The phrase is not mine, though the intention is. It was said by John THAVIS, quoted in this week’s TIME (September 21, 2015), author of the just published “The Vatican Prophecies”. Thavis was, for thirty years, a “Vaticanista”, and a former Catholic News Service bureau chief. His book is an insider’s look at how the Vatican checks out claims of supernatural phenomena which regularly go viral on the Internet. He laments that rubbish like Jesus’ face on a piece of toast or Mary’s on a tree trunk (or, in Australia, on a fence post at Coogee in Sydney), “creates confusion and doubt among the faithful”. As well it might !
I had never heard of Thavis. Worse, he has never heard of me. So I put a comment on his blog, letting him know who I am and why he should read this blog. I am hoping he will post a comment. I have begun a novena to St Jude, Patron of Hopeless Causes, to make sure he does. Watch this space !
RIDENDA RELIGIO
Blind Faith: Blind Folly 
And if, God willing, your Novena to St Jude proves to be successful will you recant and repent? I too am praying – I wanna see this.
I’m sure it has occurred to others, as it has occurred to me, that the efficacy of prayers to Saints or saints-in-waiting would be more amply demonstrated if an amputated limb was restored or even a full head of luxuriant locks restored to a shining pate. Are the hopeful supplicants too timid in their requests? Do they not believe that no request is too extravagant or too outrageous to be granted – certainly not beyond the power surely of the Supreme Power to whom their request will ultimately be directed by the Saint or saint-in-waiting to whom they pray.
Perhaps I have never been quite as hopeless as I appear – this might explain why my Novenas to St Jude have been spectacularly unsuccessful – I just don’t qualify.
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Readers lucky enough to have read my book, “From Illusions to Illumination”, will remember that on page 125 I referred to the miracle that made St Anthony the Patron Saint of Lost Golf Balls. The lad who had taken the Gospel a bit too seriously, when he cut off his foot because he had kicked his Mum, had it put back in place by the Saint. As for the too common phenomenon of another loss – hair – I must sadly report that it would seem that calvities is beyond the power of your regular Saint and calls for a prayer beginning “Hey Jude”. I’m still waiting for Mr Thavis’ comment.
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