Aquinas' definition of miracles

What is the term ‘miracle’ used for?

To refer to a wide range of events, such as an achievement that was much greater than expected, a disaster narrowly missed, or a product that produces remarkable results

What is St Augustine’s definition of a miracle?

Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature

What is Aquinas’ view on miracles?

‘That which has a divine cause, not that whose cause a human person fails to understand’

What is a quote that links to miracles, that is an attribute to Aquinas?

‘Miracles of the highest rank are those in which something is done by God that nature can never do’

What is an example of this in Joshua 10:12-14?

The Sun and Moon were made to stand still

What is Aquinas’ definition of miracles?

Event in which God does something which nature could never do, the natural order of things is suspended

What is a quote by Aquinas that describes second-rank miracles?

‘Miracles of the Second rank are those in which God does something that nature can do, bu not in that sequence and connexion’

what does the quote of Second-rank miracles, mean?

events in which God does something which nature can do, but not in this order

what are some examples of Second-rank miracles?

• Someone living after death

• Being able to see after being blind

• People walking after being paralysed

What is the last definition of miracles ruled out by Aquinas?

‘something done by God, which is usually done by the operation of nature, but is done in this case without the working of natural principles, as when one is cured by divine power of a fever, in itself naturally curable,or when it rains without any working of the elements’

What does this definition of a miracle mean?

Events in which God does something that the working of nature usually does, but without the operation of principle of nature

what is an example of this?

Someone being instantly cure of an illness that usually takes much longer to cure

Where is Aquinas’ Hierarchy of miracles written?

Summa Theologica

What is a quote from Aquinas regarding the definition of miracles?

‘That which has a divine cause, not that whose cause a human person fails to understand’ - Summa Contra Gentiles and Summa Theologica

what does Aquinas realise?

Something might appear to be miraculous to those who don’t understand it and do not have the expertise e.g. An eclipse

what does Aquinas suggest about miracles?

Suggests that all miracles are caused by the divine, in his eyes, the Judeo-Christian god

What did he believe about everything that existed?

Everything that existed had a nature (things that it is able to do). A miracle is an event beyond the natural power of any created being. It has a divine cause and so, not a normal part of the nature of things

Why can God alone do miracles?

Since he is un-created

what did Aquinas not believe in?

That laws of nature have to be broken for an event to be a miracle. He believed that God is in control of the laws of nature, so God can occasionally make them work differently to fulfil a purpose