I turn firstly to that which I consider the prime way we Catholics , I suspect become ware of the miraculous operating amongst us and that is..a word I love..the, 'Sensum Fidelium', on which I see our Holy Father Francis spoke on recently in very traditional fashion. http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/new...n-majority-opinion-francis-tells-theologians/ “By the gift of the Holy Spirit, the members of the Church possess the ‘sense of the faith’,” he said. “It is a question of a kind of ‘spiritual instinct’, which permits us to ‘think with the Church’ and discern what is consistent with the apostolic faith and the spirit of the Gospel.” The Pope said the Magisterium, the Church’s teaching authority, has the “duty to pay attention to what the Spirit tells the church through authentic manifestations of the ‘sense of the faithful’.” But he told the theologians this sense “must not be confused with the sociological reality of majority opinion. That is something else. It is therefore important, and it is your task, to elaborate the criteria that permit discernment of authentic expressions of the ‘sense of the faithful.’” Citing his predecessor, Benedict XVI, Pope Francis said theologians “must always listen to the faith as lived by the humble and little ones, to whom it has pleased the father to reveal what he has hidden from the learned and the wise.” Joking that he was not trying to give “publicity to the Jesuits”, the Pope recalled that even his order’s founder, St Ignatius Loyola, used to teach the catechism to children.
During the funaral of Pope John Paul 2 we saw this in action I believe when at the funeral mourners shouted out 'Santo subito', calling for Pope John Paul to made a saint quickly or at once. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that: Christ . . . fulfills this prophetic office, not only by the hierarchy . . . but also by the laity. He accordingly both establishes them as witnesses and provides them with the sense of the faith [sensus fidei] and the grace of the word.[2] In his letter to the 1998 Inquisition Symposium, Pope John Paul II suggested that sensus fidei may also be used in the other direction, i.e. to reflect on the past actions of the Magisterium. He stated that: One must appeal to the “sensus fidei” to find the criteria for a just judgment on the past of the life of the Church.[3] The pontiff then referred to the freedoms provided in the context of Dignitatis Humanae, stating that: “The truth cannot impose itself except by virtue of its own truth, as it wins over the mind with both gentleness and power.” View attachment 1634 We often see this in action too at the funerals of other saints as well, such as at the funeral of Padre Pio when the faithful turned out in their serried thousands to celebrate in their serried thousands the entrance into heaven of a great saint and Mystic,
In days of old the recognisation of saints, for instance, was done by the people themselves by acclamation. They recognised that a woman or man who had recently lived amongst them was holy, again and again to the fore in this recognition was the fact that this person displayed mystical gifts, such as Prophesy, healing, miracles and so on. In Ireland 'The Land of Saints and Scholars' , this was very much so, where we seem to have had a saint in every parish, on every hill, on every lake and cross roads. Bundles and bundles of them...and all working the most incredible miracles and full to the brim with the mystical gifts of the Holy Spirit. View attachment 1641 Tryptich of Our Lady , Queen of Ireland with St Patrick on the left and St Brdiget, on the right.
Just a couple of days ago , for instance we celebrated the Feat of St Ita of Killeady and schools in her hometown closed for the day to celebrate her feast. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Íte_of_Killeedy It is very notable that St Ita , like all the old Irish saints was notable for her mystical gifts, in the case of St Ita her great gift being the gift of prophesy. 'It is said that as a child Brendan asked St. Ita what three things God loved best. She replied, "True faith in God with a pure heart, simple life with a religious spirit, and openhandedness inspired by charity." '"And what three things," the child continued, "does God most dislike?" Ita said, "A face which scowls upon all mankind, obstinacy in wrongdoing, and an overweening confidence in the power of money."'
When I was growing up I loved to read the lives of the saints, many of the books I read from being very old indeed. In the old tradition of hagiography it was normal and indeed expected that the lives of the saints be crowned by miracles and wonders. It was as if the finger of God singled them out by so doing. So much so that the story tellers would have tales of extraordinary events even going back beyond their birth, during their birth and at their infancy that singled them out. It is only in very recent Church times that the story of the saints and miracles have been separated a little. That we have saints of whom little of the miraculous s told. But I wonder if that is less because miracles and the mystical gifts did not manifest of because we no longer have the faith anymore to believe in miracles and the miraculous? For instance recently in the life of Padre Pio I read that as a baby he used to have sudden unexplained screaming fits , so much so that his father threw the bay to the ground in exasperation. ..and indeed as a child he appears to have been repeatedly attacked by the devil View attachment 1642 Padre Pio as a child.
There seems to be a disasssociation of the miraculous form the Holy. Yet it seems to me that in the lives of the saints the mystical, the miraculous go together rather like bacon and eggs , for some saints (apparently more) and for some saints (apparently less but the miraculous is always always present. For instance one modern saint for whom the miraculous is less expilicitly present seems to have been Mother Teresa of of Calcutta. Yet towards the end we read that she was ill and in hospital in Calcutta, happening to be there with the Archbishop of Calcutta who was also ill at the time when she was subject to prolonged and continuous outright diabolical attacks. So serious and blatant where these that the Archbishop ordered a special exorcism at her bedside. http://www.spirit-digest.com/Life in Christ/Mother Teresa/Mother Teresa and the Devil.htm
By chance I came across another modern saint in and around whom the miraculous and mystical phenomena seem to have blossomed. Perhaps at the very last place you might have expected a scientific medical Doctor, one of the most eminent of his time. Saint Giuseppe Moscati (July 25, 1860 – April 12, 1927) was an Italian doctor, scientific researcher, and university professor noted both for his pioneering work in biochemistry and for his piety.[1] Moscati was canonized by the Catholic Church in 1987; his feast day is November 16. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Moscati View attachment 1674
Ah, Ok. We have three churches, St. Thomas, St. Joseph, and St. Mary. Actually none have had any major renovations lately. St. Joseph, which is my parish currently, is a big and beautiful church. Our priest has added a large golden tabernacle (putting Jesus back in the center) and put "back" some statues that had been stuck in storage for a long time, perhaps that is what you are referring to. He did something similar at St. Mary's also (the oldest of the three churches). Interestingly, some people did not like the changes and moved to other parishes! Our priest is not wishy-washy like the last one was and this is really the driving force. Oh well, if you can't take the heat, as they say... I go to Marytown in Libertyville IL whenever I get the chance. I am having major withdrawls right now because my new job is keeping me from taking a Marytown retreat that I think I sorely need right now.
