My son told me last night he wants to be a saint. I said he had the power to become one. He said "Oh no Mom, only God can do that!" I explained that in a way he is right but without us making an effort no good choices would likely be made. Together with God, we can.
There is a nice piece in Thomas Merton's book, 'The Seven Storey Mountain'. He records that when he was a young student studying in New York, not long after his conversion one of the students said publically that he wanted to be a saint. The other students laughed at him, thinking this very arrogant and unrealistic. So they went together to their priest/teacher and he told them that to be a saint was the vocation of all Catholics, which of course is what Vatican 2 says. I love the quote from one French writer ,which has always stayed with me, 'The only failure in life is not to have been a saint'. We will none of us get into heaven unless we are saints as nothing that is not holy can stand in the presence of the Holy Fire of God. Either we become saints here or in the fires of Purgatory, so better of course to do it here. I think one of the things that puts Catholics off the idea are some of the lives of the saints, they make it seem too much like mountain climbing, remote and unreachable. But not so. I think any Catholic, for instance who devoutly recieves Holy Communion each day and responds to grace should more nor less become a saint. This is our vocation, this is our destiny , just as it is the destiny of children to become adults. I suspect that there are far, far more hidden saints amongst us than any of us realise. usually it is very hidden but very often people do things that really astonish us and so the light shines forth. I remember reading one time about a mother whose young child was in an automobile accident and a small crowd gathered around the vehicle under which her child was trapped, there were several men present , but, even together they could not raise the automoblie. The mother rushed to the scene and raised the car on her own, single handed. Love gave her wings. I think sometimes the light of love inside people shines suddenly like this, when we least expect it, like a little river running underground but sometimes bursting forth like a little sun. DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH LUMEN GENTIUM SOLEMNLY PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE PAUL VI ON NOVEMBER 21, 1964 CHAPTER V THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS IN THE CHURCH 39. The Church, whose mystery is being set forth by this Sacred Synod, is believed to be indefectibly holy. Indeed Christ, the Son of God, who with the Father and the Spirit is praised as "uniquely holy," (1*) loved the Church as His bride, delivering Himself up for her. He did this that He might sanctify her.(214) He united her to Himself as His own body and brought it to perfection by the gift of the Holy Spirit for God's glory. Therefore in the Church, everyone whether belonging to the hierarchy, or being cared for by it, is called to holiness, according to the saying of the Apostle: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification".(215) However, this holiness of the Church is unceasingly manifested, and must be manifested, in the fruits of grace which the Spirit produces in the faithful; it is expressed in many ways in individuals, who in their walk of life, tend toward the perfection of charity, thus causing the edification of others; in a very special way this (holiness) appears in the practice of the counsels, customarily called "evangelical." This practice of the counsels, under the impulsion of the Holy Spirit, undertaken by many Christians, either privately or in a Church-approved condition or state of life, gives and must give in the world an outstanding witness and example of this same holiness. 40. The Lord Jesus, the divine Teacher and Model of all perfection, preached holiness of life to each and everyone of His disciples of every condition. He Himself stands as the author and consumator of this holiness of life: "Be you therefore perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect".(216)(2*) Indeed He sent the Holy Spirit upon all men that He might move them inwardly to love God with their whole heart and their whole soul, with all their mind and all their strength(217) and that they might love each other as Christ loves them.(218) The followers of Christ are called by God, not because of their works, but according to His own purpose and grace. They are justified in the Lord Jesus, because in the baptism of faith they truly become sons of God and sharers in the divine nature. In this way they are really made holy. Then too, by God's gift, they must hold on to and complete in their lives this holiness they have received. They are warned by the Apostle to live "as becomes saints",(219) and to put on "as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience",(220) and to possess the fruit of the Spirit in holiness.(221) Since truly we all offend in many things (222) we all need God's mercies continually and we all must daily pray: "Forgive us our debts"(223)(3*) Thus it is evident to everyone, that all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity;(4*) by this holiness as such a more human manner of living is promoted in this earthly society. In order that the faithful may reach this perfection, they must use their strength accordingly as they have received it, as a gift from Christ. They must follow in His footsteps and conform themselves to His image seeking the will of the Father in all things. They must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbor. In this way, the holiness of the People of God will grow into an abundant harvest of good, as is admirably shown by the life of so many saints in Church history. 