old dream I had, possibly about upcoming events

Warning, this is a repeat for most of you, because I posted it was one of my first posts on CP. No need for you to re-read it. I've share this dream at the drop of a hat, with anyone who wants to listen to it , so here I go again .

I was about twenty years old (not quite two decades ago . . . whew . . . I feel old writing that). It took a while for the impact of them to sink in, but the dreams affect me to this day. I was a college student, had fallen away from the faith during high school and considered myself an atheist. I converted about four years after this dream. The dreams were not the reason why I became a believer, but were part of it.

Here it is:

It was dusk. I think it was summer because the leaves of the trees were green. I was driving in the country and had the sudden urge to attend Mass. I found a small church with a gravel parking lot and a white, clapboard facade. I enter and am surprised by the grand, gothic nature inside. I kneel and say a few prayers without much thought, then slide back into the pew to watch others straggle in. The music starts. An old priest with a gray beard, wearing purplish/maroon robes with gold trim and a pointy hat enters. He carries a golden staff and proceeds down the aisle. Again, I am surprised—not expecting such a grand-looking priest in such a simple church.

Mass begins, but I am not paying much attention. There are two ledges in the church, with life-sized bronze/copper statues of Mary on the end near the alter, and on the other side is Joseph or maybe Jesus--(not sure). The priest drones on during Mass and a storm outside begins. It gets so fierce I can see the outlines of trees through the stain-glass windows and they are bending in the wind so deeply that the top branches touch the earth. I glance up at the statues of Mary and Jesus and they begin to move, raising their hands up to the heavens. It seems like they are bringing down God's wrath upon us. People begin to cry and scream in panic. The storm rages. The earth begins to shake. The priest is as scared as the rest of us and runs down the aisle. I remember feeling like he has abandoned us. The church begins to split apart. Pieces of it crumble -- crushing people.

I get down on my knees to pray, knowing instinctively that if I can say, "Jesus, Mary, I love you," that somehow that will save me. I try to say it, but the words won't come. Instead a dry, authoritative voice penetrates me; saying, "You cannot say what you do not mean for God knows the truth in every man's heart." I am female, but I knew that He meant me. Death was opening the door. I found myself before God. I did not see Him, but experienced Him. Not in a good way, but in a terrifying, horrible way. I was being judged. My soul was like a crystal, full of honeycomb cells. My sins made my soul dark. I could see my sins (not specific ones, but in a general way) and I tried to make excuses for them. I wanted to explain why I did this or that--sure I could make Him understand. But it was not like in life, where I could manipulate the truth to get out of something or get what I wanted. As I was exposed before God, there were no excuses. I could not defend myself. The truth of who I was spoke for me. I realized the jig was up. My life was over. What was done was done. The last card had been played. The finality of the moment was utterly devastating. I cannot express the terror of knowing that the test was finished. The time for action was over. My path was set in stone. All hope was gone. I didn't scream as I slipped away into blackness, falling into the empty void where there was no God, forever lost in eternal seperation, never to be completed or to know love or joy . . . resigned to my fate, everything around me was utter blackness. But the dream continued.

I woke up covered in dust and debris from the wreckage of the church. I had somehow escaped final judgment! I was alive! But as I dusted myself off, I saw the skeleton of what was once a pretty church. Hands and feet of corpses stuck out of the bricks and mortar. Most people were dead, but a few were milling around in a daze. It seemed like only a minute had passed since I had "died". But the season had changed. It was a spring morning. The sky was all pink and beautiful. Twigs, leaves and wreckage from the storm littered the ground. No one spoke, but we understood one another. The storm was not just in our locale, but worldwide. It seemed like the entire world should have ended, but it didn't. Most people, however, did not survive.

We wandered aimlessly outside--so confused. Why had we not perished with everyone else? Why hadn't God completely destroy the world? Then Jesus came out of the sky in all of His glory. This was the first time I ever saw Jesus as God. He was huge and luminous and full of power. Before this, I pictured Him as a nice, fuzzy, fellow--and kind of wimpy. Light was streaming from his heart and his hands and his feet. He was the mighty, everlasting God . . . I can't express how awesome a sight this was. His glory filled most of the sky. As we were wondering why we were spared, a gigantic rosary appeared, framing the figure of Jesus. I knew then, that somehow the Rosary had saved me--saved the world.

