A Modern Miracle Worker?

On August 9, 1987, Audrey and her brother Stephen were playing in the driveway of her grandmother's house. She fell into the swimming pool and almost drowned. She was immediately rushed to hospital. According to Audrey's mother Linda, the presiding physician prescribed too much phenobarbital, causing Audrey to lapse into a coma. Three weeks later, Audrey emerged from the coma into a state called akinetic mutism; she is unable to move (except her eyes and fingers) or speak. From the beginning, many people came to pray for Audrey - not only relatives, but family friends and even strangers.

The doctors informed her mother that Audrey would have to spend the rest of her days on life support. They recommended that Audrey be placed in an extended care facility. Insisting that her daughter was fully conscious though in a "non-moving, non-speaking state," Linda took Audrey home and prepared to care for her personally.

Shortly after the accident, Linda took Audrey to Medjugorje, a popular pilgrimage site in the formerYugoslavia. Linda states that Audrey communicated directly with the Virgin Mary and agreed to become a victim soul; in Catholic belief, one who willingly takes on the suffering of others.

The miracles

Since her visit to Medjugorje, many miracles allegedly happened in Audrey's bedroom and her house. Her nurses reported an overpowering scent of roses in her room. At least three of these women were not Catholics at the time, but converted after witnessing the reported miracles.

Audrey was also said to bear the stigmata. Typical of the alleged miracles in Audrey's home included icons supposedly weeping blood or oil, a bleeding statue of Jesus, consecrated hosts bleeding, blood appearing spontaneously in a tabernacle, oil dripping down the walls of the garage, and the Virgin Mary appearing in cloud formations overhead.

Many miraculous healings were attributed to Audrey as well, typical of claims made about victim souls. Many people with various diseases or injuries were supposedly cured either by visiting Audrey's house or by intercessory prayer offered by others at Audrey's house.

For example, Sheryle Parolisi of Methuen, Massachusetts, says she prayed at Audrey's bedside for the recovery of her son Joey, who had been badly injured in a motorcycle accident. She reports that on returning home Joey met her at the door without the crutches or cane which he had needed to help him walk since the accident. He told her that he "just had a feeling that he could walk".

Audrey herself supposedly baffled medical science in a variety of ways:

  • As of 1999, Audrey showed no bedsores despite having been in bed for 12 years. Either none were reported, or the assiduous care she receives at home has prevented them. She was arguably receiving a great deal more personal attention than she would in a medical facility.
  • Her mechanical respirator occasionally stopped, as did the flow of her feeding tube to her stomach. Believers stated that Audrey voluntarily controls these devices through telekinesis because she made a deliberate decision to fast for a period of time.
  • She reportedly was not able to receive any solid food but was given Holy Communion hosts daily. Historically, people given to extremes of spiritual devotion are often said to exist solely on communion hosts. According to medical studies dating back to the Victorian era, when fasting was considered extremely admirable, such people are usually receiving some type of normal food. In addition, today's Communion hosts readily dissolve and are extremely easy to ingest.

Audrey's house became a pilgrimage site. The home was remodeled for this purpose and a large window installed in Audrey's bedroom so that visitors could view her as they pass by.

Controversy

In 1998, the Washington Post tested a sample of the oil which purportedly oozed from the icons in Audrey's room. Their tests revealed that the oil consisted of 80 percent corn or soybean oil, and 20 percent chicken fat.

In addition, an organization associated with Audrey Santo provides a "price list," and sold items such as photographs of Audrey and crucifixes which had been in Audrey's room, while also soliciting donations. This activity led to suggestions that the Santo family is marketing Audrey's condition for personal gain.

The Church's position on Audrey's miracles

Despite the vast amount of miracles claimed to have happened in Audrey's house, the Church has yet to form any jurisdiction on the source of the alleged miracles.

Questions for Further Thought:

1. What caused Audrey’s problems in the first place?

2. What is akinetic mutism?

3. What is a victim soul?

4. What are the Stigmata?

5. How did Audrey help people?

6. Identify two ways that Audrey baffled medical science.

7. Controversy has surrounded Audrey’s miracles. Identify two main controversies.

8. What is the Church’s official position in the case of Audrey Santo, miracle worker?