41. The classes and duties of life are many, but holiness is one—that sanctity which is cultivated by all who are moved by the Spirit of God, and who obey the voice of the Father and worship God the Father in spirit and in truth. These people follow the poor Christ, the humble and cross-bearing Christ in order to be worthy of being sharers in His glory. Every person must walk unhesitatingly according to his own personal gifts and duties in the path of living faith, which arouses hope and works through charity. In the first place, the shepherds of Christ's flock must holily and eagerly, humbly and courageously carry out their ministry, in imitation of the eternal high Priest, the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls. They ought to fulfill this duty in such a way that it will be the principal means also of their own sanctification. Those chosen for the fullness of the priesthood are granted the ability of exercising the perfect duty of pastoral charity by the grace of the sacrament of Orders. This perfect duty of pastoral charity (5*) is exercised in every form of episcopal care and service, prayer, sacrifice and preaching. By this same sacramental grace, they are given the courage necessary to lay down their lives for their sheep, and the ability of promoting greater holiness in the Church by their daily example, having become a pattern for their flock.(224) Priests, who resemble bishops to a certain degree in their participation of the sacrament of Orders, form the spiritual crown of the bishops.(6*) They participate in the grace of their office and they should grow daily in their love of God and their neighbor by the exercise of their office through Christ, the eternal and unique Mediator. They should preserve the bond of priestly communion, and they should abound in every spiritual good and thus present to all men a living witness to God.(7*) All this they should do in emulation of those priests who often, down through the course of the centuries, left an outstanding example of the holiness of humble and hidden service. Their praise lives on in the Church of God. By their very office of praying and offering sacrifice for their own people and the entire people of God, they should rise to greater holiness. Keeping in mind what they are doing and imitating what they are handling,(8*) these priests, in their apostolic labors, rather than being ensnared by perils and hardships, should rather rise to greater holiness through these perils and hardships. They should ever nourish and strengthen their action from an abundance of contemplation, doing all this for the comfort of the entire Church of God. All priests, and especially those who are called "diocesan priests," due to the special title of their ordination, should keep continually before their minds the fact that their faithful loyalty toward and their generous cooperation with their bishop is of the greatest value in their growth in holiness. Ministers of lesser rank are also sharers in the mission and grace of the Supreme Priest. In the first place among these ministers are deacons, who, in as much as they are dispensers of Christ's mysteries and servants of the Church,(9*) should keep themselves free from every vice and stand before men as personifications of goodness and friends of God.(225) Clerics, who are called by the Lord and are set aside as His portion in order to prepare themselves for the various ministerial offices under the watchful eye of spiritual shepherds, are bound to bring their hearts and minds into accord with this special election (which is theirs). They will accomplish this by their constancy in prayer, by their burning love, and by their unremitting recollection of whatever is true, just and of good repute. They will accomplish all this for the glory and honor of God. Besides these already named, there are also laymen, chosen of God and called by the bishop. These laymen spend themselves completely in apostolic labors, working the Lord's field with much success.(10*). Furthermore, married couples and Christian parents should follow their own proper path (to holiness) by faithful love. They should sustain one another in grace throughout the entire length of their lives. They should embue their offspring, lovingly welcomed as God's gift, with Christian doctrine and the evangelical virtues. In this manner, they offer all men the example of unwearying and generous love; in this way they build up the brotherhood of charity; in so doing, they stand as the witnesses and cooperators in the fruitfulness of Holy Mother Church; by such lives, they are a sign and a participation in that very love, with which Christ loved His Bride and for which He delivered Himself up for her.(11*) A like example, but one given in a different way, is that offered by widows and single people, who are able to make great contributions toward holiness and apostolic endeavor in the Church. Finally, those who engage in labor—and frequently it is of a heavy nature—should better themselves by their human labors. They should be of aid to their fellow citizens. They should raise all of society, and even creation itself, to a better mode of existence. Indeed, they should imitate by their lively charity, in their joyous hope and by their voluntary sharing of each others' burdens, the very Christ who plied His hands with carpenter's tools and Who in union with His Father, is continually working for the salvation of all men. In this, then, their daily work they should climb to the heights of holiness and apostolic activity. May all those who are weighed down with poverty, infirmity and sickness, as well as those who must bear various hardships or who suffer persecution for justice sake—may they all know they are united with the suffering Christ in a special way for the salvation of the world. The Lord called them blessed in His Gospel and they are those whom "the God of all graces, who has called us unto His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself, after we have suffered a little while, perfect, strengthen and establish".