Sarah Rozman
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Dear Catholic Exchange:
I was questioned recently by an Evangelical with regards to the intercessory power of saints. I explained that in order to become a saint several things have to happen, one of which is a miracle attributed to their intercession. So if someone is terminally ill and they have many family and friends praying for them in addition to invoking the beatified person, how do we as Catholics know for sure that the miracle required for sainthood is through the saint's intercession and not the prayers of one of the family members, just as an example?
Mr. Wales
Dear Mr. Wales,
Peace in Christ!
When introducing and investigating a cause, the sanctity of the person in question is the first consideration. It must be shown that the person lived a life of heroic virtue, of holiness. Miracles are the second consideration. The miracle verifies the sanctity of the person. Humans can make mistakes in the process of examining a person's life and establishing heroic virtue. Miracles, on the other hand, can only be performed by God.
In the case of a physical healing, the healing is rigorously scrutinized. Medical experts a board of five doctors must examine the healing and determine that no reasonable medical explanation exists for the healing. The medical experts do not, however, determine that the healing was a miracle. That is the job of the theologians, who must also establish the causative link between the inexplicable cure and the intercession of the person. It is within the competence of the theologians to declare such a cure miraculous through a specific intercession. We trust the judgment of the Church on the matter.
Generally, it is important that people pray only for the intercession of the Servant of God (someone for whom a cause has been opened) or Blessed (someone for whom a cause has been opened and who has been beatified) in question. This eliminates the possibility of the type of confusion you mention above.
The intense scrutiny of both the doctors and the theologians allows for the establishment of surety. A situation such as the one you suggest would likely not allow adequate certainty of the Servant of God's intercession, and so would not “count” as the requisite miracle.
The Church documents we have examined focus on the intensity of scrutiny and investigation a purported miracle is subjected to before it is verified. The importance of establishing certainty is heavily emphasized. The exact process through which the purported miracle is examined is not detailed. However, the theologians responsible for determining whether the event in question is a miracle certainly ask and seek an answer to the question you pose.
It is important to remember that ultimately, the one working the miracle is God. God honors those in heaven by working a miracle through their intercession. Through these miracles, He also provides a sign by which our faith in both Him and the communion of saints may be strengthened. If it is His will that a person be canonized, He will provide a miracle that will stand up to the examination His Church has established.
You might enjoy reading the account of a priest who is the Postulator (the person appointed to care for all the legal, procedural and monetary matters relating to a cause) for a current cause. Fr. Wild both explains the process and discusses it in light of the cause, for Servant of God Catherine de Hueck Doherty, he is working on. As a further response to your question, he notes about intercessory prayer:
“I make the point that if they are especially interested in Catherine's cause, to pray only through her intercession. If other holy people are also invoked, the Church cannot use such favors received for her cause. It will not be clear who the intercessor was. Needless to say, if our Lord or our Lady are also invoked along with Catherine, this is okay! since all grace comes through their mediation.”
United in the Faith,