Asking for direction

[Povero]

I have led a very complex life, and one very connected to God in ways that many might think “hallucinatory” but were not. I am now faced with a very big trial. My motto is “Don’t plan, be led.” I was led to paying for and facilitating a trip to New Mexico for myself and a woman in her 40s who is suffering from PTSD and most likely an undiagnosed psychiatric condition.

My problem (my challenge): this woman has expressed to me that she has had “demons” bite her ankles. She is extremely resistant to Christ. I am no ingenue in the fight against evil. I will be spending 7 days with her. I will bring with my the water from Lourdes, the rosary blessed by Pope Francis, and I told her I will be saying the Rosary in French every single day, out loud. She is planning to bring some sort of other beads or such while I do this. This young woman is lost. I am not. God has put her in my path.

How do I prepare? I am strong, I lost my daughter to mental illness three yeas ago, I had a vision of the Blessed Mother during an NDE at age five which has sustained me for my entire life. God has put this, His child, in my path, out of nowhere. I need prayer, I need advice, I need to know to whom should I go before I make this journey? I need to go to reconciliation, but I think that both the priests I know are unable to help me: one because he is himself (and I love him, so no judgment intended); the other, because he has psychiatric issues although a very sanctified man. Should I contact the Diocese of NY and ask for referral or will they think I’m insane? You know very well that people like me are often considered insane by everyone else. I can’t go into this fight without guidance. Does anyone have any advice? Thank you in advance.

 

[Dorothy]

It sounds like you definitely need a priest who is knowledgable about what to do in cases like this.

Perhaps it would help if you called the diocesan office where you now are, and tell them what you said here.

It was not wise for you to take on something like this all by yourself.

 

[St_Francis]

Maybe ask to be put in touch with their exorcist? He would probably be knowledgeable about this sort of thing.

 

[tawny]

I have led a very complex life, and one very connected to God in ways that many might think “hallucinatory” but were not. I am now faced with a very big trial. My motto is “Don’t plan, be led.” I was led to paying for and facilitating a trip to New Mexico for myself and a woman in her 40s who is suffering from PTSD and most likely an undiagnosed psychiatric condition.

My problem (my challenge): this woman has expressed to me that she has had “demons” bite her ankles. She is extremely resistant to Christ. I am no ingenue in the fight against evil. I will be spending 7 days with her. I will bring with my the water from Lourdes, the rosary blessed by Pope Francis, and I told her I will be saying the Rosary in French every single day, out loud. She is planning to bring some sort of other beads or such while I do this. This young woman is lost. I am not. God has put her in my path.

How do I prepare? I am strong, I lost my daughter to mental illness three yeas ago, I had a vision of the Blessed Mother during an NDE at age five which has sustained me for my entire life. God has put this, His child, in my path, out of nowhere. I need prayer, I need advice, I need to know to whom should I go before I make this journey? I need to go to reconciliation, but I think that both the priests I know are unable to help me: one because he is himself (and I love him, so no judgment intended); the other, because he has psychiatric issues although a very sanctified man. Should I contact the Diocese of NY and ask for referral or will they think I’m insane? You know very well that people like me are often considered insane by everyone else. I can’t go into this fight without guidance. Does anyone have any advice? Thank you in advance.

Praying to the Holy Spirit to give you guidance, direction. strength & fortitude in your time of crisis.

 

[Povero]

I thank you all for your thoughtful and prayerful comments and suggestions. I do not have any fear, I am not a missionary going into Pagan countries, I am simply someone who is trying to help a younger woman who is presently struggling. She was a paramedic for many years, she has PTSD and is very anxious. This trip gives her something to look forward to. I am not undefended spiritually but neither am I in any way attempting any ritual for any purpose. Like Jesus’ disciples, I’m walking into this “town” and perhaps I will have to shake “the dust” from my feet at the end of the week. Thank you again.

 

[fred_conty]

I thank you all for your thoughtful and prayerful comments and suggestions. I do not have any fear, I am not a missionary going into Pagan countries, I am simply someone who is trying to help a younger woman who is presently struggling. She was a paramedic for many years, she has PTSD and is very anxious. This trip gives her something to look forward to. I am not undefended spiritually but neither am I in any way attempting any ritual for any purpose. Like Jesus’ disciples, I’m walking into this “town” and perhaps I will have to shake “the dust” from my feet at the end of the week. Thank you again.

I was led to paying for and facilitating a trip to New Mexico for myself and a woman…

Why do you need to go to New Mexico that you can’t do where you are at?

 

[Povero]

Why do you need to go to New Mexico that you can’t do where you are at?

I am traveling. I have been to Europe three times since October 2012, sacred shrines in France, Rome (have seen Pope Francis in person) and on two cruises. The second cruise I left port on the third anniversary of my daughter’s death. This is God’s gift to me, filling my mind with beauty and His love and mercy, as well as the kindness of strangers wherever I go, which helps to deal with the extremely painful memories of living with my only child and watching her complex mental illness worsen, no matter what I did or how hard I tried to stop it.

I’ve never been to New Mexico. I’m told it is absolutely beautiful and a spiritually peaceful place. The person I am traveling with wanted to attend a special flower and fruit festival taking place while we will be there. It will be only one week, but an adventure and I think a way for me to help this younger woman who is struggling right now, in crisis, because of her past exposure to horror and suffering as a paramedic. I know about mental illness, my daughter had it. This woman is not as seriously compromised but she needs something perhaps I can give her. I am a “fixer”, I am a “nurturer”, I have no one to nurture now, three years, one month, 2 weeks since losing my daughter. There are no coincidences. We were put in one another’s path for a purpose. I never say “no” to God. Can you see the beauty of Lourdes from where “you are now”? Can you see the enormous joy and love in half a million people in St. Peter’s Square when the Pope gives his general audience on Wednesdays from where “you are now”? Can you spend time in Eucharistic adoration every day for one hour at the shrine of Fatima from where “you are now”? Can you see the incorrupt body of St. Bernadette from where “you are now”?

There are things I have seen, places I have been, that have changed me, given me courage, and brought me closer to God. This is my journey. Yours may be different.

 

[fred_conty]

Well that is a very wonderful thing you are doing and I pray it all works out well.

We travelled to CA a few years ago and on our way out we stopped at Santa Fe. It was one long city with one street down the middle. At the end there were shops and the Cathedral. I believe right there where these shops were, had been the Old Santa Fe trail that you see in the cowboy movies. I’m sure you will find it interesting too.

May God bless and keep you. May God’s face shine on you. May God be kind to you and give you peace.