Modified, November 7, 2026
Explore recent Catholic miracles, including Lourdes healings, Eucharistic phenomena and miracles linked to saints. Learn how the Church investigates them.
Do Miracles Still Happen in the Catholic Church Today?
For Catholics, the answer is yes. The Church continues to investigate extraordinary events, including unexplained healings, Eucharistic phenomena, and miracles attributed to the intercession of saints.
Some of the most recent Catholic miracles to receive official recognition include the healing of Antonia Raco at Lourdes, the miracle associated with St. Carlo Acutis, and a healing attributed to the intercession of the Spanish priest Salvador Valera Parra.
In 2025, the Church also permitted the public recognition of an extraordinary Eucharistic phenomenon in India, first reported in 2013.
These events raise important questions. What makes a miracle genuine? How does the Catholic Church investigate such claims? And what should these extraordinary events mean for our everyday faith?
Let us explore several modern Catholic miracles and what the Church teaches about them.
1. The Eucharistic Phenomenon in Vilakkannur, India (Recognized in 2025)
One of the most widely discussed recent Eucharistic phenomena occurred at Christ the King Church in Vilakkannur, Kerala, India.
On November 13, 2013, during the celebration of the Eucharistic Liturgy, an image resembling the face of Jesus reportedly appeared on a consecrated host.
The host was preserved, and Church authorities undertook a lengthy examination of the event.
In March 2025, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith communicated that it had no objection to the phenomenon being declared an extraordinary event. The recognition was subsequently announced publicly in May 2025.
This distinction is important. The Church’s permission to recognize and venerate an extraordinary Eucharistic sign should not be confused with a scientific demonstration that a supernatural event occurred.
Why this event matters
Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is truly present in the Eucharist under the appearances of bread and wine.
This belief does not depend on extraordinary phenomena. It rests on Christ’s teaching and the faith of the Church.
Nevertheless, reported Eucharistic miracles can encourage believers to renew their reverence for the Blessed Sacrament, participate more attentively in Mass, and spend time in Eucharistic adoration.
The central message is not simply that something unusual happened, but that Catholics are invited to deepen their faith in Christ’s presence in the Eucharist.
2. The Healing of Antonia Raco at Lourdes (Recognized in 2025)
One of the most recent Catholic miracles officially recognized by the Church is the healing of Antonia Raco, an Italian woman diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis, a progressive neurological condition.
Raco visited Lourdes, France, in 2009, seeking spiritual consolation and healing.
Following her pilgrimage, she experienced a recovery that prompted years of medical examination.
The Lourdes Medical Bureau and the International Medical Committee of Lourdes studied her case. In November 2024, the international committee concluded that her recovery was unexpected, complete, lasting, and unexplained according to current medical knowledge.
On April 16, 2025, Bishop Vincenzo Carmine Orofino of Tursi-Lagonegro officially proclaimed her healing a miracle.
It became the 72nd miracle officially recognized at Lourdes.
Why this miracle matters
The healing of Antonia Raco illustrates the Church’s cautious approach to claims of miraculous healing.
Medical experts first examine whether a recovery can be explained by existing scientific knowledge. The competent bishop then makes the ecclesiastical judgment concerning its miraculous character.
For Catholics, Lourdes remains a place of prayer, pilgrimage, and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
However, the Church does not teach that every person who visits Lourdes will receive a physical healing. God’s grace is not limited to extraordinary cures.
Sometimes the most profound gifts received through prayer are peace, perseverance, reconciliation, and the strength to carry suffering with faith.
3. The Miracle Associated with St. Carlo Acutis (Canonized in 2025)
St. Carlo Acutis has become an inspiring figure for young Catholics around the world.
Born in 1991, Carlo used his interest in computers and technology to share the Catholic faith, particularly devotion to the Eucharist. He died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15.
A second miracle attributed to his intercession was recognized by Pope Francis in May 2024.
The case involved Valeria Valverde, a young Costa Rican woman who suffered a severe head injury. Her mother prayed for Carlo’s intercession at his tomb in Assisi, and Valeria subsequently experienced a recovery considered medically inexplicable.
The recognition of this miracle opened the way for Carlo’s canonization.
