One of the little-known Redemptorist treasures is Fr. Andreas Resch, C.Ss.R. of the Vienna-Munich province who has spent much of his adult life investigating human psychology and paraphenomena. He has two doctorates and is a world-renowned psychologist and scientist in this unusual field. He has written extensively on the saints, miracles and paraphenomena “at the edges of science.”

Fr. Resch (aka, in German: Father Doctor Doctor Resch!) gave the following interview about “miraculous healing” because even many believing Christians today are sometimes skeptical about the possibility. Does God actually intervene and bring miraculous healing to human beings?

This is a translation of an article in the Klemensblätter (2/2020) pp. 22-23 (the newsletter from the Vienna Redemptorists, although the article originally appeared in the journal of the Archdiocese of Vienna) which might make for some interesting conversations.

What is a miracle?

One can talk of a miracle when a healing cannot be explained from a medical or scientific perspective which then raises the question as to the cause of the healing. In such a case doctors and scientists investigate the matter. (For us) there must also be a theological commission which identifies whether or not a divine influence can be discerned. Every time a human being ought to be declared Blessed or a Saint, there is this prior question: Did God effect a miracle through this person? For a miracle is always the work of God and never of the person him/herself.

Are there miracles that are not connected with healing?

In the classical sense we basically understand miracles as having to do with healing which can be proven. Beyond this, however, we have the more popular notion of a ‘miracle’ applied to the interior, psychological experiences of human beings. For example, one might think of a sudden inner enlightenment or instances where one can resolve huge problems. There may be other changes to an external situation which cannot be explained by science. It can happen that God truly intervenes but we cannot prove these events.

In contrast to these experiences, can miracles of healing be proven?

We can never provide a final proof of a miracle in the sense of a divine intervention, but nor can we exclude the possibility. For example, consider the Indian woman, Alfonsa, who has since been declared a saint, where people laid on her grave a young boy who had a club foot. That very night the boy was healed of the club foot. Or consider the case of Vittorio Micheli from the Valsugana Valley in Trentino: He had cancer and his entire hip bone was affected. He was brought to Lourdes and dipped in the waters and within seconds his hip bone had grown back. In such cases as these, there is no medical or scientific explanation. Nonetheless, the fact that these people were healed can be proven.

How are these things proven?

First, there is a diocesan investigation which includes physicians and competent persons. If the investigation comes to a point where the members are convinced that the healing is not explainable by science, then Rome is brought into the process. Normally, two physician specialists from the diocese are sent in order to investigate the case anew. If both of them come to the conclusion that the case is worth a specialized investigation, the so-called “consulta medica” (a medical advisory body consisting of seven doctors) is created in Rome. If the members unanimously, or even by majority, conclude that the case is not medically explainable, then the entire case is brought to the Theology Commission which has the task of answering the question whether or not the healing miracle is truly a result of divine intervention. Finally the matter is turned over to the Commission of Cardinals and Bishops and brought, ultimately, for the judgment of the Pope.Pope Francis while in St. Peter’s Square touched the forehead of a child who then seemed to be healed of an illness. Is this a miracle?We have seen such phenomena not only by Francis but also with Benedict XVI and John Paul II. So such things could truly be considered miracles; but they are not definitive for declaring a person a saint.

Why not?

It could be that we are seeing what is called a spontaneous remission. Or it could also be that healing was taking place before the actual encounter and that the touch of the Pope stimulated some kind of bio-energy, or self-healing ability, in the child who was then better. In order to recognize a miracle, we must first completely exclude that this is not a case of self-healing which a human being can summon and through which healing takes place. It is only a miracle when the healing is really completely effected by something from outside the person.

Why are some Christians skeptical around the theme of miracle healing?

It is hard for people to believe in something that they cannot understand. In fact many theology professors avoid the question of miracles and seldom speak of the workings of grace because they are afraid that they will be mocked or not taken seriously by those in the natural sciences. However, it is a fact that there are many miracles. And there is something else that is clearly a fact: A miracle is always a direct answer to a prayer or petition. No prayer—no miracle.

Have you personally experienced a miracle?

Years ago a doctor referred a woman to me for psychotherapeutic treatment. Every evening she had to be laid in a restraining bed because she would otherwise be a danger to herself or others. When she was sitting across from me, I had the feeling as if somebody had hit me with a rod of iron across my chest. I said that I, as a psychologist, could not help her, but I could as a priest. At that point, in complete silence, I prayed for her: “As the evil one has bound you, so I reprove you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The woman was not involved in the prayer or its action as I did all this in silence. The next day the doctor phoned me and told me that the woman was healthy; and ten years later she visited me when I was giving a lecture that she has been healthy since then.