A story for every day...
The Arian bishop in distress.
Arianism had taken on an extraordinary development in North Africa, and the Arian bishop of Carthage, Cyril, wanted to help it by making the people believe that he would corroborate this doctrine by miracles. He had a man brought into the city and gave him 50 gold coins on condition that he would pretend to be blind and that after a few days he would ask the bishop in the forum to restore his sight. So it was done, and the bishop, after summoning all the people, exclaimed, “To prove that we Arians have the true doctrine, I restore sight to this blind man, in the name of God.” But what a disappointment! this man had indeed lost his sight: he began to groan horribly, and told of the bishop’s deception, which of course had disappeared at once. The blind man was later healed by the prayers and the imposition of the hands of St. Eugene, the faithful bishop of Carthage. This happened during the time of the Arian king Thrasimund, the successor of the cruel Huneric.
– God does not allow miracles to be performed as a testimony to error.
The turning tables.
Spiritists, or so–called Spiritists, claim to be able to communicate with spirits in their meetings. These are deceptions of the devil. Satan, who has sworn man’s doom since his defeat in the earthly paradise, performs lying wonders to harm men. A good Christian should never consult soothsayers, much less resort to witchcraft to gain earthly advantages or harm others, for this infallibly leads to eternal loss.
– There are false miracles that are only illusions or deceptions.
