Article — 1917 Code of Canon Law
Article IV: Of the Judgment concerning the Miracles of the Servant of God in Species
Superseded as law in 1983 — read why this Code still matters. Each canon links to its 1983 counterpart.
§ 1. Besides heroicness of virtues or martyrdom, miracles performed by his intercession are required for the beatification of a Servant of God.
§ 2. But if there is question of a martyr and it is evidently established concerning martyrdom and the cause of martyrdom considered both materially and formally, but miracles are lacking, it belongs to the Sacred Congregation to decide whether signs in the case suffice and, if these are lacking, whether supplication is to be made to the Most Holy One for dispensation from signs in the case.
§ 1. Praeter virtutum heroicitatem aut martyrium, ad beatificationem Servi Dei requiruntur miracula eius intercessione patrata.
§ 2. Verum, si de martyre agatur et evidenter constet de martyrio et causa martyrii tum materialiter tum formaliter spectati, sed deficiant miracula, Sacrae Congregationis est decidere an signa in casu sufficiant et, iis deficientibus, an supplicandum sit Sanctissimo pro dispensatione a signis in casu.
For the beatification of Servants of God only two miracles are required if eyewitnesses in both the informative and apostolic processes have prepared proof of the virtues, or if witnesses examined in the apostolic process were at least from hearing from those seeing; three, if the witnesses were eyewitnesses in the informative process and from hearing of hearing in the apostolic process; four, if in both processes concerning virtues it was established through witnesses of tradition alone and through documents.
Ad beatificationem Servorum Dei requiruntur duo tantum miracula, si testes oculati in utroque processu tum informativo tum apostolico probationem virtutum confecerint, vel si testes, in processu apostolico excussi, fuerint saltem ex auditu a videntibus; tria, si testes fuerint oculati in processu informativo et de auditu auditus in processu apostolico; quatuor, si in utroque processu de virtutibus constiterit per solos testes traditionis et per documenta.
§ 1. For the proof of miracles two experts are to be introduced from office at the beginning of the discussion; and if both have been concordant in rejecting the miracle, one is not to proceed to further matters.
§ 2. Since very often in the discussion of miracles there is question of judging a healing from some disease, the experts must be more celebrated in medical or surgical matters; indeed, when it can be done, those are to be chosen who are furnished with singular expertise in diagnosing and treating the diseases of which there is question in the proposed miracle.
§ 1. Ad probationem miraculorum duo periti ex officio inducendi sunt initio discussionis; et si ambo fuerint concordes in reiiciendo miraculo, ad ulteriora ne procedatur.
§ 2. Cum saepissime in discussione miraculorum agatur de sanatione ab aliquo morbo diiudicanda, periti esse debent in re medica vel chirurgica celebriores, imo, cum fieri potest, ii eligantur, qui in morbis, de quibus in proposito miraculo agitur, dignoscendis et curandis singulari peritia sint praediti.
The votes of the experts, written briefly but clearly and supported by reasons, are to contain these two things, namely:
1° Whether, if there is question of a healing, he who is said to have obtained it must truly be held healthy.
2° Whether the fact proposed as a miracle can be explained by the laws of nature, or not.
Vota peritorum, breviter sed dilucide conscripta rationibusque fulta, haec duo contineant, scilicet:
1° Utrum, si de sanatione agatur, is qui eam consecutus dicitur, vere sanus haberi debeat;
2° Utrum factum, tanquam miraculum propositum, per naturae leges explicari possit, necne.
Miracles are to be discussed in three congregations in exactly the same manner which above was established for heroicness of virtues; but never are more than two miracles to be subjected to discussion in one and the same congregation, except the general congregation before the Most Holy One.
Miracula discutienda sunt in tribus congregationibus eodem plane modo qui supra pro virtutum heroicitate statutus est; discussioni vero in una eademque congregatione, excepta generali coram Sanctissimo, nunquam plura quam duo miracula subiiciantur.
The position for the antepreparatory congregation must consist of:
1° Information written by the advocate.
2° A summary of the depositions of the witnesses.
3° Two votes which have been written concerning each of the miracles for the truth by experts.
4° Objections of the Promoter General of the Faith.
5° Responses of the advocate.
Positio pro congregatione antepraeparatoria constare debet:
1° Informatione ab advocato conscripta;
2° Summario depositionum testium;
3° Duobus votis quae circa unumquodque miraculorum pro veritate a peritis conscripta fuerint;
4° Obiectionibus Promotoris generalis fidei;
5° Responsionibus advocati.
§ 1. For the preparatory congregation the position is to be put together as was established in can. 2109, with the vote of the experts added according to the norm of Sec. 2.
§ 2. If in the antepreparatory congregation two experts were concordant in affirming the miracle, then only one expert is to be designated for the preparatory congregation; if only one expert stood for the miracle, then two new experts are to be named from office.
§ 3. The Cardinal Fathers of the same Sacred Congregation always have the right to designate more experts than are prescribed, if they have judged this necessary in the case.
§ 4. Nevertheless it is permitted to the advocate of the cause to employ the help of some expert in preparing his responses, with the vote, as they say, for opportunity excluded.
§ 1. Pro congregatione praeparatoria positio confletur quemadmodum in can. 2109 statutum est, addito voto peritorum ad normam § 2.
§ 2. Si in congregatione antepraeparatoria duo periti fuerint concordes in affirmando miraculo, tunc unus tantum pro congregatione praeparatoria designetur peritus; si unus tantum peritus pro miraculo steterit, tunc duo novi periti ex officio nominentur.
§ 3. Patribus Cardinalibus eiusdem Sacrae Congregationis semper ius esto plures, quam praescripti sunt, peritos designare, si hoc necessarium in casu iudicaverint.
§ 4. Licet tamen causae advocato auxilium adhibere alicuius periti in suis responsionibus concinnandis, excluso voto, uti aiunt, ad opportunitatem.
§ 1. After the decree of approval of miracles, a new discussion must be made before the Supreme Pontiff concerning the doubt: Whether one can proceed safely to the beatification of the Servant of God.
§ 2. Concerning this, after the opinion of the consultors and Cardinal Fathers has been heard, the Pontiff decrees, who, when he wishes, orders a decree concerning this matter to be prepared and promulgated.
§ 1. Post decretum approbationis miraculorum nova fieri debet coram Summo Pontifice disceptatio super dubio: An tuto procedi possit ad beatificationem Servi Dei.
§ 2. De hac, audita consultorum et Patrum Cardinalium sententia, Pontifex decernit, qui, cum voluerit, decretum hac de re conficiendum et promulgandum iubet.