On September 7, 2025, Pope Leo XIV canonized Carlo Acutis alongside Pier Giorgio Frassati.
Carlo became widely known as the first millennial saint.
Why this miracle matters
Carlo’s life reminds us that holiness is not reserved for people who lived centuries ago.
He lived in the digital age, enjoyed ordinary youthful interests, and nevertheless made prayer, charity, and the Eucharist central to his life.
His example is particularly relevant for young people navigating technology, social media, and the pressures of modern society.
The miracle associated with his canonization also reflects the Catholic belief in the communion of saints: those who are united with Christ in heaven continue to pray for the Church on earth.
4. A Miracle Attributed to Salvador Valera Parra (Approved in 2025)
Another recent Catholic miracle was officially recognized on June 20, 2025.
On that date, Pope Leo XIV authorized the promulgation of a decree recognizing a miracle attributed to the intercession of Salvador Valera Parra, a Spanish diocesan priest who lived from 1816 to 1889.
Known for his pastoral dedication, Valera Parra served the faithful in Huércal-Overa, Spain.
The miracle concerned the medically unexplained survival and recovery of a child in the United States. The case underwent diocesan investigation, medical examination, and theological review before receiving papal approval.
The decree represented an important step toward his beatification.
Why this miracle matters
The lives of the saints and candidates for sainthood remind us that holiness is often found in ordinary service.
Not every holy person becomes internationally famous. Many spend their lives quietly caring for others, serving their communities, and remaining faithful to God.
The recognition of this miracle highlights the Church’s conviction that the intercession of holy men and women remains relevant to believers today.
5. Other Modern Eucharistic Miracles and Reported Phenomena
In addition to the events recognized in 2025, several reported Eucharistic phenomena have attracted considerable attention in the modern Catholic world.
Examples include:
- Sokółka, Poland (2008): A consecrated host was reported to have developed an unusual reddish appearance. The event was investigated by Church authorities and medical specialists.
- Legnica, Poland (2013): A consecrated host was associated with a reddish substance subsequently examined by medical experts. The local bishop later authorized public devotion connected with the event.
- Tixtla, Mexico (2006): Reports concerning a consecrated host prompted ecclesiastical investigation and public discussion.
It is important to distinguish the occurrence of an investigation, permission for devotion, and a definitive declaration that an event is supernatural. These are not interchangeable.
Catholics are not required to base their faith in the Real Presence on such extraordinary reports.
The Eucharist is already, in Catholic teaching, a profound mystery: Christ gives Himself to the faithful under the appearances of bread and wine.
6. How Does the Catholic Church Investigate Miracles?
The Catholic Church does not automatically accept every claim of a miracle.
Instead, it examines the evidence carefully, taking account of medical knowledge, witness testimony, theology, and the circumstances of each case.
The procedures differ according to the type of reported event.
Miracles associated with canonization
When a miracle is proposed as evidence supporting the beatification or canonization of a candidate for sainthood, the process generally includes:
Review by Church authorities: The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints examines the case before the Pope authorizes a decree recognizing the miracle.
Diocesan investigation: Evidence and testimony are collected concerning the reported event.
Medical examination: In cases involving healing, medical experts examine whether the recovery can be explained scientifically.
Theological examination: The Church considers the evidence concerning prayer for the candidate’s intercession.
Eucharistic phenomena and other extraordinary events
Reports of Eucharistic phenomena and other alleged supernatural events follow different procedures.
The diocesan bishop and, where appropriate, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith examine the circumstances and determine the appropriate pastoral response.
The Church may permit certain forms of devotion without declaring that an event is definitively supernatural.
This careful distinction helps protect the faithful from exaggerated claims, sensationalism, and superstition.
7. What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Miracles?
Miracles occupy an important place in Catholic theology, but they must always be understood in relation to Jesus Christ.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that Jesus’ miracles reveal the presence of God’s kingdom and invite people to believe in Him (CCC 547–548).
Miracles are not performances intended merely to impress spectators. They are signs pointing beyond themselves toward God’s mercy, power, and saving love.
The Church also recognizes miracles in connection with the causes of saints, whose lives bear witness to Christian holiness (see CCC 828).
Nevertheless, faith does not depend on witnessing extraordinary events.