I woke up in a sweat, heart pounding, wondering if it had really happened—it was that real to me! To this day, even though it was a dream, I can say that the judgment therein was the scariest thing that has ever happened to me. You think that I would have changed my evil ways--but for a long time, all I could think about is the terrible judgment where I was sent to Hell. God is forgiving--sure, but there are conditions. He is also about justice. But I recall now, that if only I had truly loved Him, I would have survived. The Rosary, somehow, is playing a part in my salvation--at least I hope it is.

Years later I encountered the picture of the Divine Mercy for the first time and was struck by the similarity of the image of Jesus in my dream. Even today, this dream causes me to pray the Rosary and the Chaplet more than I would otherwise. I haven't changed nearly enough . . . and I know a lot more than I did then, so I'm probably more culpable and have a lot more to answer for :shock: .

Anyway, that my dream. Thanks for reading.

 

Rain, I hadn't read that before...what a dream! it was enough to shake me up and I didn't even experience it! It's coming isn't it?
I had a dream the other night, one of those really real ones. We(not all) had survived a tsunami but a second wall of water was coming. I was gathering everything I could to stay alive as rain gently fell on my little makeshift tent. I had lost everyone but what I found most interesting is that even though I had lost everything, I was aware that I had just exactly what I needed.
It's a wait and see at this point.
Thank you for sharing your dream, it was again a warning light.
Lee

 

Deanna, just curious and making a mad guess, but the old man, did he look like this:

 

".... two ledges in the church, with life-sized bronze/copper statues of Mary on the end near the alter, and on the other side is Joseph or maybe Jesus--(not sure). The priest drones on during Mass and a storm outside begins. It gets so fierce I can see the outlines of trees through the stain-glass windows and they are bending in the wind so deeply that the top branches touch the earth. I glance up at the statues of Mary and Jesus and they begin to move, raising their hands up to the heavens. It seems like they are bringing down God's wrath upon us. People begin to cry and scream in panic. The storm rages....."

Rain, how interesting and baffling your dream is, and encouraging. God loves you and has granted you symbolic and emotional preparation through memorable dreams. It is so odd, or uncanny, that the same two images came to me once in a brief but very powerful dream.

Maybe five years ago I dreamed I was witnessing a type of procession or parade, like Mardi Gras. There were two life sized statues, purest gold, of Jesus and Mary, with the most beautiful expressive faces. They loomed larger and larger filling my vision and then they slowly fell face forward with ponderous, crushing finality. I wasn't crushed. Why? Why wasn't I crushed?

At the time I interpreted it to mean that although I was sincerely religious I didn't really know Mary, or the Lord Jesus, as I should, with intimacy and trust. They were beautiful, awesome and remote. But that is only part of the answer. Deanna, I think your dream has given me the more grave and sobering undercurrent that I've always known was there, just underneath the images of this dream.

 

Padraig, who's picture is that?

 

This gentleman here, Lee:

http://www.charbel.org/

I became interested in him, after his death because of the bright lights round his tomb at nights also his body is incorrupt and he seems from his photos to be madly holy. Also, his rite wear pointy kinda hats as in the dream.

'The expectation that the world would be hearing more of Charbel was soon fulfilled: his grave was immediately surrounded by an "extraordinary brightness", according to a booklet produced by the Monastery about its most famous son. The light only finally faded after 45 days, unlike public interest which continued to wax brightly: pilgrims even tried to steal pieces of his remains, which gave the authorities a reason to open the grave. The body was found floating in mud but was itself completely free from signs of deterioration "as if it had been buried that same day." It was noticed that a "blood-like liquid" exuded from the body's a phenomenon which can still be seen even now. The liquid is caught in a cloth and, according to the Monastery, has over the years been responsible for many cases of healing.

In this century his grave has been opened four times, the last time being in 1955, and each time "it has been noticed that his bleeding body still has its flexibility as if it were alive".'

 

Padraig: I'm not sure if I would recognize the old man in my dream if I saw him again. The resemblance to your picture seems strong though--a sort of frail-looking old man, with a gray beard. The man in my dream, however, was dressed very eloborately and cermoniously. He carried a curved, golden staff. I probably shouldn't call his headgear a "pointy hat" anymore, because it was actually miter. I didn't know what they were called back when I had the dream, so I guess "pointy hat" just kind of comes out . . . even now.

 

Amazing!

Rain,

So much to ponder- your dream is definitely from the Lord. This simple line struck a chord in me:

The Rosary, somehow, is playing a part in my salvation--at least I hope it is.

