www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Isn't this a miracle? Roman Catholic Girl talks to wild Elephants

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24572894

Hello,

I'm just curious to know, if the scientists in this story have said that Elephants cannot understand human language, isn't it a miracle then that this girl prays and is understood by them?

Thanks
Thanos

I don't think there is anything miraculous about it. Animals can learn limited amounts of human language-- just look at most any dog. Further animals can sense more easily many aspects of humans that we humans have trouble sensing-- vis. your dog may growl at someone who wants to harm you even though his ill will isn't apparent to you. This also affects the behavior of animals-- a dog, for instance will attack someone who displays fear, likewise a goat or bull will be influenced.

So if the girl understands the elephants, their behaviors, etc. then part of it is if she has confidence around them they will act calmer towards her than most others who are afraid.

Also, for cattle at least, there are aspects to herding-- if you approach a cow from one angle, she will turn, from another she will walk forward, etc. There is probably something similar for elephants that she and her family use to direct them where to walk.

There was a story recently--possibly posted on this forum--about a Christian girl in Africa who had fled from Moslem terrorists and found refuge amid a pride of lions. Or maybe it was wild dogs...

Thanos,

In India it is quite common to find certain castes (tribes) who are knowledgeable about elephant herding. This girl seems to have grown up around them. You could say it's a miracle in the sense that she wasn't formally trained, and the elephants didn't attack.

I can't believe no one finds this a miracle.

I think it could have been miraculous in that the girl is Christian and actually PRAYED before her encounter. In the tradition of St. Seraphim of Sarov, St. Francis and countless other saints, the blessed creatures of God may have sensed the love of the Creator in her words and thus, in a miraculous way, heard her, understood her and listened to her.

Miraculous it is indeed. Monks on Mt. Athos are known to have spoken to snakes and other countless dangerous creatures, commanding them, and being heeded.

When my husband was visiting Mt. Athos a few years back, he said that one night, sitting outside a monastery with the Elder of the monastery and some other men, jackals or some sort of animals like that, were howling incessantly. The Elder got annoyed at one moment, and yelled out to them: "that is enough now!!"... and then there was instant silence of the animals

..(or could they not have been animals, but something more sinister howling?!?).

When I moved into this house a couple of decades ago, my neighbors had a pit bull, which would attempt to leap over the fence at me when I took out the trash.

Over time, I growled it down. It would actually back down and stop growling at me when I growled.

Of course, it was out of its league. Silly pit pull thinking it was a match for a las vegas lawyer . . .

hawk

Elephants talk back--that's a miracle.