The Vatican prophecies : investigating supernatural signs, apparitions, and miracles in the modern age / John Thavis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Thavis, John, author.

Contributor:

James A. Crawford Memorial Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Miracles.

Apparitions.

Catholic Church--Doctrines.

Catholic Church.

Physical Description:

275 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York, New York : Viking, [2015]

Summary:

"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." -- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

A piece of holiness

Mother of God?

The sacred image

Full of the devil

The miracle trail

Prophecies, end times, and alien saviors.

Notes:

Includes index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the James A. Crawford Memorial Fund.

ISBN:

0525426892

9780525426899

OCLC:

900623677

Publisher Number:

99964452484