The Third Miracle A Novel

A statue of the Virgin Mary in crying tears of blood. A young girl has been cured of a terrible disease and the word has spread. Thousands of the faithful are suddenly making the pilgrimage to the church of Saint Stainislaus on the hope that their prayers will be answered. Why is this happening? The pastor believes it is because a woman who lived in the convent, Helen Stephenson, is a saint - and that the miracle is God's grace at work. Faced with pressure from the media, his flock and the Vatican itself, Cardinal Cahill appoints as his postulator - a priest whose sole purpose and duty will be to investigate the miracle - Father Frank Moore. Handsome, articulate, and at one time, the Cardinal's golden boy, Frank has sunk into self-imposed exile. He doubts his faith. Lost and hopeless, he sees this appointment as a possible path toward redemption. Fulfilling his duty to interview everyone who ever had contact with Helen Stephenson, Frank meets her daughter, Roxanna, who he learns, hates the church and has never forgiven her mother for leaving her to live in a convent. Frank also discovers that he and Roxanna have more in common than either of them would have expected. Do miracles actually occur? The Third Miracle asks. Or do we create them ourselves, in hopes of fending off the eternal darkness every human being fears.