Two miracles attributed to Father Damien are separated by more than 100 years, and much uncertainty surrounds the first one, the healing in 1895 of a French nun.

The case involved the overnight recovery of Sister Simplicia Hue, who at age 37 lay dying of an intestinal illness thought to be ulcerative colitis. After she began a novena — a series of prayers said over nine consecutive days — to Damien, her illness disappeared. She lived another 32 years, according to various news reports.

In the early 1990s, a report was filed in Belgium about the first miracle attributed to Damien's intercession.

While that much is known about the event, local church officials are unclear about the manner in which the case was brought up and investigated.

"Damien's first miracle is still a little sketchy. The details of how it came about are unclear," said Patrick Downes, a spokes-man for the Honolulu Diocese. "There are questions as to why it languished for a century before it was brought up."

The miracle was approved by Pope John Paul II in 1992, nearly 100 years after it occurred. This led to Damien's beatification three years later.

The canonization process requires that the church recognize two distinct miracles attributed to a candidate for sainthood. Yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI approved Damien's second miracle, a case involving a Honolulu woman who recovered from terminal lung cancer in 1999.

The church follows very strict procedures to determine wheth-er a reported miracle is legitimate, Downes said. He described the process as similar to a court procedure, involving witness testimony and evidence.

Damien's second miracle, like all other approved cases, was examined by physicians in Rome to rule out natural causes. Upon medical approval, it was then approved by theologians, a commission of cardinals and bishops, and finally, the pope.

The canonization process "is a very tough thing to get through," Downes said. "Doctors have nothing to gain from presenting a case for a miracle, so they're looking at it as scientifically as possible."

While Damien's second miracle was subject to strict investigation procedures, his first miracle was not, said Father Chris-topher Keahi of the Sacred Hearts order of Hawai'i.

"I do not believe there was such a rigorous process in place at the time" of the first incident, Keahi said.

It was not until 1983 that Pope John Paul II implemented a procedure to be followed for approving of saints, so that "not every Tom, Dick or Harry can be made a saint," Keahi said.

Nevertheless, Keahi said, he is "sure that the (1895) case was rigorously studied." He is planning to do more research on the incident from public records.

Although information about Damien's first miracle is lacking, Downes said he does not believe that questions will be raised regarding its legitimacy.

"It wouldn't be in anyone's interest to challenge it, since he's already been beatified," he said.