(226) Finally all Christ's faithful, whatever be the conditions, duties and circumstances of their lives—and indeed through all these, will daily increase in holiness, if they receive all things with faith from the hand of their heavenly Father and if they cooperate with the divine will. In this temporal service, they will manifest to all men the love with which God loved the world. 42. "God is love, and he who abides in love, abides in God and God in Him".(227) But, God pours out his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, Who has been given to us;(228) thus the first and most necessary gift is love, by which we love God above all things and our neighbor because of God. Indeed, in order that love, as good seed may grow and bring forth fruit in the soul, each one of the faithful must willingly hear the Word of God and accept His Will, and must complete what God has begun by their own actions with the help of God's grace. These actions consist in the use of the sacraments and in a special way the Eucharist, frequent participation in the sacred action of the Liturgy, application of oneself to prayer, self-abnegation, lively fraternal service and the constant exercise of all the virtues. For charity, as the bond of perfection and the fullness of the law,(229) rules over all the means of attaining holiness and gives life to these same means.(12*) It is charity which guides us to our final end. It is the love of God and the love of one's neighbor which points out the true disciple of Christ. Since Jesus, the Son of God, manifested His charity by laying down His life for us, so too no one has greater love than he who lays down his life for Christ and His brothers.(230) From the earliest times, then, some Christians have been called upon—and some will always be called upon—to give the supreme testimony of this love to all men, but especially to persecutors. The Church, then, considers martyrdom as an exceptional gift and as the fullest proof of love. By martyrdom a disciple is transformed into an image of his Master by freely accepting death for the salvation of the world—as well as his conformity to Christ in the shedding of his blood. Though few are presented such an opportunity, nevertheless all must be prepared to confess Christ before men. They must be prepared to make this profession of faith even in the midst of persecutions, which will never be lacking to the Church, in following the way of the cross. Likewise, the holiness of the Church is fostered in a special way by the observance of the counsels proposed in the Gospel by Our Lord to His disciples.(13*) An eminent position among these is held by virginity or the celibate state.(231) This is a precious gift of divine grace given by the Father to certain souls,(232) whereby they may devote themselves to God alone the more easily, due to an undivided heart. (14*) This perfect continency, out of desire for the kingdom of heaven, has always been held in particular honor in the Church. The reason for this was and is that perfect continency for the love of God is an incentive to charity, and is certainly a particular source of spiritual fecundity in the world. The Church continually keeps before it the warning of the Apostle which moved the faithful to charity, exhorting them to experience personally what Christ Jesus had known within Himself. This was the same Christ Jesus, who "emptied Himself, taking the nature of a slave . . . becoming obedient to death",(233) and because of us "being rich, he became poor".(234) Because the disciples must always offer an imitation of and a testimony to the charity and humility of Christ, Mother Church rejoices at finding within her bosom men and women who very closely follow their Saviour who debased Himself to our comprehension. There are some who, in their freedom as sons of God, renounce their own wills and take upon themselves the state of poverty. Still further, some become subject of their own accord to another man, in the matter of perfection for love of God. This is beyond the measure of the commandments, but is done in order to become more fully like the obedient Christ.(15*) Therefore, all the faithful of Christ are invited to strive for the holiness and perfection of their own proper state. Indeed they have an obligation to so strive. Let all then have care that they guide aright their own deepest sentiments of soul. Let neither the use of the things of this world nor attachment to riches, which is against the spirit of evangelical poverty, hinder them in their quest for perfect love. Let them heed the admonition of the Apostle to those who use this world; let them not come to terms with this world; for this world, as we see it, is passing away.(235)(16*)
