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The Contemporary Catholic Theology of Miracles

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The Contemporary Catholic Theology of Miracles John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin Faculty of Theology Rev. Fr. Casmir Ikechukwu Anozie Index Number: 139971 THE CONTEMPORARY CATHOLIC THEOLOGY OF MIRACLES Doctoral Thesis in Systematic Theology written under the supervision of Rev. Fr. Dr hab. Krzysztof Kaucha, prof. KUL Lublin 2018 2 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It is clear to me that this exciting and challenging project would not have seen the light of the day, if not for the help and support of some people. First, I have to thank my bishop, Most Rev. Paulinus E. Ezeokafor for granting me the permission to further my education. I remain highly indebted to you (my uncle), dear Fr Mike, for your love, care and encouragement. You took it upon yourself to finance all my studies right from seminary days up to this stage. I appreciate. I am most grateful to my supervisor, Fr Krzysztof Kaucha, his careful, critical eye and encouragement turned this challenging work into an interesting one. I appreciate your concern and support in my studies Sr. Seraphina Kurumeh. Thank you for the many hours you spent in proof-reading this work. My appreciation goes to Fr Michael Happy Hoyer, for his kindness, generosity, and support as well as the entire parishioners of St. Gregory Catholic Church, Plantation, Florida United States. Frs Eliseus Ezeuchenne, John Umeorjiakor, Ferdinand Nwaigbo, Bogusław Migut, Andrew Emenike, Boniface Ezeoke, Augustine Ezenwelu, Celestine Nnolim, Moses Nwankwo, Dominic Igwe, Justin Nwafor, Roland-Victor Okoli, Law Nwankwo, Chris Okoli, and I. G. Okoli, your support and encouragement can never be forgotten. I cannot forget you John Okafor, Ikenna Okafor (Ide Akwaeze), J&J Okpala, and Aloysius Okoye for your encouragement and financial support. I also wish to acknowledge the support and encouragement of my dear brothers and sisters from Nigeria in KUL, you are wonderful. Finally, I would like to thank my family for their love, care and understanding, especially during my studies. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………….……….03 TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………………..04 ABBREVIATIONS……………………………………………………………………07 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………….09 CHAPTER ONE: THEOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING OF MIRACLES…….18 1.1 Miracles as Signs and Means of Divine Revelation According to Holy Scriptures……………………………………………………………………….18 1.1.1 Miracles in the Old Testament………………………………………….24 1.1.2 Miracles Performed by Jesus……………………………………………28 1.1.3 Miracles Performed by Apostles……………………………………......37 1.2 General Theological Concept of Miracles……………………………………...39 1.3 Different Meanings of Miracles as Divine Signs……………………………….49 1.3.1 Miracles as Signs of the Power of God………………………………….50 1.3.2 Miracles as Signs of Love of God…………………………………….....51 1.3.3 Miracles as Signs of the Coming of the Kingdom of God……………….52 1.3.4 Miracles as Signs of a Divine Mission……………………………….....54 1.3.5 Miracles as Signs of the Glory of Christ………………………………..56 1.3.6 Miracles as Signs of Revelation of the Trinitarian Mystery…………….57 1.3.7 Miracles as Symbols of the Sacramental Economy……………………..59 1.3.8 Miracles as Signs of the Transformation of the Passing World…………60 1.3.9 Miracles as Signs of Faith………………………………………………62 1.4 Summary……………………………………………………………………......63 CHAPTER TWO: POST-BIBLICAL MIRACLES AND THEIR CLASSIFICATIONS………………………………………………………………….66 2.1 Post-Biblical Miracles………………………………………………………......67 2.2 Types of Post-Biblical Miracles………………………………………………...76 2.2.1 Eucharistic Miracles…………………………………………………….76 2.2.2 Healings (Medical Miracles)…..…………………………………….....79 5 2.2.3 Apparitions……………………………………………………………..86 2.2.3.1 Types of Apparition………………………………………….........101 2.2.3.2 Characteristics of Apparition……………………………...............102 2.2.4 Miracles of the Saints……………………………………………….....104 2.2.5 Miraculous Images………………………………………………….....107 2.2.6 Stigmata……………………………………………………………….108 2.2.7 Locution……………………………………………………………….109 2.3 Summary…………………………………………………………………..…..111 CHAPTER THREE: POSSIBILITY AND CREDIBILITY OF MIRACLES IN THE CONTEXT OF CRITICISMS………………………………………………...114 3.1 Difficulties Against Miraculous Claims……………………………………….116 3.1.1 Miracles and Laws of Nature………………………………………......121 3.1.2 God’s Relation to the World…………………………………………...123 3.1.3 Unknown Forces and Statistical Laws…………………………………127 3.1.4 The Hypothesis of Unknown Forces in the Human Psyche……………130 3.1.5 The Problem of Suffering and Miracles……………………………….131 3.1.6 Hypothesis of Magic…………………………………………………..136 3.2 Arguments for the Credibility of Miraculous Claims…………………………138 3.2.1 Categorical and Confirmatory Arguments…………………………….139 3.2.2 Historicity of Miracles as Evidence of their Credibility………………140 3.2.2.1 Global Historicity………………………………………………….141 3.2.2.2 Criteria of Historical Authenticity…………………………………145 3.2.2.2.1 The Criterion of Multiple Attestation……………………...146 3.2.2.2.2 The Criterion of Discontinuity……………………….........148 3.2.2.2.3 The Criterion of Continuity………………………………..149 3.2.2.2.4 Style of Jesus………………………………………………150 3.2.2.2.5 The Criterion of Internal Intelligibility of the Stories…………………………………………………......152 3.2.2.2.6 Divergent Interpretation and Substantial Agreement………………………………………………....153 3.2.2.2.7 The Criterion of Necessary Explanation…..