Picadillo, I am very sorry for your loss and will pray for your mother's soul and for you and your family. I also lost my Mom years ago in the week leading up to Christmas, and now it is an even more special time, although much harder at first. So I will pray for our Lord to comfort you and your family. God bless.
Jackie, the exact same thing happened to me upon my mother's death. In fact, it was the cause of moving me from Doubting Thomas (I was aptly named) status to a true believer. My mom died on Dec. 21st and she hadn't hadn't been conscious or had her eyes open for weeks due to the heavy morphine drip they had her on to ease the pain of the cancer that was throughout her body. We had her at home, in her bed, with hospice taking care of her. I'd sit in her room reading for hours and hours each day. She hadn't moved or opened her eyes in weeks. But when it was time, the nurse came running to grab my father and me as"it was time". I sat next to her, my dad on the other side of the bed, for a long time as her breathing labored. But then my mom slowly opened her eyes and I had the chance to say goodbye but she wouldn't look at me, so I jumped on the bed and put my face right in front of hers to say goodbye but she was looking clear as day through me and upwards into and past the ceiling and she smiled knowingly and wryly her Irish smile with her eyes clear as day, she was seeing someone, something, and I could tell right then she was seeing the other side. In fact I turned and looked up to see what she was looking at. When no one else was around during those days I sat with her, I'd lift one of her eyelids back to make sure she was still there and see if I could get her to talk to me, but her eyes were completely glazed over in a morphine haze, she wasn't really there. But when she went, her eyes were clear as day and she saw something, something beautiful, something real, something she also doubted in her life, but that wry Irish smile and those eyes showed me it was true. Now my name is just Thomas, no more doubting.
Heidi and all, A heartfelt thank you for your most important prayers during this trying time. I believe the last rites are to get you in a s state of grace. You still have to be purified in purgatory for the effects of your sins. This special blessing is a plenary indulgence and removes the necessity of purification in purgatory. (2) The Apostolic Blessing in danger of death, which may be given to the dying by a priest in the name of the Pope. The formularies (there are two in the post 1970 liturgical books) are: Quote: Through the holy mysteries of our redemption, may almighty God release you from all punishments in this life and in the life to come. May he open to you the gates of paradise and welcome you to everlasting joy.. Quote: By the authority which the Apostolic See has given me, I grant you a full pardon and the remission of all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. Both these blessings, (1) and (2), are indulgenced with a plenary indulgence.
I wonder if I am wrong in this but don't all or most Catholics when they enter a Church feel the heat of love all around them? It is a bit like being picked up and hugged. The same goes for Christmas a Spring of Joy constantly welling in the heart and at Easter a feelig of light, of all things being made new. These are mystical experiences, very deep mystical experiences. I was just wondering if everyone else felt the same? If so we all, as I suspect fellow mystics.
Padraig asked...I was just wondering if everyone else felt the same? Not really Padraig, I can experience spiritual consolation when leaving a Church, but even that is rear. But thats just me I suppose, Am home from midnight Mass and must say, it is special.
It must be nice to fill the Love of God so often. I oft feel nothing at Mass. Austerity, dryness and coldness is my lot. I'm OK with that most times. I'm aware that God is working on me and I trust He knows what He is doing. It is none the less a difficult road but I know in my minds eye that this prickly road is one picked out especially for me. As such...Gods will be done.
Thank you so much both of you for sharing this, the forum is a great place for sharing things like this. Well then I am still curious, if you enter a Catholic Church does it feel like, say a cinema or a hotel? DO you get the same feeling? Also if you enter somewhere that is evil or meet someone who is evil do you not feel it?
Many times when I enter a Church I feel just like I'm going into a classroom or something similar. I have to make a mental decision to alert my heart of Gods presence. I have learned to be careful that often times a feeling of "evil" or "dread" is a interior call that just such a person needs us to pray for their conversion. I know satanist and unbelievers and have been under severe satanic attacks from their ploys. Mary our Mother has pulled my butt from the fire more than once on numerous occasions. Some of the strongest negative spirits I've dealt with is when it was a "religious soul". Wow...talk about diabolical disorientation!
I was very touched by your post , Tim, you remind me of the words of Jesus to St (doubting) Thomas: John 20:24-30 Jesus Appears to Thomas 24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
My own experience of mystical 'Light' was basically when I was young I experienced certain things. Then about 19 I lost my faith and they went with it. Then when I was 26 I met Our Lady regained my faith and began to pray as she taught me. Then I went into the Dark night for about 24 years and the mystical lights went again. Now the last few years they are back with huge strength. So it has kinda been light on, light off and light back on again. I would say myself that when we do have mystical lights it is to help others, it is a gift for others. Having said that I have to hold my hand up and be honest and say I tremendously enjoy them, its kinda like having a ring side seat (so to speak to heaven). I have always been just fascinated with such stuff and to have them myself...well its like Christmas. Is it better to have them or not to have them? Well I would say take it as Jesus gives it. If He wants you to have them...well good. If He doesn't well good too. St John of the Cross a Doctor of the Church always warned about getting too carried away with them, which is so true. But I have studied and experienced them most of my life so for those who are interested and more importantly find them profitable in your own spiritual journey read away. Enjoy. Profit.
I have never had a mystical experience. Everytime I go to church I have an awesome experience. Most of the times I tear up especially during songs. Entering any church with the real presence is humbling and very spiritual. Best place to ever be in.
I would say that you are describing a deep mystical set of experiences Paul. I suppose it would be very similiar experience to that of people to when Jesus was alive. You are walking down the road you meet this guy. Even to look at Him makes you choke up, then He speaks and you are overwhelmed and are never the same again. I would say this is deeply mystical. A bit like the story of the woman at the well spoken about on the forum earlier. John 4 Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman 4 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
I too tear up when songs are sung in my church. They as so hollow and secular that I cry inside my soul every time they are played.... sing to the mountains...... sing in a new church..... blaa blaaa blaa. Bring back the richness of the Marian songs and my heart will then tear for joy!!!!
I will pray, picadillo. May Our Lady bring graces of reassuring comfort to your heart as well! Safe in the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart!
