Christianity Explained
✝
✝
Catholic Affirmed Miracles
The Shroud of Turin
The blood on the shroud Jesus was executed in has a x-ray image of Jesus on it and contains half the chromosomes of a normal human (the Virgin Birth.) The shroud has been officially dated back to the time of Christ. The Blood type on the shroud is AB (the rarest blood type there is) which is the same blood type of the global eucharistic miracles where the Eucharist, usually appearing as bread and wine, is visibly transformed into human flesh or blood, demonstrating the presence of Christ's body and blood. These all happened before blood types were discovered, making it even more unlikely it could have been faked.
e.g The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano is an 8th-century (circa 750 AD) Catholic event in Lanciano, Italy. During Mass, a doubting Basilian monk witnessed the communion bread and wine turn into human flesh and blood, which have been preserved without artificial chemicals for over 1,200 years.
All Eucharist Blood Miracles:
https://www.miracolieucaristici.org/en/Liste/list.html
Apparitions ~83,000 to 115,000 people total.
Our Lady of Guadalupe — Mexico, 1531
Seer: St. Juan Diego Affirmed miracles Miraculous tilma image (no known pigment, no brush strokes) Image suspended on cactus fiber for nearly 500 years Stars correspond to the sky of Dec 12, 1531 Massive, rapid conversion of millions
Our Lady of Lourdes — France, 1858
Seer: St. Bernadette Soubirous Affirmed miracles 70+ medically certified healings Spring of water revealed by Mary Bernadette’s incorrupt body. Up to ~10,000 at final apparition
Our Lady of Fatima — Portugal, 1917
Seers: Lucia, Francisco, Jacinta Affirmed miracles Miracle of the Sun (70,000+ witnesses) Prophetic revelations Immediate drying of soaked ground and clothes
Our Lady of the Pillar — Spain, c. AD 40
Recipient: St. James the Apostle Affirmed miracles Mary appeared while still alive on earth Left a physical pillar still venerated today
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal — Paris, 1830
Seer: St. Catherine Labouré Affirmed miracles Rapid, unexplained healings Worldwide spread of the medal Countless documented conversions
Our Lady of La Salette — France, 1846
Seers: Mélanie Calvat, Maximin Giraud Affirmed miracles Prophetic warnings Spring of water Conversions and healings
Our Lady of Pontmain — France, 1871
Seers: Children of Pontmain Affirmed miracles Marian message halted invading army Immediate military withdrawal Public apparition witnessed by villagers
Our Lady of Beauraing — Belgium, 1932–33
Apparitions witnessed by multiple children Spiritual conversions Later healings
Our Lady of Banneux — Belgium, 1933
Healing spring Marian title: Virgin of the Poor Medically investigated cures
Our Lady of Kibeho — Rwanda, 1981
Seers: Alphonsine, Nathalie, Marie-Claire Affirmed miracles Prophetic visions of genocide Public ecstasies Conversions.
Our Lady of Akita — Japan, 1973
Seer: Sr. Agnes Sasagawa Affirmed miracles Statue wept human tears Deafness cured Message approved doctrinally
San Nicolás, Argentina (1983–present)
Local reports of angelic figures appearing with the Virgin Mary during public events Witnesses: dozens–hundreds over multiple occasions
Orthodox Apparitions:
Zeitoun, Egypt (1968–1971) 1–2 million people
Marian apparitions over a Coptic Orthodox Church Thousands reported seeing a luminous figure of Mary over the church Witnesses reportedly up to 50,000 per day during peak appearances Appeared mostly at night, lasted a few years Many photos and films exist.
Other Egypt events (Coptic, 2000s) 10,000–50,000 people. Alexandria, Assiut, and other towns Luminous apparitions over churches Public gatherings: thousands daily Often accompanied by prayers, incense, and visible “light phenomena”
Other Miracles
Eucharist
Eucharist surviving fires as well as not decomposing.
-
Santarem, Portugal (13th c.)
-
Turin, Italy
-
Amsterdam (Miracle of 1345) — a consecrated Host thrown into a fire did not burn
People seeing Jesus face in the Eucharist, though the Church attributes these with caution due to:
-
Pareidolia (human tendency to see faces)
-
Private visions
-
Psychological or photographic artifacts
The Blood of Saint Januarius
A vial of Saint Januarius’ dried blood in Naples, Italy, liquefies every year on his feast days. “This happens on TV, like you can see it,” Scheel says. This public miracle has been observed and recorded for centuries without any explanation. (Isaiah 53:10 he shall prolong his days)
Bilocation (being in two places at once)
St. Padre Pio
witnessed simultaneously in Italy and by soldiers in WWII
St. Alphonsus Liguori
seen assisting the Pope while bedridden
St. Martin de Porres
Miraculous preservation or multiplication of objects
St. Anthony of Padua
preaching while Eucharist remains suspended.
Multiplication of food in monasteries Objects emitting light or fragrance.
Levitation
St. Joseph of Cupertino
lifted into the air during Mass Witnessed by clergy, nobles, diplomats Occurred repeatedly and publicly
St. Aquinas
Was seen lifted off the ground during prayer Entered deep ecstasy (raptus) Was unaware of his surroundings
Prophetic knowledge 🔍
Padre Pio knowing sins unconfessed.