……………...154 3.2.3 Convergence and Coherence………………………………………......155 3.3 Summary……………………………………………………………………....156 6 CHAPTER FOUR: RECOGNITION OF MIRACLES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS…………………………………………………………………………159 4.1 Recognition of Miracles……………………………………………………….160 4.1.1 Spontaneous Recognition……………………………………………...166 4.1.2 Theological Recognition………………………………………………167 4.1.3 Magisterium and Recognition of Miracles…………………………….172 4.1.3.1 Relationship between the Church and Modern Science…...............182 4.1.3.2 The Process of Canonization of Saints……………………….........184 4.1.3.3 The Canonical Trial of Healing Miracles by the Church………….185 4.1.3.4 The Role of the Physician in Certifying Miracles…………………188 4.2 Functions of Miracles……………………………………………………….....189 4.2.1 Communication between God and Humanity……………………........191 4.2.2 Revelation……………………………………………………………..193 4.2.3 Attestation……………………………………………………………..194 4.2.4 Liberation and Enhancement…………………………………………..197 4.2.5 Invitation to Christian Living………………………………………….199 4.2.5.1 Miracles, Conversion, and Faith…………………………………...200 4.2.5.2 Miracles and the Life of Faith……………………………………..203 4.2.5.3 Miracles and Holiness……………………………………………..207 4.2.5.4 Miracles and Trinitarian Life…………………………………...….208 4.3 Summary……………………………………………………………………....209 CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………211 BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………………….…...214 7 ABBREVIATIONS cann. canon CBCN Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigerian CCC Catechism of the Catholic Church CDF Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith cf. confer chap. chapter Col. Colossians 1 Cor. Corinthians Deut. Deuteronomy DH Dignitatis Humanae DPM Divinus Perfectionis Magister DV Dei Verbum e.g. exampli gratia, for example ed. editor 2n. ed. second edition eds. editors Exod. Exodus ff. and following Gen. Genesis IPH Instruction on Prayers for Healing Isa. Isaiah Jer. Jeremiah LG Lumen Gentium loc. location Matt. Matthew Msgr. Monsignor no. number Num. Numbers para. Paragraph PDF portable document format Q Quelle, which is simply the word for source. rev. revised Rom. Romans 8 1 Sam. 1 Samuel SDA Special Divine Action sec. section SM Sanctorum Mater SS. Saints St. Saint 1 Thess. 1 Thessalonian 2 Tim. 2 Timothy trans. translated by UCLA University of California, Los Angeles vol. volume vols. volumes 9 INTRODUCTION Historical Background Christianity is a revealed religion which entails self-communication of God to humanity and people’s response to God. One of the means and signs of this self-communication is miracle. God revealed himself to his people through signs and wonders he did in their midst. The concept of miracles, the incarnation, death and especially the resurrection of Jesus Christ; the miralce of all miracles, is what one cannot neglect while discussing the foundation of Catholic faith. Moreover, it is pertinent to the understanding of Christian Religion. There is always a paradigm shift in people’s knowledge of reality (Christian/Catholic faith) that characterises each epoch in history. This shift can be said to be a defining character in the history of each period. From apostolic era to scholastic, from medieval to modern era, from post-modern (rationalistic) to contemporary age, each has a particular concern which distinguishes it from the other. Catholic Church and her theology is not an exception to these developments being noticed in the progression of history. These changes by no means entail changes in the content of the reality or doctrine but rather in the understanding of it. Biblically, the term miracles is not in the Scriptures, but one can identify salient features of the biblical notions of miracles therein.1 Furthermore, Augustine’s understanding of miracles relied heavily on the Scripture and influenced the patristic era. For him, a miracle is not a special Divine action which violates the ordinary cause of nature. Instead, it is an extraordinary event with a serious and significant effect on the recipient.2 He maintained that the most important thing is the message of the miracle and not the extraordinariness of the event. On the other hand, during the medieval period, Thomas Aquinas brought to bay the causal aspect of miracles. He insisted that the cause of authentic miraculous events must be unknown to human knowledge because it is beyond their capacity. The capacity
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