And now for something different . I know it's probably coincidence, but some of you might appreciate what happened to me a minute ago. As I'm perusing this thread, I am listening to The Best of the Classics or something like that on YouTube. I don't think I've every selected this particular collection before. Anyway, I'm on page one of this thread, about four posts down where padraig wrote 'Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine...' As I am reading that sentence, I hear the exact same words coming out of my speakers from Mozart's Requiem. What are the odds?
Billions to one. The psychotherapist, Carl Jung used to call this synchronocity.I call it God, or an agel on ym shoulder. Another pice f synchronicity. I was listening to a video of Pter Kreeft talking about his conversion three days ago. He says he knows of three people who were converted just by listening too Mozarts' Requiem. He said something so beautiful , they thought could only come from God.
I don't know Latin, so I looked up the translation of Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. In English: Grant them eternal rest, Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them. Synchronicity, hmmm. I do enjoy your insights into such happenings, padraig. Thanks.
I feel a tangible Joy when I enter a Catholic church. I normally have an even greater joy at Christmas. Yet, since around the year 2000, I do not recieve a special joy at the Easter cellebrations like those that I used to experience; however, I recieve a release from lenten sufferings on Divine Mercy Sunday. And this is a joy!
Just a note about the question put in this thread about 'whether one feels when people or situations are evil'. Sure do! I don't remember when I first felt this but I am very much aware of groups of people that are gossiping, or who are excluding others or who are conniving some evil action, even if I am a long way away from them, unfortunately I am aware of this even after Mass by those people that have just attended mass and who have just recieved Our Lord! I normally remain in a state of silent prayer but most times now, I feel an incredible pain in my heart and soul and it's terribly distressing and all I can do is offer this up to Our Lord.
In prayer, years ago the Lord revealed; .... 'the reason some people take an instant dislike to those who are in a state of grace, is because the demons that oppress and/or surround that person, recoil in horror when approached by a holy person or a person in a state of grace. The person who is influenced or surrounded by demons, feels this recoil of the demons within them or around them and becomes uncomfortable with this as its a feeing of aversion and instantly they dislike the other person and they can even be hostile at their first encounter/meeting, with people they do not even know! These people need much prayer. Lord have Mercy, Mary help.
Yes, Josephite, I read this too years ago. And this spiritual reality is what causes petty dislikes even in families. Even between parents and children, or siblings. I would not want to say demons every time; but the evil one puts unexplained likes and dislikes in our hearts, for his purpose which is to destroy the love and peace God want's to establish in our hearts for one another. I wonder if this is why Jesus said there would be this clash between us. I can't remember the exact quote. But I know from personal experience, when someone needs prayer to overcome a trial of some sort, and you pray and act in faith; that very person will be the one to hurt you. I call it, 'no roses without thorns' syndrome; having been bitten by it on a number of occasions. I call it the devil doing his dirty work when he sees Gods' grace acting in our souls.
Yes I think this is so. However sadly because I suspect most people do not pray , most people are blind death and dumb to the Spiritual Relaity around them. Whereas innocent spirits like children do see. I also think when we are in a State of Mortal Sin we kind of kill of all or most of the Power of our Guardian Angels to protect us and so become like undefended fortresses, so to speak, with our front doors , spiritual and physical wide open to attack. I have also come to suspect that even animals can often see things we because of our sinful blindness can not. I used to have a German Shepherd I was very fond of, a very obedient young animal and together we udes to walk around our local park, a beautiful place called the Waterworks. The Waterworks has two old bridges crossing small streams. I never had the least difficulty crossing this bridge with the dog, he had crossed it countless times since he was a pup. But very early this morning with no one about he simply refused to corss the bridge no matter how I called him. I eventually had to put the poor scared creature on the lead and had to drag him across it. I thought it strange but thought nothing more about it untill I heard , later in the week that some poor young person had had hanged himself at the bridge the night before. I aslo think dogs have some sixth sense about people too. They can behave in the most extraordinary and strange ways at times. If you ever notice very young children in Church sometimes they can act in beautifully strange ways too. But you have to be paying attention and most people don't. View attachment 3651
I think at some very deep level we all know wether or not we are going to heaven or hell and what place in heaven or hell we will be placed. I aslo think at a very deep level we know this about everyone we meet. Some people are simply more conscious of this than toehrs for one reason or another. The demons and devils I believe are very much aware of this. The reason why we are oftne not more aware of this is not to impede free wil land the workings of Faith. But sometimes when we meet a stranger I think we can be very much attracted or repelled by them, this is this inner knowledge at wrok as a , 'Feeling'.
I am full to the brim of strange , 'Theories'. I love thinking and praying about such weird oddities which fascinate me. I'm kind of sad more people do not notice and have no interest in such stuff. The Spiritual Reality is far, far, far more interesting than the material one. It is the stuff of heaven.
