"The process by which these supernatural events are authenticated is
expertly told by John Thavis, one of the world's leading
Vaticanologists. In fact, that a book on so secretive and complex a
topic is so deeply researched, beautifully written, and artfully told is
something of a small miracle itself."--James Martin, S.J., author of
Jesus: A Pilgrimage****
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Vatican Diaries, a
fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how the Vatican investigates
claims of miraculous events
Apocalyptic prophecies and miraculous apparitions are headline-grabbing
events that often put the Catholic Church's concept of "rational faith"
at odds with the passion of its more zealous followers. To some, these
claims teeter on the edge of absurdity. Others see them as evidence of a
private connection with God. For the Vatican, the issue is much more
nuanced as each supposed miraculous event could have serious theological
and political consequences. In response, the Vatican has developed a
highly secretive and complex evaluation system to judge the authenticity
of supernatural phenomena.
Former journalist John Thavis uses his thirty years' experience covering
the Vatican to shed light on this little-known process, revealing deep
internal debates on the power of religious relics, private revelations,
exorcisms, and more. Enlightening and accessible to Catholics and
non-Catholics alike, the book illustrates the Church's struggle to
balance the tension between traditional beliefs and contemporary
skepticism.
