Italian woman healed in 1952 has healing confirmed as miracle

(ANSA) - Paris, November 14 - The Catholic Church has officially recognised the 'miraculous' cure of an Italian woman who visited Lourdes more than 50 years ago when she was suffering from a lethal form of rheumatic heart disease .

Anna Santaniello, who is now 94 and lives in southern Italy, says her illness disappeared during a pilgrimage to the French shrine in 1952 .

The international Catholic committee which runs the shrine has now acknowledged the 'miracle', making Santaniello the 67th person to have officially been healed at Lourdes .

Awesome.

It's probably just a coincidence.

At least that's what I suppose all the skeptics will say.

Originally posted by Mountain Man

It's probably just a coincidence.

At least that's what I suppose all the skeptics will say.

Well, since you applied that to ALL the skeptics, and I'm assuming you mean us "nonchristians," then you're wrong. Not all the skeptics will say that. I don't know enough about the situation to have an opinion, so I can't call it coincidence, miracles, natural phenomenon, or anything else. I can make presumptions based on my beliefs and my worldview, but that is the best I can do.

Now I wonder how many, on either side, will line up to make this a cause with no actual understanding of the situation...?

/Michel

Originally posted by Mountain Man

It's probably just a coincidence.

At least that's what I suppose all the skeptics will say.

Nah, most skeptics would say that your being right is just a coincidence.

Seriously, this is pretty cool.

So what method do they use to distinguish a miracle from a non-miracle? If they have a method, then why can’t they tell us what it is so we can all determine for ourselves when miracles occur and we won’t need the Catholic Church to tell us.

Why did God have her become ill in the first place if he wanted her to be well? Was it meant as a demonstration? If God wants to demonstrate his existence, then there are much less cryptic ways of doing it. (Hey, this is posted in the Apologetics forum)

Why did they wait 50 years to declare this a miracle? So that any possibility of disproving it as a miracle would be long gone?

Originally posted by sandlewood

Why did they wait 50 years to declare this a miracle? So that any possibility of disproving it as a miracle would be long gone?

The lady in question is still alive today. If you want to hop a jet to Italy, hire a doctor and have the doc examine her, you're welcome to do so.

Originally posted by sandlewood

Why did they wait 50 years to declare this a miracle? So that any possibility of disproving it as a miracle would be long gone?

How so? The doctors said she's not going to recover. If she recovers and claims it was a miracle, I usually believe her unless a skeptic gives me a reason not to.

I don't believe in any miracles reported at Lourdes, especially since the site involves Marian worship.

J

Originally posted by sandlewood

So what method do they use to distinguish a miracle from a non-miracle? If they have a method, then why can’t they tell us what it is so we can all determine for ourselves when miracles occur and we won’t need the Catholic Church to tell us.

Why did God have her become ill in the first place if he wanted her to be well? Was it meant as a demonstration? If God wants to demonstrate his existence, then there are much less cryptic ways of doing it. (Hey, this is posted in the Apologetics forum)

Why did they wait 50 years to declare this a miracle? So that any possibility of disproving it as a miracle would be long gone?

Well, why don't you try this quick and easy process for finding out information that you don't know: Googling. Try using such terms as lourdes miracle verification process.

Originally posted by Jnthn

I don't believe in any miracles reported at Lourdes, especially since the site involves Marian worship.

J

There's veneration, honoring of Mary, but not worship (worship requires Mass, which is only directed to God).

Originally posted by spl_cadet

There's veneration, honoring of Mary, but not worship (worship requires Mass, which is only directed to God).

Without wishing to derail the thread into the merits of Roman Catholic theology, Mary, while unique in Christian history (duh ), is not to be worshipped, or revered through any medium. Doing so is idolatry.

J

Originally posted by Mountain Man

It's probably just a coincidence.

At least that's what I suppose all the skeptics will say.

Nope I would call it a spontaneous remission. They happen a lot more often away from Lourdes than they do at lourdes. Get over yourself.

Originally posted by Jnthn

Without wishing to derail the thread into the merits of Roman Catholic theology, Mary, while unique in Christian history (duh ), is not to be worshipped, or revered through any medium. Doing so is idolatry.

J

Uh, he just said St Mary is not being worshipped there. No orthodox Catholic is going to disagree with you: St Mary is not to be worshipped. Veneration is not worship.

Originally posted by bandecoot

Nope I would call it a spontaneous remission. They happen a lot more often away from Lourdes than they do at lourdes. Get over yourself.

Is spontaneous remission consistent with the following description?

"I arrived at Lourdes on a stretcher because I was unable to walk... The sisters there submerged me in the spring. The water was icy cold but I immediately felt something hot explode in my chest, as if life was being restored to me .

"After a few minutes, I was able to get up by myself. I refused the help of the stretcher carriers, telling them to help the other sick people because I could now manage on my own," she said .

FWIW, my mom who is an RN has never heard of spontaneous remission of rheumatic heart disease and had this to day:

Her

rheumatic heart disease can affect the heart valves and make them unable to open or close properly due to bacterial deposits and stuff. For the valves to suddenly work with no issue would be unusual. The valve problems usually cause varying degrees of heart failure and enlarged heart.

Me
so spontaneous remission is kindof a no go?

Her

have never heard of it

medications can control symptoms though

The international Catholic committee which runs the shrine has now acknowledged the 'miracle', making Santaniello the 67th person to have officially been healed at Lourdes

Hmmm ... 67 verified healings out of how many thousands of people who have visited Lourdes since 1858?

Looks like even less than the "God ratio" of 2.5%. (http://whydoesgodhateamputees.com/god2.htm)