The strangest and most wonderful sighting of an angel I ever had was many years ago when I was working in London in England. I was falling asleep when I found myself in a very dark place like a night sky without stars. I felt a very large and powerful presence approach, darker even than the darkness around me and full of malice and hate. I knew it was the devil. He did not say anything , but I knew he intended to kill me. I felt as though I had been electrocuted but it was much worse than that, it was though every atom of my being was being broken to pieces at the one time, as though my soul itself was being destroyed. But it ended very quickly for I saw a white light approach and it seemed to gesture and the pain ceased at once. Then I heard a very low gravelly voice address the angel. 'Why do you bother with these cattle?' But as the darkness said the 'cattle', I knew that the devil was referring to not only me but all mankind and it was said in words of total loathing and that he despised us as being from a totally lower order of being. But the angel simply gestured and the devil was gone at once. Then I at once woke up in a bit of a state. I did not see the angel as a person, simply as a ball of light and the devil I only saw as a much deeper darkness. Thoughts on angels: Angels are not along like people in several striking ways. People (at least mortals like us on Earth} are constantly wavering between choosing good and evil (or at least shades of gray} Not so with the angels. They have chosen God and this choice is a total choice. There are no ifs or buts or maybes with angels. So to see them is to see them as being like a planet circling the sun. They are constantly in the presense of God and it is easy to see this by their attitude. For no matter their buisness their main, total buisness is God and praising God. All else springs from this. The medievals often pictured the angels as singing or playing musical instruments and we have lost this viewpoint. But I believe the medievals were much closer to the truth than we are. Angels love to praise God, they never stop doing this and so great is their lostness in God and their need to praise Him that they do with their whole being and the only way they can totally express this is in music and song. It is as though God had given angels an extra facility to do this and so they sing, but not as we do, simply with their mouths, but with their whole beings. To hear angels sing, a group of angels sing is very beautiful. I cannot imagine what it must be like to hear them in heaven ,were millions of them sing in choirs but it must be ,well....... ]
The Souls in Purgatory/Ghosts. When I was about eight year old we moved into a big old house in the North of the City.We were a big family (eventually ten kids) and needed lots of room. There were five bedrooms in this terraced house which was built in 1888 (I know this because it was set up in a brick frame at the top of our row of houses}. At the very top and back of the house was a fairly small bedroom, which is the one I want to write about. The previous occupant of the house was a very old lady whose name I forget but I'll call her Mrs Nightingale. It must have been very lonely for her living in such a large house on her own and not much work had been done on it for very,many years, in fact little since it had been built. For instance the servants pantry was still in place with the old wooden shelves for the pots and pans, the old board for the servants bells was still there and the pulls for the bells in the many rooms. Very old wall paper put up goodness knows when was still on the walls, but it was a wonderful old house, full of nooks and cranies. At one time the area had been for the 'Grand folk' of Belfast and my father,checking up the old records noticed that a High Sheriff of the city had lived in the house at one time. When we moved in we still received some mail for Mr.s Nightingale (who had died in the house) and so my mother received a good impression of the old lady for there were lots of Catholic magazines and requests from the missions for more money and so on. So it seemed she had been a great giver to Catholic charities. Houses in the street
My mother always assumed, for some reason that Mrs Nightingale had lived in the small room at the top, back of the house for some reason. It seems unlikely for climbing up to it would have involved climbing several flights of stairs and was far from the kitchen and downstairs rooms. Because there was so many of us kids there was a queque to claim this room as our very own and one after an other each of us moved in . Some stayed one night, one two but I think no one lasted more than a week. Every one had a tale to tell, that the room was cold, that they didn't feel at home there , that they had bad dreams... Once, I recall my mother made a determined effort to fit someone in there and had the place beautifully decorated, with a whole new bedroom suite so it was like the room in a little dolls house for my sister Grannia. Grannia succumbed, like all the rest and swiftly exited to once again share a room with her sisters. I don't think she could have done this lightly as having such a beautiful room of her own would have been a very big draw for her at the time. I tried it myself, with little encouragement from my mother , who had pretty well given up on the idea by then. I think I lasted half an hour. It was the most peculiar place. Even if you went into it on a warm summers day you could feel the cold in it. Not a cold as usual but as if the room were drawing the life and light and love out of you,as if someone else were stuck there and did not appreciate company (in fact I think that this was what it was}. My parents changed it over to a storeroom for all our rubbish and people never really went in their much and when they did they never stayed long and got out as quick as they could. There was no trouble anywhere else in the house just there and we never thought much else of it. But years later after my mother died I had bought the house again and found the room as forbidingly unwelcoming as ever and mentioned this to a next door neighbour Mrs Mooney who had lived there long before we arrived and she told me she was not surprised. She had known Mrs Nightingale and she said she was a terrible hard women and was known all round the street as someone to avoid for being nasty.
