Diocesan Inquiry into an Alleged Miracle

Disciplinary status: Church discipline
Evidence type: Historical account
Theological status: Theological synthesis
GuideCompetence and proof-gathering are binding procedure, the alleged event is tested by historical and scientific evidence, and only later theological judgment can call it a miracle.
Contents

Diocesan Inquiry into an Alleged Miracle is the evidence-gathering process conducted by the bishop of the place where the claimed event occurred, collecting complete testimonial, clinical, scientific, and devotional proof for Roman examination.

Competence follows the place of the event

Sanctorum Mater locates territorial competence for an alleged miracle ordinarily in the diocesan bishop or eparch where the event occurred. The rule places witnesses, treating professionals, records, and physical circumstances in a forum able to gather them. A cause’s principal virtues inquiry can proceed elsewhere; the postulator’s residence, candidate’s tomb, or petitioner’s headquarters does not transfer miracle competence without the prescribed Roman rescript.

The petitioner submits a properly supported request, but the bishop decides whether sufficient basis exists to open the Diocesan Inquiry into an Alleged Miracle. He constitutes officials and observes the same demands of oath, secrecy, notarial integrity, and exclusion of conflicts that protect other cause inquiries. A diocesan press release or devotional report is not the inquiry itself.[1]

Clinical and technical documents

For a claimed healing, complete medical, clinical, laboratory, imaging, treatment, and follow-up records are essential. Select before-and-after summaries cannot show diagnosis, prognosis, therapies, timing, or durability. Refusal by attending physicians does not authorize invention: the norms provide for sworn reports or testimony taken through a qualified third party and documented in the acts.[2]

Experts ab inspectione

If the healed person is living, two separately appointed experts ab inspectione examine the present condition with available means, prepare independent reports, and testify ex officio. Their narrow task is present health and durability in relation to the prior pathology. They do not decide theological miracle, certify heroic virtues, or substitute for the physicians who treated the original illness.

Witnesses, intercession, and alternative explanations

Witnesses establish the event’s chronology, treatment, prayers, invocation of the candidate, absence or presence of other invocations, and later course. The Promoter of Justice prepares questions with suitable expertise. Testimony should reveal sources of knowledge and uncertainty; rehearsed declarations or retrospective harmonization can weaken rather than strengthen proof.

The New Laws for the Causes of Saints require the local tribunal to gather both favorable and unfavorable evidence, including relapse, overlooked treatment, disputed diagnosis, or ambiguous invocation. Its purpose is not to persuade physicians that God acted. Scientific inexplicability and theological attribution are examined later by distinct Roman bodies, and the Church’s faith in providence does not excuse incomplete natural investigation.[3]

Closure, validity, and Roman judgment

At closure, the archetype remains protected locally while authenticated copies, seals, inventories, and officials’ letters accompany transmission. The Dicastery first judges juridical validity. A decree of validity means the inquiry observed required procedure; it does not affirm that the event is scientifically inexplicable or miraculous.

Roman medical or technical experts study natural explanation, theological consultors consider intercession, cardinals and bishops examine the matter, and the Roman Pontiff authorizes any decree super miro. Public language should therefore say alleged miracle throughout the diocesan phase. Calling a locally investigated healing approved, verified, or a Vatican miracle before these later acts compromises the very safeguards designed to serve truth.

References

  1. 1.Sanctorum Mater — Sanctorum Mater’s governing rules on territorial competence at the place of the alleged event, a supported petitioner’s request, officials, oaths, and notarial integrity
  2. 2.New Laws for the Causes of Saints — The implementing norms requiring favorable and unfavorable testimony, complete clinical and technical records, separately appointed inspection experts, and transmission of the acts
  3. 3.Benedict XVI, Letter on Causes of Saints — Papal direction on the successive scientific examination of natural explanation, theological judgment of intercession, cardinalatial review, and final papal authorization