MIRACLE, MORAL

The definition of miracle in general [see miracles (theology of)] is fulfilled by the moral miracle in its own way. It consists in an observable phenomenon that so differs from or exceeds the capacity of the natural factors in a situation that the human mind recognizes a special divine intervention.

The moral miracle is differentiated from other miracles not by being a less evident or less striking miracle, but by the fact of its occurrence in the moral (as distinguished from the physical or the intellectual) order. Whereas the physical miracle (and it is generally of such that one speaks when he talks of miracles without further qualification) occurs in the sector of reality described by the laws or principles of chemistry, physics, biology, and physiology, and whereas the intellectual miracle occurs in the sector of human cognition, the moral miracle occurs in the field of human conation, human activity, ethical endeavor. As the changing of water into wine, the multiplication of foodstuffs, the spontaneous healing of organic diseases, the raising of the dead to life are instances of physical miracles, and as the foreknowledge and certain prediction at some distance in time beforehand of free actions of God or man is an instance of intellectual miracle, so a manner or mode of deliberate action—on the part of either a single person or a group of persons—that notably surpasses the observed and constant level of human behavior is held to be a moral miracle.

Concretely, one discerns the presence of a moral miracle where (1) the constant commitment (affective and effective) (2) to goals that are set by God and lead to union with Him (3) despite grave obstacles and at the cost of heavy and recurring sacrifices is, on reflection, recognized as involving a type of conduct that clearly surpasses the level of performance that human nature achieves when left to its own resources. The basic judgment of human capabilities draws upon both man's valid intuitions and his human experience.

Moral miracle as sign. Since the subject of miracles is of practical concern insofar as by means of them God alerts man to His salvific intentions, effectively witnesses to and accredits those who claim to speak and act in His name, it may be helpful to consider the advantages and disadvantages of moral miracles (as contrasted with physical and intellectual miracles) in establishing the credibility of the Catholic religion.

Two advantages come to mind. (1) Since the moral miracle is situated precisely in the life, vitality, activity of the person or institution claiming acceptance as a divine legate, it appeals more strongly as an endorsement than do signs (however valid) that are extrinsic to the legate. In offering the moral miracle as proof, the legate carries his credentials not so much with him as within him. As a long-lost son appearing to claim his inheritance enjoys a special advantage if instead of depending on documents of certification he can present himself to the executors bearing in every line and feature the living image of his father, so the divine legate has a special advantage if his whole manner of being immediately evidences a divine origin. (2) The other advantage—this time in the actual context of Catholic apologetics—is that whereas the physical and intellectual miracles generally adduced are those of Christ Himself and His Apostles, and hence the force of the apologetic demonstration hinges on the historical value of records of past events, the moral miracle to which appeal is made (the vitality and activity of the Church in its members) is a visible phenomenon arising truly in the past but a continuing and verifiable phenomenon in the present.

In the appeal to moral miracle as a motive of credibility there are, however, difficulties not encountered to the same extent in the appeal to other miracles. Two comparative disadvantages may be mentioned: (1) if the moral miracle is sought in the life and activity of a group spread over large areas and during extended periods of time, it is difficult to amass and assess all the factors— national, racial, temperamental, political, social, psychological—that enter into and may modify the whole situation; (2) if this difficulty is greatly diminished when an appeal is made to the moral excellence of one person (e.g., Christ Himself), then another difficulty arises, that of establishing the limits of achievement in single and exceptional cases.

Vatican Council I proposed the existence (and a fortiori the possibility) of moral miracles in presenting the Church as in itself "a great and perpetual motive of credibility and an unimpeachable [irrefragabile ] testimony to its own divine legation" (H. Denzinger, Enchiridion symbolorum [Freiburg 1963] 3013).

See Also: miracle, moral (the church).

Bibliography: j. de tonquÉdec, Introduction à l'étude du merveilleux et du miracle (3d ed. Paris 1923). k. pfeifer, Das Wunder als Erkenntnismittel der Glaubwürdigkeit der göttlichen Offenbarung in der modernen katholischen und protestantischen Apologetik (Würzburg 1936).

[s. e. donlon]