A similiar , but much, much more serious thing happened to me years later when I was eleven years old. My uncles brother was a Passionist priests, a very holy priest and since I had wanted to be a priest since I was about five years old it was arranged that I should travel to England with a group of others to stay in a very beautiful Passionist House there called Ministeracres in the North of England. Ministeracres It was, by the way , there that I met my very first saint, an old Passionist priest who had a very great reputation for holiness, but whose name, sadly I forget. A really wonderful old man, you could just drink in the peace and joy of being near him. Anyhow , when there they started ,somehow, to tell stories of excorcisms , different Passionist priests had carried out, some of which would make you hair turn white {the Passionists have a great reputation for doing excorcisms, especially in Italy, it seems to be one of that congregations charisms}.
Padraig, This is a very interesting story about the old house, the odd room and Mrs. Nightengale. Did you ever get to the bottom of it? Perhaps the room had been that way even before Mrs. Nightengale moved into the house? Did you have the house blessed by a priest once you purchased it years later? I lived in a haunted apartment once while in College. It was my senior year and I had two room mates. Since I went to college in Gettysburg, PA, ghosts and reports of hauntings were not uncommon on campus and elsewhere around the town and the battlefield. Gettysburg, if you recall, was the scene of a horrific 3 day battle during the American Civil War in 1863. Anyway, me and my room mate Kiril would experience strange things while in the apartment either while alone or together. We heard footsteps in the living room at night as if someone was slowly pacing the room. Kiril's bedroom was opposite mine and separated by a wall. As the insulation within the walls was not very good, I could hear very clearly when he entered or exited his room. We were both awakened by the sounds of the footsteps on a couple of occasions. It was kind of funny that we would both rush into the living room when we heard the footsteps in an attempt to see a ghost or something (never did). Other experiences included items falling off the walls (the cover to the door bell ringer) and windows slamming shut (three in a row in short succession from one another in one instance). I experienced the distinct impression of someone standing over and behind me while on the telephone one night (that was unnerving). The curious thing was that our third room mate, Matthew, never experienced anything! His room was upstairs from ours, so he was somewhat separate. In retrospect, most of the occurances with the ghost happened when he was not around. After a while, the spooky happenings subsided and happened rarely. It was all very strange.
Padraig, As you know my house had many incidents but not in recent times. I think you removed my last ghostly visitor when you visited me 2 years ago now. I have had many Masses said in my house so I think this helped these poor souls to move on. I have since discovered that the room you stayed in was originally part of a soup kitchen in the famine years so I guess that could cause some negative vibes. If I remember correctly you left at about 4.30 in the morning so I hope it wasent a scary experience that sent you back to Belfast so quickly!!! Mary
No, Thomas I never did really get to the bottom of it. To be honest I am a little suspicious of folks who appear to have an explanation of all these things, for I suspect a lot of the answers will have to wait until we get to heaven. However we, as Catholics are ,I believe are in a much, much better position than most to understand and help with such phenomena in that we believe firstly in a life after death (which of course all Christians do) but the Doctrine of Purgatory..a way station on the way of heaven...and so are more open to the belief that souls and demons may be realities. However not all Catholics do believe in ghosts or spirits materialising, my mother, for instance, though a very devout Catholic never did, though the house she lived in for most of her life had a superb example of one. This is a bit like your room mate, Matthew, for if you close your heart to such things ..or anything ..well you are inclined to shut them out. I used to quote to my mother from scripture about such things, for instance after the death of Jesus we read that, 'The dead arose and appeared to many'; Matthew 27:52 The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ...and if these spirits were not ghosts, than what were they? :shock: Also, of course the story of the Witch of Endor who was a evil clairyvoyant: 1 Samuel 28:3-25 (English Standard Version) 3Now(A) Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him(B) in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put(C) the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. 4The Philistines assembled and came and encamped(D) at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped(E) at Gilboa. 