Contending For The Faith---Part 11

 

In St. Jude 1:3, we read, "Dearly beloved, taking all care to write unto you concerning your common salvation, I was under a necessity to write unto you: to beseech you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints." [Emphasis mine]. Contending For The Faith is a series of posts dedicated to apologetics (i.e.,  the intellectual defense of the truth of the Traditionalism Catholic Faith) to be published the first Monday of each month.  This is the next installment.

Sadly, in this time of Great Apostasy, the faith is under attack like never before, and many Traditionalists don't know their faith well enough to defend it. Remember the words of our first pope, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." (1Peter 3:16). There are five (5) categories of attacks that will be dealt with in these posts. Attacks against:

• The existence and attributes of God
• The truth of the One True Church established by Christ for the salvation of all 
• The truth of a particular dogma or doctrine of the Church
• The truth of Catholic moral teaching
• The truth of the sedevacantist position as the only Catholic solution to what has happened since Vatican II 

In addition, controversial topics touching on the Faith will sometimes be featured, so that the problem and possible solutions may be better understood. If anyone had suggestions for topics that would fall into any of these categories, you may post them in the comments. I cannot guarantee a post on each one, but each will be carefully considered.

SPECIAL NOTE TO MY READERS: Happy New Year 2023! It's hard to believe but this is the 600th (yes, six hundredth) post to be published since I began on June 2, 2010. Please pray for my guest posters Lee, Joanna From Poland, and me. Please ask that we may continue to write as a means of serving Christ, and to the edification of the faithful. 

God bless you all, my dear readers---Introibo

Miraculous Cures

The Church has always been extremely careful when declaring a cure as miraculous. Such cures are most often the subject of beatifications and canonizations. This post will set forth Church teaching on miraculous cures in regard to beatifications/canonizations and what the Vatican II sect has done to make a mockery of sainthood and the truly miraculous. 

Brief Summary of Church Teaching on Miracles

The definition of a miracle. According to theologian Parente, the word miracle comes from the Latin word miror---I wonder. In the broad sense, it is an extraordinary event which calls attention and excites wonder. Theologians explain it is: (a) done by God as principle cause; (b) done in the world; (c) in a way superior to all forces of nature; and outside or above, but not in violation of the laws of nature, but by an exceptional happening brought about by a divine power that intervenes in created things, producing an effect superior to their natural power. The possibility of the miracle rests chiefly on the absolute dominion of God as the First and Free Cause of the Universe, Whose laws are subordinate to Him and cannot limit either His freedom of action or His power. Only the logically impossible and that which violates His Nature (sin) are impossible to Him. (See Dictionary of Dogmatic Theology, [1951], pg. 188).  

Miracles are an effect wrought in nature by the direct intervention of God. They are proofs of the truth of the Catholic religion.

Proof: From the Oath Against Modernism promulgated by Pope St. Pius X for all clerics on September 1, 1910:

Secondly, I accept and acknowledge the external proofs of revelation, that is, divine acts and especially miracles and prophecies as the surest signs of the divine origin of the Christian religion and I hold that these same proofs are well adapted to the understanding of all eras and all men, even of this time. (Emphasis mine)

From the Vatican Council (1870):

If anyone shall say that miracles are impossible, and therefore that all the accounts regarding them, even those contained in Holy Scripture, are to be dismissed as fables or myths; or that miracles can never be known with certainty, and that the divine origin of Christianity cannot be proved by them; let him be anathema.

Miracles cannot be used to help give credibility to that which is false. Any "miracle" that does so is either (a) naturally explained, and therefore not a miracle, or (b) of demonic origin.

Proof: A miracle is a deed that is sensible, extraordinary, and of divine origin. Hence, since transubstantiation is not sensible, it cannot be considered a miracle in the strict sense. Miracles can only be used to support that which is true and good. It is impossible for God to deceive. Moreover, God would equivalently be producing falsehood if He were performing some miracles in order to demonstrate that some false doctrines or a doctrine that is altogether human has been revealed by Himself. We should recognize that God allows extraordinary things to be performed by the devil. (See theologian Tanquerey, A Manual of Dogmatic Theology, [1959], 1:40-45; Emphasis mine). 

God can (and does) permit miracles for the benefit of unbelievers. This is why some falsely claim that "miracles happen in all religions." 

According to theologian Lepicier:

We readily admit that miracles can be worked outside the Catholic body in exceptional and individual cases, since the Holy Ghost is free to seek His instruments where He will. This creates no difficulty especially when the miracle-worker is a man of holy life and has no other aim in his works but the honor of God...as their [miracles] purpose [is] to furnish extra proofs of the existence of the supernatural order. (See Le Miracle, [1936], pg. 518; Emphasis mine). 

It is certain that in no religion except the One True Church of Christ do miracles occur commonly under the full glare of scientific investigation and prove Her Divine Origin. However, the sheep that have gone astray are still under the watchful eye of the Good Shepard. The confusion of tongues at the Tower of Babel, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Pharaoh's dreams, and the plagues of Egypt are some examples of of miracles performed primarily for the benefit of unbelievers.  

