good Catholic. Some Catholics have them, and many do not.

I was recently “slain in the Spirit” while seeking healing for a bad accident I had a couple of months ago.

I received the healing, as well. The person through whom the healing came is a very orthodox and learned Catholic gentleman.

Hi jmcrae
Do you believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? How do you read Acts Chapter 8? The people were believers and were baptised yet were not baptised in the Holy Sprit.

in peace,

arcadia

 

[jmcrae]

Hi jmcrae
Do you believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? How do you read Acts Chapter 8? The people were believers and were baptised yet were not baptised in the Holy Sprit.

in peace,

arcadia

In the Catholic Church today, we call that “Confirmation” - and yes, I have been Confirmed. I received the Anointing from Father Patrick Cramer, who had been authorized to do this by Bishop Fredrick Henry.

I also received the gift of tongues at a different time. This was unconnected to the Sacrament of Confirmation. The gifts received at Confirmation were Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Right Judgement, Courage, Piety, and Awe of the Lord.

Gifts of tongues and healing (which is what I was calling the “Charismatic gifts” earlier) don’t come to everyone, and they come separately than at Confirmation.

 

[arcadia]

hello jmcrae,
you said that

In the Catholic Church today, we call that “Confirmation” - and yes, I have been Confirmed. I received the Anointing from Father Patrick Cramer, who had been authorized to do this by Bishop Fredrick Henry.

I also received the gift of tongues at a different time. This was unconnected to the Sacrament of Confirmation. The gifts received at Confirmation were Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Right Judgement, Courage, Piety, and Awe of the Lord.

Gifts of tongues and healing (which is what I was calling the “Charismatic gifts” earlier) don’t come to everyone, and they come separately than at Confirmation.

I am glad that you do not hold the docterine that the gifts had passed away with the Apostles as some Christian denominations do.

Jesus said “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” Paul wrote that we are to earnestly desire Spiritual gifts especially prophesy! We are also told by Paul that the gifts are given by the Holy Spirit as he sees fit. Generally there is very little emphasis placed on these gifts in the Catholic Church. (I grew up in the Catholic church and my mom attends religiously, this has been my experience anyway) Why do think that this emphasis is is so slight?

 

[mommyof4]

all Catholics receive both the gifts and charisms of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation. The gifts are for building up the faith of the individual. The charisms are for building up the Church. We all have those charisms, but one usually predominates in each person. Tongues is the least of the gifts, and the least needed, so does not manifest very often. The most needed gifts–preaching, administration, teaching–predominate and we all have them, most of us choose not to recognize them and use them. The charisms are actually very prosaic, everyday things, not very dramatic like tongues or working miracles.

How do you know what gifts you have? I look at myself, and I just don’t see much there for the HS to work with!

 

[puzzleannie]

you’re a mommy of 4 and you don’t know what gifts you have? let’s see, nurturing, feeding, caring, washing, admonishing, counselling, nursing, teaching, preaching, nagging (hey, it could be a gift), cleaning, tending, monitoring, mentoring, supervising, coaching … . . . .

 

[mommyof4]

you’re a mommy of 4 and you don’t know what gifts you have? let’s see, nurturing, feeding, caring, washing, admonishing, counselling, nursing, teaching, preaching, nagging (hey, it could be a gift), cleaning, tending, monitoring, mentoring, supervising, coaching … . . . .

Thank you! I guess maybe I need to work on refining those gifts (except for the nagging part- I have that down to an art)!

 

[jmcrae]

Thank you! I guess maybe I need to work on refining those gifts (except for the nagging part- I have that down to an art)!

It’s not “nagging” - it’s “organizational leadership and asset management.”

 

[Sixtus]

When I was a young man, I was so shy and embarrassed, I was unable to speak publically, much less so witness to what I believed. I had the most profound respect and very slight envy of those gifted to publically witness for the faith.

I was recently told of my boldness courage and defiance to witness to whoever wherever with no fear. That when I spoke in witness, I spoke ‘with an authority’ which commands the respect of my listeners. What is that if is not a miracle?

To Him be the glory for ever and ever.

 

[jmcrae]

When I was a young man, I was so shy and embarrassed, I was unable to speak publically, much less so witness to what I believed. I had the most profound respect and very slight envy of those gifted to publically witness for the faith.

I was recently told of my boldness courage and defiance to witness to whoever wherever with no fear. That when I spoke in witness, I spoke ‘with an authority’ which commands the respect of my listeners. What is that if is not a miracle?

To Him be the glory for ever and ever.

YAAY!! :nun1: :heaven:

 

[puzzleannie]

It’s not “nagging” - it’s “organizational leadership and asset management.”

thank you, of course that is what I meant.
as in: move your asset and take the dang garbage out.

 

[jmcrae]

thank you, of course that is what I meant.
as in: move your asset and take the dang garbage out.