Saints and Miracles

[smp501]

Hi! Could somebody explain how what it means when someone says that Mother Theresa or Pope John Paul II are on the 3rd step to being canonized saints and only need a miracle attributed to them? Can saints in heaven perform miracles, or does God do it? How can we know? I guess this applies to miracles/visions attributed to the Blessed Virgin Mary as well. As a recent ex-Protestant, this whole subject is completely foreign to me. Thanks!

 

[onjac]

Hi! Could somebody explain how what it means when someone says that Mother Theresa or Pope John Paul II are on the 3rd step to being canonized saints and only need a miracle attributed to them? Can saints in heaven perform miracles, or does God do it? How can we know? I guess this applies to miracles/visions attributed to the Blessed Virgin Mary as well. As a recent ex-Protestant, this whole subject is completely foreign to me. Thanks!

Don’t take my word on it but I think it means that they’re verifying that any miracle performed after their deaths are genuine miracles. Also, saints don’t perform miracles. They intercede on our behalf. Only God performs miracles and he uses saints as his instruments.

 

[Todd_Easton]

An explanation of the canonization process can be found in the section on “Roman Catholic procedure since 1983” in the wikipedia article on “Canonization.”

Looks like there are 4 steps to sainthood:

1. Servant of God.
2. Venerable.
3. Blessed.
4. Saint.

 

[Todd_Easton]

Can saints in heaven perform miracles, or does God do it?

That’s like asking, Who or what paints the picture, the paintbrush or the artist?

Saints do not have any innate power to work miracles. (Acts 3:12) However, they can receive such a power from God as a gift and because of that gift they can work miracles. (1 Corinthians 12:10) To avoid confusing the artist (God) with his instrument (the saints), it might be better to say that God is sometimes pleased to work miracles through his saints. (Acts 2:43)

How can we know?

The miracle occurs *immediately * after a request for the saint’s intercession, contact with the saint’s relics, etc. (2 Kings 13:21; Sirach 48:14)

 

[Julia_Mae]

Hi! Could somebody explain how what it means when someone says that Mother Theresa or Pope John Paul II are on the 3rd step to being canonized saints and only need a miracle attributed to them? Can saints in heaven perform miracles, or does God do it? How can we know? I guess this applies to miracles/visions attributed to the Blessed Virgin Mary as well. As a recent ex-Protestant, this whole subject is completely foreign to me. Thanks!

You remember in Acts that Saint Peter would walk around and people would try and get close to him because just his shadow passing over them healed? The Apostles were given supernatural gifts.

Who healed? Saint Peter or God?

When they pass from us and are in Heaven, would we expect them to have fewer or lesser gifts? Who would be entrusted with the power? Saints.

But no matter who is holding the flashlight, the Light is all from the same Source.

 

[Julia_Mae]

The miracle occurs *immediately * after a request for the saint’s intercession, contact with the saint’s relics, etc. (2 Kings 13:21; Sirach 48:14)

Depends what you mean by “immediately.” It’s not instantaneous, necessarily. But very soon, often the person starts to feel something and then over a short time the change a occurs. Like hours or a day or so.

 

[Trishie]

Regarding miracles, it is always as it was with the first recorded miracle of Jesus, at the wedding feast of Cana. Mary interceded, and although Jesus said it was not yet time for signs and miracles, He acceded to her request, her intercession, and prevented the wedding hosts from suffering what would have been a social disgrace in the Jewish community. {John 2:1-11}
The saints, can only intercede, the miracle is always God’s action.
As you see with the miracle at Cana, the prayers of a good soul {and the bible tells us, of a truly humble soul} can obtain special graces for us