5When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6And when Saul inquired of the LORD,(F) the LORD did not answer him, either(G) by dreams, or(H) by Urim, or by prophets. 7Then Saul said to his servants,(I) "Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "Behold, there is a medium at(J) En-dor." 8So Saul(K) disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said,(L) "Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you." 9The woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done,(M) how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?" 10But Saul swore to her by the LORD,(N) "As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing." 11Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel for me." 12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul." 13The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth." 14He said to her, "What is his appearance?" And she said, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped(O) in a robe." And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage. 15Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and(P) God has turned away from me and(Q) answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do." 16And Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? 17The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me, for(R) the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18(S) Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. 19Moreover, the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you(T) and your sons shall be with me. The LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines." 20Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. 21And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, "Behold, your servant has obeyed you.(U) I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. 22Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way." 23He refused and said, "I will not eat." But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. 24Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, 25and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night. It must be very, very hard for people who are unbelievers to encounter such things..even for an Evangelical Christian..for how can such folks fit such things into their philosophy or religious beliefs? It can, in fact horriffy them and they have no inner protection. Whereas, we,as Catholics, have the perfect philosophic and theological slots to place such things and weapons and aids,if needed, such as sacramentals and the Mass and prayer I think too that while everyone has The Sight..the ability to see the other side to some degree or another in the case of many, many folks in our Western Societies it has atrophied to an extent where it is virtually non existant because ,really, we lead very fast very materialistic lives and our educational system and culture does not help matters. For instance the next time you are in a supermarket notice this. I am a very quiet walker and sometimes when I walk up behind people they kin of jump up in shock when they notice me there. However notice as you get near people some notice you as you get there , no matter how quiet you are and turn round and see you. others however never ,ever do, you would have to hit them on the head with something heavy before they discovered you. This I think, is, 'The Sight' in every day practise. Another example I could quote is in Church. Some Churches are round and you cannot help looking at others, now some folks will notice you very,very quickly if you even glance at them, others you could stare at till the end of the world and they would never guess. this again is , 'The SIght', in practise( which is on reason I do not like round Churches they are so distracting..you are always picking up input form others where our attention should be so firmly fixed on God}. That anyway is my theory, for what it is worth. But, 'The Sight' works in numerous other ways in the everyday, for instance being able to feel what folks are really thinking and feeling, no matter how hard they try to disemble, strong immediate feelings about people and places, being able to discern an aura around people and so on....As I say we all have, 'The Sight' but its like all senses, if you don't use it , you loose it. The more you use it the stronger it gets. But some folks seem to be just born with it to a really extraordinary degree. However, generally speaking, I would expect in folks who pray a lot for, 'The Sight' to grow and strengthen. This isn't always so, but , generally speaking, I would expect this. I suppose my parents must have had our house blessed, several times. However I wonder if the priest ever climbed all the way up to that top room? Also some spirits/demons manifest so strongly that it takes more than Holy Water or even Mass to shift them. Jesus mentioned this in the cases of possession where the disciples could not cure some folks who were possessed: “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:21)
Mary, I am off to Mass, I will answer your post and finish off answering Thomas's later, God willing.
