ABSTRACT
Since the later Roman Empire, Christians visited holy places distant and near in search of divine intervention, often in the form of miraculous healing. As was common in such proceedings, Maria told her background first. She had been married twice, had born fourteen children (at least five of whom had died), and had known poverty her entire life. As usual, the vicariate soon called upon medical experts, four of them in this case, none of whom actually examined Maria but who were simply presented with the facts and asked whether this event “transcended nature.” Maria’s miracle was not an official miracle at all, but simply natural. Of course, Maria and her friends were free to believe what they wanted, but the church would not proclaim it – as they would not for the vast majority of cures claimed by such thankful people as Maria Caroens.
