In this absorbing book, Michael Goodich explores the changing perception of the miracle in medieval Western society. He employs a wealth of primary sources, including canonization dossiers, hagiographical texts, theological treatises and sermons, to examine the Christian church's desire to create a sounder legal definition of the miracle.

Michael E. Goodich was formerly Professor of Medieval History at the University of Haifa, Israel.

Contents: Appreciating Michael Goodich, Gary Dickinson; Preface; Introduction; Signa data infidelibus non fidelibus: the theology of miracle; The miracle in contemporary sermons; 'Popular' voices of doubt; Theory and public policy: canonization records; Canonization and the hagiographical text; Vidi in somnium: the uses of dream and vision in the miracle; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.