I think the vast majority of such phenomena are caused by souls from Purgatory, simply seeking prayer. But occasionally I believe they are caused by demons. Sometimes, though I suspect..and this is only my theory by souls who have gone to hell. Just as souls from purgatory are allowed to ask for prayers so they can get to heaven, I suspect, sometimes souls from hell are allowed a comeback so that they can complete their damnation and earn their proper place in Hell by continuing the evil they carried out on Earth. This is unusual, but I think it happens, especially if the soul has been really wicked and perhaps involved in Satanism. I know a lot of folks would disagree with this and perhaps I am wrong, but in the case of some phenomena it seems to be the only way to read things. Of course its possible demons may mimic souls supposedly damned , like say , Judas, but then why would they bother? There was an astonishing case in Belfast a couple of decades ago about which a book was written called , 'Number 91' about a house that was haunted in the West of the City. The ghost in this case appeared to be a lady whose ghostly actions were truly abominable. She drove an entire poor family out into the street. In one case when the priest blessed the front door with Holy Water it actually steamed off in front of a crowd of onlookers. Bu that is just my opinion and I know most would differ. I am amazed, I have found a link to this book; it is very rare and hard to get: http://openlibrary.org/b/OL15353414M/Number_91
Mary, I often think about the marvellous visit to your beautiful home. I believe the hand of God is placed upon us ,even before we are born placing us on the path, the vocations we are to walk (though its up to us of course to choose to walk them). Your path is very clearly to aid the Holy Souls in Purgatory ( I have a friend , Jim, who walks the same path} and which is a wonderful one. I saw so clearly in your home how the Holy Souls were drawn there, from all over to seek the aid of prayer. The soul which woke me up early in the morning ( and which had been causing a bit of a commotion round your house) did not scare me did not frighten me, I just felt sorry for him as he had been in the deepest part of Purgatory for several centuries, the poor man. He had been in life a minor noble, I suppose what they later called a 'Squire' and a knight. His mother had been a devout Catholic all her life even under the persecution of Queen Elizabeth the first and prayed much for her son and this is what saved him from going to hell (for he very much earned going there). He was a very abrupt and bad tempered man and had left England to make his fortune in Ireland through the Elizabethan Plantation (then ongoing} and which was to persecute the Native Irish Catholics , which he did with vim and vigour. He was killed at a river crossing not far from your home by rebellious Irish natives ( a fate which I can't help thinking he well earned}.. As far as getting rid of him is concerned you did that yourself with your faith, prayers and Masses. Once he woke me up asking for help it was difficult to get back to sleep as it gave me a bit of Spiritual jolt and I was praying about him and for him. I am so glad he is in heaven now after so many centuries. It reminds me how many , many souls would never see the light of heaven without the prayers of our Mothers!1 How much parents should pray for their children!! This is one of their main spiritual duties. To aid their children materially is a duty but it is by far the greater duty to aid them with prayers! How full hell would be if parents did not do so!! How many souls have been snatched form the jaws of Satan by the prayers of mothers. This all reminds me to renew my own Devotion to the Holy Souls and to pray for them. De Profundis I place my trust in the Lord, I am certain of His word. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord hear my voice! O let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleading. If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive? But with you is found forgiveness: For this I revere you. My soul is waiting for the Lord more than a watchman for daybreak. Let the watchman count on daybreak and Israel on the Lord. Israel indeed will he redeem from all its iniquity. Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Thanks padraig. This reminds me to renew my prayers for the poor souls also how powerful are the prayers of a mother. At the time of this souls request for prayer you told me that he was to be released on the feast of Our lady of Mount Carmel. I kept begging Our lady to get him into Heaven for Christmas and I believe he was released on Christmas Eve. After I returned from Christmas Eve mass my daughter went to bed and woke up some time later and thought she heard angels singing so I took this as a sign that he had aat last arrived home for Christmas. Mary
I think that would be right, Mary. Maria Simma in her really wonderful book, ''Get us out of here' ', points out that most souls are released on Christmas Day, when Our Blessed Lady visits purgatory: Wonderful Interview here: Cf http://www.michaeljournal.org/simma.htm To get any soul out of purgatory is a really big deal, but to get one out of the very depths is marvellous. I was a little disappointed when I thought that that he didn't leave a little calling card for you when he went to heaven. But I am really happy now that he did. If you ever really need a favour, turn to this soul, he will always help out, the holy souls remember to be grateful, even if many others here on Earth don't.
It's funny Padraig, I've just found a few amazing websites today and michaeljournal is one of them!! Siobhan
I think sometimes the Holy Spirit helps us on our internet surfing. There is a poor lady at work, Siobhain, whom everyone has taken a turn against, especially two ladies who never stop talking ill of her. Now everyone talks about her in a very uncharitable way. I try not to say ill of her but find it like trying to keep a foothold on a muddy slippery slope and I keep falling down it. But I see on Michael's site an article by Saint Alphonsus Ligouri on charity to our neighbours, which I will have to read and take to heart. As I remember this article is very famous: http://www.michaeljournal.org/loveneighbour.asp As , I think St James says, how can we say we love the God we cannot see if we cannot love the sisters and brothers we can? 1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. There is a very,very holy Passionist lay brother I once knew who was very well known for never saying a bad word about anyone. Myself and others used to try and test the poor man, when we were young by saying bad things about people and seeing if he would take the bait. Well he never, ever did!! Its funny how gossip is such a bog and drags me in. Just a little note to let you know I am away in my caravan tomorrow and will be gone a few days.