Summary of the Requirements for a Miracle

Cardinal-theologian Lepicier gives the requirements for a miracle as follows:

• the event must take place comparatively rarely. God did not create the world to interfere constantly with its laws

• since it is Divine in origin, the event must be of a reasonable and moral nature, with no trace of deception or sleight of hand

• it must always have a recognizable spiritual purpose

• it must bring about a general or individual good

• it is often instantaneous, but it can be progressive when God uses secondary causes

Miraculous effects should be lasting, but that is not absolutely indispensable. A cure may be granted to demonstrate the existence of God or the efficacy of prayer, or to permit some useful action to be performed; its purpose once achieved, the disease, arrested as though by an antibiotic, may resume its natural course. Miracles, in general, correspond to prayer. (See Ibid; my summary of the information given). 

While we must believe in miracles (especially those contained in the Holy Bible), we are not bound to believe in every specific event claimed to be miraculous. We should only give credence to those events considered miracles by the authority of the Church. 

Proof: Many events thought to be miraculous were denied as such by the Magisterium of the Church prior to the defection of the hierarchy at Vatican II. 

• Many people claimed that they saw the statue of Our Lady of Assisi move and smile. (1948) The Church later declared there was no apparition of Our Lady in Assisi, and no miraculous events.

• There are people hundreds of years into the canonization process as of 1958 (death of Pope Pius XII) whose alleged miracles were never confirmed despite large numbers of witnesses.

• Theresa Neumann (d. 1962) was alleged to have survived only on the Eucharist for 30 years, and claimed the stigmata. The Church has never confirmed nor denied these miraculous claims which were investigated beginning in 1928.

Miraculous Cures in the Canonization Process

[This information comes from the writings of the holy medical doctor, Dr. Francois Leuret, M.D. He was frequently called by the Sacred Congregation of Rites. Under Canon 253, the Congregation, in addition to its duties regarding discipline of worship and the sacraments, also has its competence extending "...to all that in any way concerns the beatification and canonization of the servants of God, as well as sacred relics." The Congregation would call in physicians of the highest learning and most eminent experience to help determine legitimate miraculous cures. Dr. Leuret was one such medical expert, and he was at the Medical Bureau in Lourdes to determine miraculous cures there as well. He has written extensively on the proceedings of the Congregation of Rites and the medical process in determining miraculous cures. Although not a theologian, all his writings were given both the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur pre-1958, thereby ensuring beyond doubt that they are free of doctrinal and moral errors. All credit to Dr. Leuret---Introibo]

As a general rule, two miracles are required for beatification. The less conclusive is the evidence for virtues, the more miracles are demanded by the Church. This is the idea behind the decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites dated April 23, 1741, which requires two miracles if the witnesses to the heroic virtues were eyewitnesses, and four if the evidence for heroic virtue or martyrdom was not derived from eyewitnesses. This was modified by Pope Benedict XIV on July 17, 1744; two miracles suffice if the witnesses merely received the information from eyewitnesses, information received from other meant three miracles were required. The rule does not apply to martyrs.

In the case of martyrs, if the fact of martyrdom is clearly established, marvelous signs called prodigies may suffice. A prodigy is an inexplicable happenings, the miraculous nature of which is not subjected to any rigorous proof. After the Congregation has passed the decree on martyrdom, the Congregation next must decide whether these marvelous signs are sufficient, whether they must be verified as miracles, or whether two other declared miracles are necessary. The pope, in the decree on martyrdom, may dispense from this, as was the case on March 25, 1945, for Maria Goretti, who would be canonized on June 25, 1950 by Pope Pius XII. 

When deciding a miraculous cure, two medical experts are called to make a complete report. They must have extensive knowledge of,  and specialize in, the diagnosis and treatment of the particular disease in question. The expert doctors' reports, concisely worded and supported by clear arguments, must reply to the following two queries:

1. If a cure is alleged, can the person in whose favor it is claimed be held as truly cured?

2. Can the fact put forward as miraculous be explained by the laws of nature or not? 

Pope Benedict XIV lists the seven characteristics which stamp a cure as miraculous:

1. The disease must be serious and impossible, or at least very difficult, to cure.

2. The disease must not have reached a stage at which it was liable to disappear shortly of its own accord.

3. No medical treatment must have been applied, or if it were, it must have certainly been ineffectual.

4. The cure must be sudden, instantaneous. [it can be progressive when God uses secondary causes]

5. The cure must be complete.

6. It must not be preceded by any crisis due to natural causes at the expected time; otherwise the cure, far from being miraculous, must be considered wholly or partially as natural.

7. Finally, there must be no relapse into the same disease after the cure. [Within due time limits. Hence, a  21 year old man cured miraculously of cancer, could get cancer at age 81, and it in no way implies the cure 60 years prior wasn't miraculous]. 

(See Pope Benedict XIV, On the Beatification and Canonization of Servants of God; Explanations in red font mine). 

A preparatory session of the Congregation looks over the reports. They look over the reports and decide if  they proceed to the entire Congregation in a general meeting with the pope himself presiding. If the medical reports disagree in any way, more experts are called in until enough information is supplied. If the preparatory session votes in the negative, the cause goes no further. If the vote is in the affirmative, the cause goes forward.