St. John Vianney identifying penitents’ sins.
St. Catherine of Siena delivering accurate prophetic warnings.
St. John Bosco Accurately foretold deaths, vocations, and disasters Repeatedly verified by witnesses St. Hildegard of Bingen Complex theology, medicine, music No formal education Ideas centuries ahead of her time
Miraculous signs affecting nature.
Sudden storms stopping persecutions Earthquakes during martyrdoms Fire not consuming sacred objects.
Exorcisms & deliverances
Exorcisms resulting in: Sudden knowledge of languages Violent reactions to sacramentals Immediate release after prayer.
⚰️✨ Incorruptibility of bodies ⚰️✨
(Not healing, not apparitions) What happens Bodies resist normal decomposition for decades or centuries Often flexible, lifelike, sometimes with fragrance (odor of sanctity) Examples St. Bernadette Soubirous St. Catherine Labouré St. John Vianney St. Silvan of Mount Athos
🔔 OBJECTS & SIGNS 🔔
St. Clare of Assisi Monstrance repelled invading soldiers Witnessed retreat without combat.
St. Catherine of Siena Wrote profound theology while illiterate.
St. Denis of Paris (3rd century) aka St. Nicasius (France). Legend: Martyr beheaded for faith After decapitation, he reportedly picked up his head and walked/preached to others before dying
Bees reported making hives over pictures of Jesus and Mary yet do not cover their faces:
Slovakia (early 2000s) – Marian roadside image
Poland (circa 2010) – Sacred Heart of Jesus image
Mexico (circulated mid-2010s) – Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Brazil (recently over last years) – Outdoor image of Jesus
Philippines (recently over last years) – Statue of Our Lady
Saints
Padre Pio and the chest stigmata1887–1968, Italy Capuchin priest, canonised 2002 Famous for: stigmata (wounds of Jesus appaering on him), bilocation, levitation, Eucharistic ecstasies, mystical phenomena, knowing peoples confession before they confess.
St. Lucy of Syracuse (†304) — Eyes Torn Out, Still Saw According to tradition, her eyes were gouged out God restored her sight She became patron saint of the blind
St. Charles’ 17th century mystical experiences often involved:
A. Eucharistic Phenomena Host emitting rays of light: Witnesses reported that when Charles received Communion, rays of light would shine from the Host, sometimes appearing to touch his chest. These events inspired devotion among other friars and townspeople.
B. Levitation St. Charles sometimes levitated in ecstasy during prayer, particularly while adoring the Eucharist. Witnessed by fellow friars in the friary chapel.
C. Visions and Prophecies Saw angels and the Virgin Mary multiple times. Experienced visions of Christ’s Passion. Could reportedly predict events and console souls in Purgatory.
D. Other Miracles Bilocation: Sometimes observed in two places simultaneously. Healing: Several reported healings attributed to his prayers.
Other Healings
Lourdes has over 7,000 reported cures since the 19th century. Fatima, Medjugorje, Guadalupe, and other Marian apparition sites report thousands of healings.
Reported pilgrim site healings are in the hundreds–thousands.
Private individual healings including terminal illnesses. Thousands/year.
The Miracle of Calanda is an alleged 1640 event in Spain where a young farmer, Miguel Juan Pellicer, miraculously had his amputated right leg restored. Supported by 17th-century legal and canonical documents, it is considered one of the most thoroughly investigated miraculous healing claims in history.
Other Apparitions:
Mount Athos, Greece Timeframe: 16th–20th centuries Witnesses: Typically 2–5 monks present in the church or cell Phenomena reported: Figures of angels hovering above icons or altars Luminous forms, sometimes invisible to outsiders Accompanied by sense of peace, incense, or bells ringing without cause
Russia (Orthodox Monasteries) Timeframe: 17th–19th centuries Witnesses: Small groups (2–6 monks or nuns) Phenomena reported: Angels appearing above liturgical processions Protecting the monastery from fires or raids (rarely mass phenomena)
Italy (Benedictine & Franciscan Monasteries) Timeframe: 17th–18th centuries Witnesses: 2–10 monks or nuns in the choir during night vigils Phenomena reported: Luminous angelic figures standing near altars Sometimes interacting with monks (gestures, guiding them) Appearing during extended fasts or prayer marathons
France — War / Storm Protections Timeframe: 1740s–1790s (pre-French Revolution) Location: Small towns in Burgundy, Lorraine, and Provence Witnesses: ~10–50 townspeople Phenomena: Angelic figures appeared during storms or military threats Witnesses reported luminous beings circling the village or appearing on church rooftops Sometimes accompanied by unusual calm (storms divert, invading troops withdraw)
Italy — Plague and Epidemics Timeframe: 17th–18th centuries Location: Tuscany, Lombardy, Veneto Witnesses: 2–30 people, usually gathered in prayer in the piazza or church Phenomena: Angels reportedly appeared above churches or public squares during plague outbreaks Often accompanied by curing or preventing disease or inspiring townspeople to pray