Hi Padraig, I just notice your comment there about the calling card left by the holy soul at our house and if we need favours to request his assistance. That night in Christmas Eve he did leave a great favour. It's just that I benefited and not the one who did all the work!! I recall that normally on Christmas Eve I would go to the pub along with my sister and whatever friends are around but this particular night I don't think I did. I had a feeling that I should really have a quiet night and that it was a more appropriate way to celebrate the birth of Christ. I went to bed that night and had a most vivid dream. I was driving my car and I was not myself at all (or perhaps I was myself depending on what way you look at it). I was swerving all over the road and I was totally affected - almost writhing. I pulled into a car park and by some miracle did not hit any other cars. Two friends of mine were in the car park and were very worried about me. One of them was concerned but did not get into the car while the other put me in the passenger and decided to drive himself. I looked down at myself and saw that I was disgusting. It was like my skin was encrusted and scaled and hideous. I had a large lump on my upper back which had cracks in it and from which pus was flowing. Also my hands were deformed. My fingers were bent and twisted and scaled and from some extra stubs of fingers were growing. I could see that these extra fingers had a blood supply and bone in them but I knew that if I cut off the blood supply they would fall off. Basically I wasn't looking so good! As I was noticing this my friend was holding my hand and I understood that if they were not there in my dream with me I would be unable to bear the pain of what I was seeing. I woke up and knew instantly that this was a dream of significance and I could still feel my friend holding my hand. After this I felt a great peace settle on me and I really felt I was in the presence of Our Lady - in a very tangible way I had not experienced in a very long time. I then 'heard' (but not so much with my ears) angels rejoicing and singing and I knew there was a big celebration happening around me. I told Mam about this the next day but I did not connect the event to the Holy Soul. I think I was shown the state of my soul - which really was not pretty. The bone in my extra fingers I think was representing that the place my sins come from in me - my weaknesses and tendencies - is very well formed. I have developed habits that have become deeply ingrained and are destroying my soul. Also though, my soul could be restored to some of its former beauty if I cut off the blood supply to these habits, which I think television has a lot to do with and also needing the approval of my peers by going to the pub and drinking too much. You'd think that I'd have reformed myself straight away of course after seeing I was truly hideous (I cannot emphasis enough how disgusting I was) and I did reform - for a while. I fell back into my old habits and have recently woken up. I am forever falling asleep and that's just a fact and not false modesty. It is so frustrating to keep returning to old habits and even now I wonder how long it will be before I fall asleep again! Anyway, that's my Christmas Eve story and I guess I have the Holy Soul to thank for it. It must have been his celebration that I was 'listening' to so to speak.
Hi, I cannot get to Deanna's Dream from the link you posted earlier in this thread. It takes me to a different front page with a young girl on it and from there I cannot find anything about Deanna. I am in the US if that is somehow the reason, and Kathleen, I am from Freeport IL which is 70 miles straight south of Madison WI. A smaller town for sure, but nothing much better in terms of what you/we long for...probably worse in fact. If someone could repost a working link to Deanna's dream, or post a copy of it, I would love to read it. Thanks!
Small World MomsCalling! I'm actually living in Il now also. Madison is my childhood home but since I've been married, I've come from behind the "Chedder Curtain" (sorry folks- its a Wisconsin/Illinois joke) Stop in sometime. We are a good rest stop for those heading south- Bloomington/Normal- which is sort of central to a lot of interstates and highways. I've enjoyed reading your posts. God Bless, Kath
Hi Kathleen, I go through Bloomington often, on my way to visit my daughter in Carbondale! Do you go to the Medjugorje conference At Notre Dame? We will be there in a couple of weeks (May 21-23). If you don't know of it, look here: http://www.queenofpeaceministries.com/queenofpeace/ Ivanka will be a speaker there this year! It will be a great conference. Our first year, Fr. Petar was there and my husband and I were even blessed by him! If you have never been to this conference and are a fan of Notre Dame, it is really neat because you get to stay in a dorm room on campus if you wish. That's how I got my husband to go the first time (a football fan), and it was then his official introduction to the whole Medjugorje experience...then our Lady took over and called him too and we go now to the conference every year and went together to Medjugorie on Mar. 15. Our lady works in whatever ways she needs to get through to us!
