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Hello Father,

I turn to you because I feel the need to turn to someone who is further along the path of knowledge and faith than I am, as I strive to find the answer to some of my questions.

I happened to hear from a teacher that the miracles performed by Jesus never actually took place.

He then stated that miracles are one of those things that the Church finds difficult to dismiss. I then turned to a priest, who however gave me a rather approximate answer which left me very dissatisfied and, more importantly, still doubtful. I believe it is essential to emphasize that the possible untruthfulness of the miracles performed by Christ would not cause my faith to waver and would not change my convictions, as well as my beliefs; on the contrary, by better understanding some aspects and carrying out an analysis I would end up strengthening my faith.

So, here are my actual questions: did the miracles performed by Christ really happen? Or are they some sort of Christian mythology that surrounds the figure of Christ with an “epic” aura, which would be however perfectly understandable considering the influence and importance of the figure of Jesus? Or are the miracle accounts instrumental in conveying more complex truths? Finally, if miracle accounts actually have no factual basis in history, how can the greatest and most important miracle, namely the resurrection, be defined?

As I thank you in advance, I would really ask you to respond by presenting the truth and by exploring the subject as deeply as you possibly can, because I really struggle to comprehend an answer, which is why I can wait as long as necessary.

Best regards.

Priest’s answer

Dear friend,
1. How could we believe in the divinity of Christ if he had not manifested it to us with his signs?
To those who did not believe in his divinity Jesus said: “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe because of the works themselves” (Jn 14,11).

2. And again: “If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize (and understand) that the Father is in me and I am in the Father” (Jn 10,37-38).
“If I had not done works among them that no one else ever did, they would not have sin; but as it is, they have seen and hated both me and my Father” (Jn 15,24).

3. Jesus promised that his disciples would also have had the ability to perform miracles as a sign of his divinity: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father” (Jn 14,12).
Here’s what he says before his ascension: “These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents (with their hands), and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mk 16,17-18)

4. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines miracles as signs which confirm his divine identity and his mission: “Jesus accompanies his words with many “mighty works and wonders and signs” (Acts 2,22), which manifest that the kingdom is present in him and attest that he was the promised Messiah (ref. Lk 7,18-23)” (CCC 547).
“The signs worked by Jesus attest that the Father has sent him. They invite belief in him. To those who turn to him in faith, he grants what they ask.
So miracles strengthen faith in the One who does his Father’s works; they bear witness that he is the Son of God. But his miracles can also be occasions for “offense”: they are not intended to satisfy people’s curiosity or desire for magic. Despite his evident miracles some people reject Jesus; he is even accused of acting by the power of demons” (CCC 548).

5. “By freeing some individuals from the earthly evils of hunger, injustice, illness and death, Jesus performed messianic signs. Nevertheless he did not come to abolish all evils here below, but to free men from the gravest slavery, sin, which thwarts them in their vocation as God’s sons and causes all forms of human bondage” (CCC 549).

6. According to St. Thomas miracles were necessary so that we could believe.
Here’s what he writes: “God enables man to work miracles for two reasons.
First and principally, in confirmation of the doctrine that a man teaches. For since those things which are of faith surpass human reason, they cannot be proved by human arguments, but need to be proved by the argument of Divine power: so that when a man does works that God alone can do, we may believe that what he says is from God: just as when a man is the bearer of letters sealed with the king’s ring, it is to be believed that what they contain expresses the king’s will.
Secondly, in order to make known God’s presence in a man by the grace of the Holy Ghost: so that when a man does the works of God we may believe that God dwells in him by His grace. Wherefore it is written (Gal 3,5): “He who giveth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you.”
Now both these things were to be made known to men concerning Christ—namely, that God dwelt in Him by grace, not of adoption, but of union: and that His supernatural doctrine was from God.
And therefore it was most fitting that He should work miracles. Wherefore He Himself says (Jn 10,38): “Though you will not believe Me, believe the works”; and (Jn 5,36): “The works which the Father hath given Me to perfect . . . themselves . . . give testimony to Me (Summa Theologiae, III, 43,1).

7. “The miracles which Christ worked were a sufficient proof of His Godhead in three respects.
First, as to the very nature of the works, which surpassed the entire capability of created power, and therefore could not be done save by Divine power. For this reason the blind man, after his sight had been restored, said (Jn 9,32-33): “From the beginning of the world it has not been heard, that any man hath opened the eyes of one born blind. Unless this man were of God, he could not do anything.”
Secondly, as to the way in which He worked miracles—namely, because He worked miracles as though of His own power, and not by praying, as others do. Wherefore it is written (Lk  6,19) that “virtue went out from Him and healed all.” Whereby it is proved, as Cyril says (Comment. in Lucam) that “He did not receive power from another, but, being God by nature, He showed His own power over the sick. And this is how He worked countless miracles.”
Hence on Mt 8,16: “He cast out spirits with His word, and all that were sick He healed,” Chrysostom says: “Mark how great a multitude of persons healed, the Evangelists pass quickly over, not mentioning one by one . . . but in one word traversing an unspeakable sea of miracles.” And thus it was shown that His power was co-equal with that of God the Father, according to Jn 5,19: “What things soever” the Father “doth, these the Son doth also in like manner”; and, again (Jn 5,21): “As the Father raiseth up the dead and giveth life, so the Son also giveth life to whom He will.”
Thirdly, from the very fact that He taught that He was God; for unless this were true it would not be confirmed by miracles worked by Divine power. Hence it was said (Mk 1,27): “What is this new doctrine? For with power He commandeth the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” (Ib., III,43,4).

8. It is true that we believe because God infused in us the supernatural light of faith, and he gave us the virtue to adhere to it.
However the Lord wanted to show his divinity with irrefutable signs so he could prove to us his divinity. 
It is true that Moses too and the prophets performed many miracles. However, St. Augustine observes, “He wanted to do something of his own unique doing: be born of a virgin, rise from the dead, and ascend into Heaven” (In Ioh. Ev. tract. 91).

9. One could ask your teacher if God, after creating everything from nothing, wouldn’t be able to perform miracles!
Why would the Church want to dismiss the miracles of Christ, that are the most beautiful signs of his divinity?
Wouldn’t it be better if we were a bit more humble towards Christ, the Holy Fathers and Doctors of the Church?
Why do we want at all costs a God in our image and likeness?

I bless you, I wish you a serene remainder of the new year and I remember you in my prayer.
Father Angelo.