Reddit mentions of Medical Miracles: Doctors, Saints, and Healing in the Modern World

> So why not this one? And how many miracles have been rigorously verified by outside sources as having not even the possibility of a natural explanation?

Analysis on sealed containers is not allowed by the church, as it might cause irreplacable damage to the relic inside. Spectroscopic analysis of the vial and its contents were performed first in 1901 and again in 1989, which claims that hemoglobin is indeed present inside. These results [were put into question] (http://www.cicap.org/new/articolo.php?id=101014) in 1994, but the exact same paper still discounts the phenomenon as unexplained. Interestingly, the Catholic Church has not issued this particular miracle as a [genuine miracle] (http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90841) (link in Italian) in light of lack of scientific analysis, which again, it cannot do. The Church says anyone is allowed to believe what they want on this particular issue.

I can't find a source on how many scientifically-verified miracles are in existence, but at least every saint who has been canonized since he 16th century has required at least three confirmed miracles (dropped to two since the 80's). This [book] (http://www.amazon.com/Medical-Miracles-Doctors-Saints-Healing/dp/019533650X/?tag=ththve-20) examines the case for 1400 such miracles in the span of 400 years. Then there are the ones that are not medical in nature, such as the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano (confirmed in 1976). Again, St. Gennaro's blood is not a confirmed miracle... yet. We may hold out hope that they verify it, but I'm not seeing it anytime soon.

> If miracles were being verified on a routine basis, convincingly verified, I'd think it would be big news.

I disagree. Religious people think miracles happen every time. It would probably be big news in secular circles, but people are as ready to deny any "valid" miracles as there are those who'd readily accept them. It's too divisive to sensationalize in the media. The miracle that canonized St. John Paul II, for example, did not make waves in the media. Even if an atheist doctor testified that it was indeed unexplainable.

Duffin, Jacalyn. Medical Miracles : Doctors, saints, and healing in the modern world. Oxford New York: Oxford University Press, 2009.

A very interesting read.

Here is one article on documented medical miracles: https://www.rd.com/true-stories/inspiring/medical-miracles/

Here's another: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3782141/ns/health-health_care/t/doctors-ponder-medical-miracles/

And another: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2845699/

Here's a book on the subject: https://www.amazon.com/Medical-Miracles-Doctors-Saints-Healing/dp/019533650X

Or watch the 700 Club, they feature those kinds of things all the time in video testimonies....

Or don't believe in miracles. That works too.

But keep in mind that even Christ, when He entered a certain region, was only able to perform a few miracles because of the unbelief of the inhabitants of that area. Matthew 13:58

To see miracles we have to believe in them, we have to have faith. If one has neither then it is not surprising that miracles don't happen in their life.

Here's an article from a skeptic physician who looked into medical miracles past and present, and a link to the book she wrote from her findings.

Here's a breakdown of the rigorous process the Catholic Church uses to verify miracles, if that matters to you

Here's an example of a recent miracle from three years ago, a communion host begun to bleed. (I wish I would've been able to find a different source for this, but alas it seems no english-speaking publications have picked it up- here's a polish one). Also, please don't confuse this one with the one in Utah, which turned out to be just fungus growing on the wafer, here's the part that I think would be relevant to a skeptic:

>Then-Bishop of Legnica, Stefan Cichy, created a commission to monitor the host. In February 2014, a small fragment was placed on a corporal and underwent testing by various research institutes.

>The final medical statement by the Department of Forensic Medicine found: “In the histopathological image, the fragments were found containing the fragmented parts of the cross striated muscle. It is most similar to the heart muscle.” Tests also determined the tissue to be of human origin, and found that it bore signs of distress.

Another example would be incorruptible bodies of saints, which are still something you can go see in the flesh in the present day. Skeptoid did an article on this arguing that they are mummified, but it's not that cut and dry, as some examples set for by this howstuffworks article show.

Not trying to convince you that any of these are true, but simply support my argument that miracles never stopped being reported, and they have continued to be addressed and investigated consistently and with skepticism by the Catholic Church, and anyone who wants in on investigating.