‘Green-Thumb’ Miracles Gave These Monks an Eco-Authority in Medieval Italy New Research Shows
A remarkable cherry twig that defies all odds by sprouting anew, a once-diseased swamp flourishing with abundant life, an ox’s broken leg miraculously healed, and cabbages multiplying effortlessly—these are just a few of the extraordinary yet often overlooked miracles attributed to the Augustinian Order during the medieval era, as revealed by Dr. Krisztina Ilko. Dr. Ilko, a medieval historian from Queen’s College, emphasizes that while tales of bleeding hosts and stigmatizations are well-known, the miracles associated with the Augustinians are more closely tied to agriculture and the beauty of nature. This newfound focus comes at a significant moment, as one











