himself, each other, and the rest of
creation. That Original Sin changed
everything – meaning that the first hu-
man beings were tempted, fell from their
state of friendship with God, and needed
to be reconciled with him.”
Miracles are often the main stumbling
block for secular people focused on scien-
tific explanations for why things happen.
“They recognize that the laws of na-
ture should be taken seriously, and they
assume that miracles are impossible be-
cause they think they violate those laws.
Such people also tend to resist the idea
that the universe was created by God,” Fr.
Ryan noted. “Unfortunately, this leaves
them with no explanation of why the uni-
verse exists in the first place.”
By contrast, the Catholic Church recog-
nizes that miracles are entirely compatible
with science and the laws of nature. “We
begin with the truth that the world did
not need to exist and therefore requires
a cause, one that does not itself need a
cause,” Fr. Ryan explained. “We call this
uncaused cause – this creator – God.”
“There’s no reason why this creator cannot act
directly on his creation. When he does so – when
something is caused not by a natural but by the
supernatural cause that brought the world into
existence – we call it a miracle.”
“There’s no reason why this creator
cannot act directly on his creation.
When he does so – when something is
caused not by a natural but by the super-
natural cause that brought the world into
existence – we call it a miracle,” Fr. Ryan
said. “This is not a violation of the laws
of nature but supernatural causality.”
Fr. Ryan went on to explain that there
is also no reason to think that this un-
caused cause could not manifest his love
for human beings by revealing himself
to them as a Trinity of divine persons.
And no reason to think that he could not
reveal a marvelous plan to overcome the
alienation of sin and invite those who are
willing to cooperate into a life of everlast-
ing joy with him and the rest of creation.
“Since the God who reveals himself is
also the creator,” Fr. Ryan said, “it makes
no sense to think that his revelation –
including his call to share everlasting
resurrection life with the incarnate Lord
Jesus – could contradict the truths that
science discovers about creation.”
Mary Kay McPartlin is a freelance writer and
editor from Maumee, Ohio.
About Fr. Ryan
• P
riest of the Maryland Province of the Society of
Jesus ordained in 1987.
• P
ast Executive Director of the Secretariat of Doctrine
and Canonical Affairs at the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops.
• F ormer Professor of Moral Theology and Director of
Spiritual Formation at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St.
Louis; Professor of Moral Theology at Mount St. Mary’s
Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland; and Assistant
Professor of Theology at Loyola College in Maryland
• B
oard member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars
and the Courage apostolate
• P
ast senior fellow of the Westchester Institute for Ethics
and the Human Person
• P
ast president of the Jesuit Philosophical Society.
Education:
• S.T.D. Gregorian University, Rome, 1996
• S.T.L. Gregorian University, Rome, 1991
• M.Div. Regis College, Toronto, 1987
• M
.A. and Ph.L. philosophy, Gonzaga
University, 1985
• M
.A. English literature, Gonzaga
University, 1982
• B
.A. political science, Loyola College
in Maryland 1974
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