Celjska Mohorjeva has published a translation of the book Audacity of Miracles

Celjska Mohorjeva publishing house has released a translation of the book Drznost čudežev (The Audacity of Miracles) by Didier van Cauwelaert. The translation was done by Dr. Drago K. Ocvirk. The book explores extraordinary, inexplicable phenomena observed in locations such as Lourdes in France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, and Brazil. Van Cauwelaert investigates cases where miracles have occurred, often leading to rejection, censorship, and moral persecution for those involved. He reconstructs situations and fates that were deliberately suppressed, revealing how miracles can sometimes overshadow their meaning through spectacle rather than substance. Since 1858, more than seven thousand two hundred cases of unexplained healings have been documented in Lourdes by medicine, though the Church has officially recognized only seventy of these as miracles. Despite some holy sites in the Pyrenees being associated with miraculous healing, the criteria for approval are extremely strict, making even access to the market for such claims a form of selection akin to a miracle itself. The author presents deep reflection and a message of hope, drawing attention to the complex interplay between faith, skepticism, and human potential. Van Cauwelaert’s work includes accounts of individuals who witnessed seemingly miraculous events, such as a priest named Father Pij, suspended by the Vatican for “mystical fraud,” who restored sight to a child born without eyes. Another example involves a woman whose bilocation helped a bombed ship while she was tortured by the Gestapo in Paris. During a televised mass, the Eucharist reportedly levitated, and in the presence of future Pope Francis, it took the shape of a heart. These incidents, though verified by witnesses, scientists, historians, and instruments, raise questions about whether they represent divine intervention or hidden human capabilities. As Saint Augustine once stated, a miracle does not contradict the laws of nature but challenges our understanding of them. In a time when faith seems to retreat from fear, Van Cauwelaert's thoroughly documented work, filled with sharp humor, offers profound reflection and a message of hope. On page 162, he writes, “No miracle will ever prove the existence of God, and both unbelievers and theologians agree on this.” However, if the purpose of Lourdes is not to reveal how heaven operates, its role might instead be to better acquaint us with how humans function. “If we could understand the mechanisms behind these extraordinary healings so that we could attempt them ourselves, it would be incredible,” noted Dr. Patrick Theillier, head of the medical office in Lourdes, in 2000. On page 47, Émile Zola, torn between his commitment to human values and his naturalistic literary pursuits, expressed a synthesis of his contradictions during an interview before experiencing a double miracle. “The sight of patients before the void, the rustling of all these prayers, the echo of all these complaints literally stuck in my throat. It seems too beautiful to me. Encouragement, giving off a ray of hope... Even if there was nothing else, Lourdes would be a tremendous piece of work.” The miracles he witnessed confirmed this cry of the heart. More than proving divine power, he saw an additional valuation of human potential, inner sources, physical transcendence, as the immediate healing illuminated both physical abilities and the role of the spirit. Didier van Cauwelaert, born in 1960, is a French novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and journalist. He has published over forty books, many of which explore themes of faith, skepticism, and the human condition. His works often blend rigorous research with narrative storytelling, offering readers a unique perspective on complex issues. This latest publication continues his tradition of challenging conventional wisdom and inviting deeper contemplation on the mysteries of life.