ABOUT MIRACLES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1931, 13 December 1913, Page 11

ABOUT MIRACLES.

AN INTERESTING' PROBLEM.

A correspondent, writing to tho Guardian ' about "Tho Lite of Soeur Ihercso of Lisieux," says:—"The autobiography and letters of Soeur Therese iorm oho of tho most beautiful and touching histories of the interior life that has ever been written. Though one cannot understand her intense desire for botii mental and physical suffering, no one can fail to see the mature depth of the spiritual life of this girl, and the wonderful sweetness of her character which comes out in'the beautiful photographs of the youn£ nun. But when one passas from Jierjtwn writings to tho account of what, she has done* since death for her 'clients' " —tho correspondent is sorely nuzzled.

Commenting on tho above the London "Tablet" (Roman Catholic) states:— He puts the conundrum lairl.v enough in these words: —"Tile particular point which I wish •to "have elucidated is in connection with the miracle at Gallipoli, which is considered by the editor of the book (a priest at Glasgow) the most important of her answers to prayer. Tho Carmelite muis > at Gallipoli. in Italy, were in financial difficulties, and invoked Soeur Therese. Olio nijzht the Prioress was awakened by a. heavenly visitant, who declared herself to lie Therese. She led the nun to the parlour, and making her open a box. deposited there 500 francs. The miracle was repeated several times with different sums of money, on one occasion Therese saying, 'You will find in the cashbox'n bank-note for •50 francs.' But whore does Therese got her bank-notes? They belong to the things of which there is a strictly limited number. Did they exist before she gave-them to the nuns? If so, alio must have stolen them from someone, which seems to mo to be quite unthinkable. Or did they exist iirerious to her- using them? 'They aro. spoken of as 'the miraculous bank-notes.' Did she make them? If so. tlsov were forced notes, which is equally unthinkable."

But if we accept the possibility of miracles—and the correspondent Ims 110 difficulty in belicvim' that the dead nun really visited the I'riofess—there is snrcIv nothiiiL' in the facts as stated w'lik'h need trouble ns. It is simplv the old story of the widow's cruse. There the oil was withdrawn, and yet tlio amount left in the cruse was: xinditiiinishptl. Here —on the hypothesis of a miracle—the wonder was reversed. A bank-note was apparently added to tlw liabilities of the bank of issue, and vet its total indebtedness was not increased. If yon deny the possibility of a miracle the objection stands sood, but that is not the standpoint of the correspondent. Tho only question is whether or not wo believe the arm of Cod has been shortened since the days of tho prophets of old.