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May 8 - A crash course in Miracles 101

Article: Signs And Wonders|

What do a grilled cheese sandwich and the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe have in common? Both bore what appeared to be images of Mary. One was determined to be authentically miraculous, the other was not. Not to spoil any secrets, but it�s not Our Lady of the Grilled Cheese that converted Mexico and continues to draw millions of people on pilgrimage every year. But have you ever wondered just how the Church determines the bogus from the divinely appointed? In his new book, �Exploring the Miraculous,� Michael O�Neill gives readers a crash course of sorts in �Miracles 101� - including common questions about the importance of miracles, an explanation of the approval process, and descriptions of the various types of miracles found within the Catholic Church.

For modern-day miracles, belief is never required of the faithful. The highest recognition that the Church gives to an alleged miracle is that it is �worthy of belief.� Investigations of reported miraculous events � which include extensive fact-finding, psychological examination and theological evaluation � may result in a rejection if the event is determined to be fraudulent or lacking in super natural character. Or the Church may take a middle road, declaring that there is nothing contrary to the faith in a supposed apparition, without making a determination on whether a supernatural character is present. But while official investigations can take years, the mere report of a miracle can bring Catholics from long distances, hoping to see some glimpse of the divine reaching into the human.

And it�s not just the faithful who find miracles fascinating. �It's important for atheists and skeptics, those people who don�t believe, they�ve got to have an explanation for the inexplicable,� he said. �There�s something for everyone.� The universal nature of the experience of the miraculous is also what draws people from all belief spectrums to these stories, O�Neill added.

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