When Miracles Produce MIRACLES

By Greg Miller

     When "miracles" produce "MIRACLES"? What's the difference between "miracles" and "MIRACLES"? Arguably, every miracle deserves ALL CAPS emphasis. Yet Scripture emphasizes miraculous signs in nature that produce even more miraculous interior conversions in observing souls. At Cana, for example, Jesus' first miracle wasn't just to change water into wine, but to change His disciples' lives. Scripture says as a result of this miracle Jesus' "disciples believed in Him" (John 2:11). A physical "miracle" produced a greater interior, spiritual "MIRACLE". With that view, here are miracles from our family's Medjugorje trip in 1990 that produced still greater MIRACLES thereafter.
     OUR SON'S MIRACLE: What college student wants to celebrate his 19th birthday on a pilgrimage with his parents? Not our son. As his parents, we required him to do so, praying that this trip and birthday would occasion new spiritual blessings for him. Thankfully, he was obedient if not pleased. Our first full day in Medjugorje was his 19th birthday. It started with Mass (on a weekday) and his sarcastic groan: "WHAT A BIRTHDAY this will be!" Throughout Mass, I pleaded: "PLEASE, LORD, grant him a special birthday blessing!" Afterward, our family group (nine in total) began to pray the Rosary outside when someone cried, "Look! The sun's spinning!" (This miraculous phenomenon and others had reportedly been seen by many pilgrims in Medjugorje.) I and others in our family tried to look, but our eyes naturally kept closing. Providentially, ONLY OUR SON could stare at it without harm! Incredulous, he said, "Dad, certainly you can see it!" Nope. Here was his Special Birthday Blessing, a miraculous answer to our prayers! We all delighted as he described the miracle only he among us could see. His dreaded trip had become an unforgettable pilgrimage. His life was forever changed. Throughout college, he attended Mass faithfully. Later, as a married man and dad, he prominently displayed a Blessed Virgin statue in front of his home, and sent his children (at great expense) to Catholic schools. By God's grace, that birthday miracle produced life-changing MIRACLES for our son and his family.
     MY FATHER-IN-LAW'S MIRACLE: Just before we left home, my father-in-law ("Pops") was diagnosed with incurable cancer. His Alzheimer's had kept him from knowing and saying he needed help. On our second day in Medjugorje, we heard about and took Pops to a healing service there. Although skeptical about such things, we figured Pops and we had nothing to lose. When the "healing priest" (Fr. Peter Rookey) arrived, he began to pray over Pops and asked us to join him. As we prayed, amazing, observable signs and wonders began to happen...at least to us. Uncontrollable weeping, laughing, shaking, all as we prayed over Pops with Fr. Rookey. When the service ended, we knew God had done something for us, but what about Pops? Of course, Pops with his Alzheimer's couldn't verify that he felt any different. Back home 2 weeks later, his doctors declared Pops "cancer-free, a MIRACLE MAN". Pops' miraculous healing impacted our entire family. Moreover, his healing story was shared with 1500 people at another healing service led by Fr. Rookey near us in Ohio, bolstering their faith, impacting their lives

Fr. Rookey

     MY DAD'S MIRACLE: Cynically, my Dad went to Medjugorje to protect Mom from "this obvious scam." At every opportunity, he scrutinized every "visionary" for any flaws. As the week wore on, however, Dad's cynicism seemingly wore out. Was he just tiring of being a doubting Thomas? No one knew. Finally, Mom confided that "your father asked me last night if I could see the lights streaming from atop Cross Mountain (a famous landmark in Medjugorje)." Mom saw nothing, and told him Cross Mountain (in 1990) had no lights on it. Dad mumbled to himself and that was it. At trip's end, when we were alone at the airport, I asked Dad: "So, what do you think now (about Medjugorje)?" His reply stunned me. "Greg, I'm 63 years old, and I've got to change." That was the most profound thing I ever heard my Dad say, and the most memorable moment we ever shared. He hadn't just seen miraculous lights streaming toward him personally from Cross Mountain. He had finally "seen the Light" and received the call to change his ways, his life. By God's grace, change he did. Dad only lived four more years, but he made the most of it. He became a daily communicant, a Legion of Mary member, a bold advocate of praying the rosary daily. Moments before his death in 1994, Dad apparently saw his own holy mother and sister (both long deceased) coming to greet him. He spoke to them aloud as though others could also see them. The lights from Cross Mountain had removed his shadowy doubts about believing in and following the calls to prayer, conversion, and holiness from Our Lady of Medjugorje. His MIRACLE was a blessing for us and so many souls touched by his dramatic conversion.
     WOE TO US, IF miracles DON'T produce MIRACLES: We all want miracles, don't we? But, do we want (and allow) miracles to measurably change our lives? If not, Jesus warns us about dire consequences: "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles performed in your midst had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they (unlike you) would have repented long ago…" (Matthew 11:21). His message is clear: Woe to us if miraculous signs don't also produce lasting signs of repentance and change in our lives. By God's grace, our family saw "miracles" like the "spinning sun," supernatural healings, and inexplicable lights. More importantly, those Medjugorje "miracles" also changed our hearts, our lives, and others' lives. By God's grace, my wife and I have been used by Our Lord and Our Lady in the years since that first pilgrimage to lead others to Christ through other trips to Medjugorje, very fruitful Bible studies (over 1000 students), beginning Pro-Life ministries (saving hundreds of lives), and witnessing to our love of Our Lord and His Mother in many other ways. We can never repay Our Lord and Our Lady for all the miracles and MIRACLES we have seen and become. We offer this sharing of our family's "miraclesto- MIRACLES" stories as a partial THANK YOU to Them, along with our profound commitment to live our lives daily in accord with Our Lady's messages hopefully on route to a holy life that edifies others, honors Our Mother Mary, and in all things glorifies Our Good and Gracious God.
      Editor's note: Greg lives in Euclid, OH.