The rationalization of miracles
Subtitle: how the Catholic Church created modern sainthood
By: Paolo Parigi
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Cambridge; New York
Language: eng
ISBN-13: 9781107013681
Subjects: Miracles; Doctrines; Counter-Reformation; Church history; Canonization; History of doctrines; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology of Religion; Catholic Church; History
Description: "During the Counter-Reformation in southern Europe, Catholic Church officials developed rules to legitimize miracles performed by candidates to sainthood. The Rationalization of Miracles uncovers a tacit understanding between central religious officials and local religious activists. Each group had a vested interest in declaring miracles: Catholic Church leaders sought legitimacy in the wake of the crisis of faith created by the Protestant Schism and religious acolytes needed Church approval to secure a flow of resources to their movements. The Church,Ŵs new procedure of deeming miracles ,źtrue,Ź when there were witnesses of different statuses and the acts occurred in the presence of a candidate,Ŵs acolyte served the needs of both parties. And by developing rules and procedures for evaluating miracles, the Church rationalized the magic at the root of the miracles, thereby propelling the institution out of a period of institutional, political, and social uncertainty and forming the basis of modern sainthood"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.