by John Thavis
First published 2015
The Catholic Church faces a delicate balancing act when confronted with reports of supernatural phenomena. Apocalyptic prophecies and miraculous apparitions generate intense public attention while creating tension between rational faith and zealous belief. Some dismiss these claims as absurd, while others view them as divine communication. The Vatican recognizes that each alleged miracle carries significant theological and political weight. The Church has constructed an intricate, confidential system to assess the legitimacy of supernatural events. John Thavis draws on three decades of Vatican reporting experience to illuminate this secretive process. He reveals internal Church debates surrounding religious relics, private revelations, and exorcisms. The book demonstrates how Church officials navigate between honoring traditional beliefs and addressing modern skepticism. Thavis makes this complex subject accessible to readers regardless of their religious background, showing how the Vatican attempts to maintain credibility while respecting both faith and reason.
Genres: religion, christianity, church-history, academic, apocalyptic, catholic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: faith-vs-reason, investigative-journalism
Setting: Vatican
Period: Modern
288 pages · Hardcover · Viking