John Thavis

The Vatican Prophecies: Investigating Supernatural Signs, Prophecies, and Miracles in the Modern Age (Library) John Thavis

Publisher Marketing: From the "New York Times" bestselling author of "The Vatican Diaries" comes a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how the Vatican investigates claims of miraculous events. Apocalyptic prophecies and miraculous apparitions are headline-grabbing events that often put the Catholic Church s doctrine of rational faith at odds with the passion of its more zealous followers. To some, these claims teeter on the edge of absurdity. Others see them as evidence of a private connection with God. For the Vatican, the issue is much more nuanced, as each supposed miraculous event could have serious theological and political consequences. In response, the Vatican has developed a highly secretive and complex evaluation system to judge the authenticity of supernatural phenomena. Former journalist John Thavis uses his thirty years experience covering the Vatican to shed light on this little-known process, revealing deep internal debates on the power of religious relics, private revelations, exorcisms, and more. Enlightening and accessible to Catholics and non-Catholics alike, the book illustrates the church s struggle to balance the tension between traditional beliefs and contemporary skepticism." Review Citations: Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2015 (EAN 9780525426899, Hardcover) Library Journal 08/01/2015 pg. 103 (EAN 9780525426899, Hardcover) Contributor Bio:  Thavis, John John Thavis recently retired as the prizewinning Rome bureau chief of Catholic News Service, a position he had held since 1983. In 2007 the Catholic Press Association awarded him the St. Francis de Sales Award, the highest honor given by the Catholic press. He lives in Minnesota.