The Rosary and Our Lady: they make the devil livid. He wants so much to attack Our Lord directly again, while Jesus appoints this humble handmaid to be his warrior servant. JoeJerk tricked the first Eve, but in the New Eve he has met his match. It must annoy him no end to have Christ choose his Mother to do the crushing. Defeat at the hands of a human creature, one who holds the Rosary in her hands; it will be humiliation at its best for satan!

In our time, Mary has marshalled an Army for battle; isn't marvelous, Rain, that she has called you and me, all of us, to join its ranks. Thank you Jesus! Sign me up!

The storm will rage, but victory follows!

Yet, Our Lady knows who is Savior and she in turn only gives praise and glory to her Son!

 

Rain
I remember reading about your dream before on CP and thanks for sharing it again.
I read recently about Mother Theresa's locutions. Our lady told her that she could obtain anything through the rosary. So the rosary
is the weapon of choice in the times we are living in. I think you have had many special dreams. I love to hear about them.
Mary

 

Sorry to bring out this dream again, but reading Garabandal's post and others comments about how we ought to go into the Illumination prepared, makes me want to draw a comparison to the effect of my dream.

I think you're all right in that it's important to be prepared. If my dream was inspired, and I'm not sure it was, but saying it was . . . my reaction to seeing the state of my soul wasn't an immediate conversion. In fact, it had the opposite effect for a while. I didn't like this version of God. I had been taught God was always loving, and to me that meant He was always nice and would never hurt a fly. To experience Him as a Judge, and to know that He had the power of life and death over me, and realize that He rejected me (because I rejected Him), and that He had separated Himself from me, letting me fall into hell, where I'd never have a second chance . . . the feeling of ultimate rejection was something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. But, after the dream, to think that God actually expected me to act a certain way, be a certain way, and that there were eternal horrible consequences if I didn't . . . well, I thought that made God a big cosmic meanie. Not to mention scary. In my pride, I didn't want any part of a being Who would be so harsh.

It sounds awful, I know, but that's kind of how I was thinking after the dream. I didn't believe in God (but wanted to), yet when I finally met Him, He wasn't the kind of God I thought He should be. My pride knows no bounds :roll: . . . me, dictating Who and What God should be. Maybe I'm the only one stupid enough to think along these lines, but I have a feeling I'm not.

I think people will have to come to terms with many things during the illumination, including the True God, and not the one they've invented in their own minds. Plus, their own pride . . . especially their own pride, not to mention their selfishness and the way they're dishonest with themselves about their own sinfulness. People will be shocked, especially protestants , to see how wretched they really are. Many think they're already saved with one foot in heaven already. When they see how wrong they are about themselves, and realize they're not just a few steps away from being saints, and that they actually have one foot in hell, they will be horrified. Many will repent, but others will turn away in their pride . . . like I did . . . wanting to part of a God who "doesn't love unconditionally" in the way they think God ought to love them.

Maybe there will be some like me . . . who turn away initially . . . then slowly do a turn about . . . but I only hope they don't wait too long. Maybe God showed me this dream early, out of His Mercy, because he knows I need more time than the average person to change my ways. It's been a hard road for me. I'm in a rough spot, hope I get over it before the illumination is actually here. Like I said thought, I'm not positive this dream was inspired, so I try not to dwell on it too much. But over the last few years, I can't seem to help it.

:?

Editing later: by "protestants", I'm not meaning specific denomitions. Basically, I'm thinking along the lines of Christians in general, including many Catholics, who pick and choose what they want to believe out of the bible, those who reject hard truths when it doesn't suit them and still insist they love the Lord. Jesus said the way we prove our love for Him is by keeping the commandments. When we deny Church teachings or deny our own sins---we're "protesting" against the Church and the Mystical Body of Christ Himself---are we not? When we reject the authority of the Church, scripture and certain traditions--we're not loving Jesus. We all fall short, but instead of recognizing our shortfalls and seeking forgiveness--many of us fool ourselves into thinking we're doing nothing wrong and that God doesn't care if we let some things slide, which is fanciful thinking because we're accountable down to the last farthing. Jesus said it Himself--

The . . . last . . . farthing.

:shock:

 

I think it was true, Reanna, there is a constant astonishment in meeting God in prayer, He is always so much greater than we are.

Have to rush of to Mass this morning and on to work, I'll post more when I get back.

I'll say a prayer for you . God Bless
Padraig

 

Rain, thank you for sharing your dream. You emphasised a couple of things that really strike a chord:

the feeling of ultimate rejection was something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

and

People will be shocked, especially protestants, to see how wretched they really are. Many think they're already saved with one foot in heaven already. When they see how wrong they are about themselves, and realize they're not just a few steps away from being saints, and that they actually have one foot in hell, they will be horrified.