If the cause moves forward, the Congregation meets in the presence of the pope, and an outline of the whole case for the servant of God is presented to His Holiness. The arguments for and against beatification are made. After several days, the pope himself decides if the miracles are genuine. If the pope decides they are, the decree of approbation of miracles is signed and published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, and the Church recognizes them as authentic miraculous cures from God. 

The Congregation will then meet with the pope to discuss the following question: Whether it is now safe to proceed to the beatification of the Servant of God? The pope will listen to the opinions of all the cardinals and theologian-consultors of the Congregation. If the pope answers the query in the affirmative, the date of the beatification will be fixed on the papal calendar.   

Before canonization two more miracles, which took place after the beatification, must be approved in the same way as in the beatification process. If successful, the infallible decree of canonization is signed and solemnly read by the pope; the verbiage has been fixed since 1313 by Pope Clement V:

In honor of the holy and undivided Trinity, for the exaltation of the Catholic faith and the increase of the Christian religion, by the authority of Our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by Our own, after mature deliberation and having frequently implored the Divine aid, in accordance with the desires of our venerable brethren the cardinals, patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops assembled in this city, We declare and define that (Name) is a saint, and We inscribe him (her) in the catalogue of saints, and order that his (her) memory shall be kept with piety and devotion on (Feast Date), in the ranks of  the martyrs (or confessors, virgins...). In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, Amen. 

A Vatican II "Saint" with a Dubious "Miracle"

As an example of what passes for a "saint" in the Vatican II sect, I will take the example of Mother Teresa of Calcutta (d. 1997 and "canonized" in 2016 by Bergoglio). The Modernist Vatican only requires one miracle for beatification and one for canonization. Before the beatification process can begin, the candidate must be declared "Venerable" by heroic virtue and impeccable orthodoxy of Faith (same as pre-Vatican II).  There was an eye-opening book written in 2007 entitled, Mother Teresa: The Case for the Cause by Mark Michael Zima (not a Traditionalist). This well-researched book raises serious problems with the nun. Mother Teresa apostatized to the Vatican II sect. She went full force with heretical ecumenism. 

Mother Teresa: Spreading False Ecumenism.

Mother Teresa is quoted as saying, Some call him Allah, some simply God. But we all have to acknowledge that it is he (sic) who made us for the greater things: to love and be loved.  God is not the false moon "god' named "Allah." God created us to know, love, and serve Him in this life, and to be eternally happy with Him in the next.

In another disturbing quote, she claimed her purpose was not to convert others but to make the Christian the better Christian, the Muslim a better Muslim, and a Hindu a better Hindu. Addressing the Masonic United Nations in 1985, she said, No color, no religion, no nationality should come between us. We are all children of God. (Emphasis mine) The purpose of a Catholic religious is to convert others to the One True Church of Christ, not to entrench others in their errors. A better Mohammedan makes for a worse person. And while it is true that God created all humans, we are not all His children. God Wills all to be saved, but He does not force Himself on us. Those who reject Him, are not His "children," anymore than non-Jews before the coming of Christ could be called His "chosen people."

She is reported as telling those in her care that, we will meet all our friends and family members who died before us in Heaven regardless of their beliefs. She also told non-Catholics, You could replace Jesus by God if you are not a Christian. She forgets "Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God hath raised from the dead, even by him this man standeth here before you whole. This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved." (See Acts 4: 9-13; Emphasis mine). 

Does this sound like "orthodoxy in doctrine" that one would expect from a saint? I'll let the reader decide. 

A Questionable "Miracle"

Lastly, there's doubts as to an alleged "miracle" being used for her "canonization." It involved the cure of a young Indian woman, Monica Besra, who claimed that a tumor on her ovary was cured when a medal of Mother Teresa was touched to her body where she felt pain.  Dr. Ranjan Mustafi, the chief gynecologist treating her, claims that it was the four drugs to which she was responding. The Vatican never contacted Dr. Mustafi to investigate, and nevertheless claimed "there was no medical explanation" for her cure.

Can this even begin to compare to the investigations of the One True Church?

Objection: Couldn't Mother Teresa have converted by the grace of God on her deathbed, sincerely repented, and be in Heaven as a saint? 

Reply: Yes, she could be in Heaven as described because we don't know what happened in the last moments of her life between her soul and God. She did many acts of charity, and God may have granted her the grace to convert and repent as a result. "...for charity covereth a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8).

However, that would make her a saint with a small "s" and all of whom we celebrate on November 1st, All Saints Day. To be a canonized saint, with "St." before the name and a feast day, it requires much more, i.e., that the saint be worthy of emulation by all the faithful. Clearly, the One True Church of Christ does not want others to emulate a "female Bergoglio:" Proselytism is solemn nonsense. 

[N.B. Now that Ratzinger has gone to Judgement, how long can it be to his "canonization"?]

Conclusion

Miraculous cures are few, and a rigorous investigation should be conducted to determine what is truly from God. If in need of a cure, or anything else, have recourse to the true saints recognized from 33 to 1958. The Vatican II sect makes dubious "saints" at best. You don't want to risk praying (God forbid) to a damned soul.