A Catholic who has never experienced a miraculous healing or witnessed an unusual Eucharistic phenomenon can still possess a deep, authentic, and mature faith.
Indeed, the ordinary means of grace—prayer, Scripture, the sacraments, charity, and daily fidelity—remain at the heart of Catholic life.
8. Why Does God Still Work Miracles Today?
If the Church already possesses Scripture, Tradition, and the sacraments, why do miracles continue to matter?
Catholics understand miracles as signs of God’s continuing care for humanity.
They may:
- Encourage faith in moments of doubt.
- Inspire renewed devotion to Christ and the sacraments.
- Draw attention to the holiness of particular Christians.
- Invite people to prayer, repentance, and conversion.
- Remind believers that God’s action is not confined to the distant past.
Yet miracles do not remove every difficulty from human life.
Many faithful Catholics continue to experience illness, grief, and suffering despite their prayers.
The absence of a miraculous cure should never be interpreted as proof that someone lacks faith or that God has abandoned them.
Christian hope rests ultimately in Christ’s death and Resurrection, not in the expectation that every prayer will produce an extraordinary event.
9. How Should Catholics Respond to Modern Miracles?
Stories of modern Catholic miracles can inspire wonder. But they should also lead us toward a deeper and more practical response.
Here are five ways Catholics can respond.
1. Renew your devotion to the Eucharist
Attend Mass attentively and consider spending time in Eucharistic adoration.
2. Pray confidently for those who are suffering
Bring the needs of the sick, the grieving, and the vulnerable before God, while respecting the importance of medical care and human support.
3. Learn from the lives of the saints
The saints are not simply associated with extraordinary miracles. Their lives offer examples of humility, courage, charity, and perseverance.
4. Practise discernment
Not every extraordinary claim is authentic. Seek reliable sources, respect the Church’s judgments, and avoid sensationalism.
5. Give thanks for ordinary grace
God’s presence is also encountered in daily acts of love, forgiveness, generosity, and faithfulness.
10. Frequently Asked Questions About Recent Catholic Miracles
What is one of the most recent officially recognized Catholic miracles?
One example is the healing of Antonia Raco, officially proclaimed the 72nd Lourdes miracle on April 16, 2025. The Church also recognized a miracle attributed to the intercession of Salvador Valera Parra in June 2025.
Does the Catholic Church still recognize miracles today?
Yes. The Catholic Church continues to investigate reported miracles, including unexplained healings associated with candidates for sainthood and certain extraordinary religious phenomena.
Are Catholics required to believe in every reported miracle?
No. Catholics should distinguish the essential teachings of the faith from particular extraordinary events. The Church exercises discernment concerning such reports, and the faithful should avoid treating every claim as an established fact.
How does the Vatican verify a miracle?
The process depends on the nature of the claim. In canonization causes, evidence may be examined by medical experts, theologians, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, and ultimately the Pope. Other alleged supernatural events are handled under different ecclesiastical procedures.
Do miracles prove that Catholicism is true?
Miracles can support faith and invite deeper reflection, but Catholic belief rests fundamentally on God’s revelation in Jesus Christ. Miracles are signs pointing toward God, not substitutes for faith, reason, or the ordinary life of the Church.
Conclusion: God Still Acts in the Modern World
Recent Catholic miracles remind us that the Church’s history of extraordinary events did not end with the apostles or the saints of earlier centuries.
The recognition of Antonia Raco’s healing at Lourdes, the miracle associated with St. Carlo Acutis, and the recognition of a miracle attributed to Salvador Valera Parra show that the Church continues to investigate remarkable claims in modern times.
At the same time, these events invite us to look beyond the extraordinary.
The greatest gift of Christian faith is not the promise of spectacular miracles, but communion with Jesus Christ.
Whether or not we ever witness a miraculous event, we are invited to encounter God through prayer, the Eucharist, the Scriptures, and loving service to others.
Which of these modern Catholic miracles inspires you most? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Sources and further reading
- Sanctuary of Lourdes — Antonia Raco, the 72nd Lourdes miracle
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints — Salvador Valera Parra
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints — Carlo Acutis
- Syro-Malabar Vision — The Eucharistic Sign at Vilakkannur
- Catechism of the Cat.holic Church, paragraphs 547–548 and 828