That's why I think a regular examination of conscience (at least once a week) is essential so that we can best prepare our souls when faced with the prospect of dealing with our sins that we have not repented from.

 

Hi Padraig, thanks for the prayers. Sean, you're wise for doing a regular examinaiton of conscience.

I'd just like to add one thing, despite God seeming mean and scary, I gradually realized He was also Merciful and Love. There was a disconnect in my thinking . . . I didn't understand how the idea of Hell could exist with the idea of a Loving God. But I came to realize that Love is also Justice. And when Jesus appeared in the sky in His Glory, even in the dream, I saw Him sort of like Love, Justice, Power and Mercy all rolled into one. He is to be feared, yet in the end, His Love and Mercy swept away the fear. Hard to describe.

Anyway . . . talk to you later.

 

I think, Deanna that some people believe love is an emotion. However love may express itself sometimes in terms of emotion , but this is not love itself. Love itself is giving and expression of the the will. So the will which is the centre of the soul is where love truly lies. God Himself is love and this love is the Blessed Trinity God gifting Himself to Himself. Father regarding Father, Father regarding Son and the expression of this loving regard being the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of love.

This love is a positive a giving. The opposite is evil is a negative a non giving the very opposite of God

However I believe we have most of us grown up in a culture and a religious culture which refuses to see the great reality of love. That it can be given, as an act of love and that it can also refused, which is also an action of the Will, the decision not to love Love cannot be forced, for if it were forced it would not be love. This great distortion makes it very difficult for modern men and women to come to terms with the evil. For often it implies that evil does not have its own real decision to make, either to choose to love or not to choose to love.It retreats, baffled and confused when confronted by evil and in the end of the day denies the true existence of those who choose the Dark Path, either Stan and the Fallen angels or those destined for hell.

However I do not believe anyone can walk the pilgrim path of prayer for long without facing the existence of evil , for in effect the first enemy we must face and overcome is the evil within ourselves. As the old Chinese missionary prayer goes, 'Lord let me convert the whole world, beginning with myself'.

Thus when Our Lady comes to Earth one of the things she does in places like Fatima and Medugorje is to remind us of the existence of evil and of hell. Thus tearing down a false 'reality' sugar coated and unreal that sees all things in terms of an false emotionally based idea of God as a kind of sugar daddy. In fact grace, though free is not cheap for it was purchased on the Wood of the Cross. God's Mercy and God's Justice are not separate , they are in fact one and the same. But in this sense we are in a kind of way greater than God in this , that we have a choice, either to love or not to love. In this God's hands are tied. We can choose either for heaven or for hell. its entirely our choice. God can and does exhaust Himself in plunging us with oceans of grace to assist us in making the right choice , but it is our choice.
Nor is it simply an individual choice, the World itself must make a choice and in our generation the choice has been and continues to be t turn to great evil.

I think this often confuses people who choose the path of prayer in that a greater understanding of God's love and participation in God's grace must also lead to coming face to face in a confrontaion of our own evil and the evil of the world itself and at the end of the day with the Prince of this Wolrd Satan Himself, in what ever form he may come.

A religion that sees God as a kind of sugar daddy is very,very often seen, but this is false, there is no passage to Light without travelling through the Cross, through the Dark.

I think, Deanna that is what your dream points towards.

 

Can I make a recommendation to the forum,

Read and print what Padraig has just written and reflect upon it
over Christmas as it contains a profund wisdom and insight
that you won't find anywhere else.

Thanks Padraig for that profound sharing:

Garabandal

 

I second that. Brilliant insights about love.

 

I'm always willing to share this dream :shock: . Glad to bump up for you, Kathleen. Be sure to ponder Padraig's last post as well. I just re-read it and I think there's a lot of wisdom to be gleaned from there.

 

Since we're on the subject . . . bump.

My apologies to the old-timers here who are painfully aware that I'll find any excuse to share this dream.

 

Incredible and beautiful dream Rain. May God continue to spare you and your loved ones, along with enlightening you and holding you close to His merciful heart!

 

Oh my gosh Rain that is a beautiful dream. So merciful of God to give you that glimpse. It has encouraged me that I need to start praying the Rosary on my knees instead of in the car on the way to work. I believe we are all being called not just to increase our prayer life and suffering for our own salvation but for everyone else as well. Only after we leave this life will we be able to see all the benefits of it. Thanks again for the great post!