Asking for private signs

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Right.
Although people ask St Therese for a rose all the time, but then she SAID she would do it in advance.
I’ve never asked God for a sign, I’ve RECEIVED many, but I’ve never asked it of Him.
 
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pianistclare said:
Right.
Although people ask St Therese for a rose all the time, but then she SAID she would do it in advance.
I’ve never asked God for a sign, I’ve RECEIVED many, but I’ve never asked it of Him.
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For me, I think it’s dangerous practice to ask God for signs. Jesus said, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Matthew 12:39)

The three times in my life that I’ve asked for a sign from God, I have always asked God for His forgiveness if I shouldn’t be asking. I have no intention of tempting God.

I think it is no small thing to ask our God for a sign other than the ones that are already available to us. We have the sacraments, the scriptures, the teachings of the Church, the lives and writings of the Saints.
 
I did not ask for a sign exactly, but I was just talking things over with God. As I drove along the highway, I expressed to Him that I like lizards and wonder if I should get another one since Leo died. I had a few of them over time, and I particularly liked the green anole.

What should I do? I asked Him. If I get another, he may die, too. And then I will have to get live food for him. Sometimes it’s hard getting the right size crickets because the pet shop has the bigger ones. etc. I just to couldn’t bear it if I got another lizard and he died too.

I parked the car in the parking lot of a shopping center. As I got out of the car, by the door was a lizard. He was a toy lizard but looked lifelike kind of like the little geckos we have here. That was my answer.

Enjoy this little lizard. Put him in the curio chest with other figurines. Meanwhile, lizards can take care of themselves better than I can. They know what they need to survive and probably do better on their own. I have plenty of them in my yard.
 
Gertabelle said:
A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
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In the beginning of Matthew chapter 16 it says,
“The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to put him to the test they asked if he would show them a sign from heaven.”
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I think that’s an important part of asking for signs. If we are putting God to the test by asking signs, like “If you really exist God, then show yourself!” then that is wrong. God does not have to show Himself because we are not worthy of seeing Him in the first place by our own sins. But humbly asking God for a sign that you are doing His will would be different. St. Therese asked God for a sign that the murderer Pranzini was converted before his death. God granted it to her. However, I do think it should be done as little as possible.
 
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I think it’s okay to ask for a sign of some kind in making important decisions. It should be done rarely, obviously. I remember a story Bishop Sheen told about himself asking for a sign.

Now signs confirming that God is present or exists are contrary to Faith and would definitely be a sin.
 
I’m fairly surprised nobody brought up the great Judge Gideon.

Sacred Scripture takes no issue with asking for a sign, as illustrated by the story of Gideon and the dew on the fleece.

Judges 6:36-40 (NABRE)

Gideon said to God, “If indeed you are going to save Israel through me, as you have said, 37 I am putting this woolen fleece on the threshing floor, and if dew is on the fleece alone, while all the ground is dry, I shall know that you will save Israel through me, as you have said.” 38 That is what happened. Early the next morning when he wrung out the fleece, he squeezed enough dew from it to fill a bowl. 39 Gideon then said to God, “Do not be angry with me if I speak once more. Let me make just one more test with the fleece. Let the fleece alone be dry, but let there be dew on all the ground.” 40 That is what God did that night: the fleece alone was dry, but there was dew on all the ground.

Some commentary from the Haydock Bible:

Ver. 38. So. Gedeon besought the Lord to confirm his mission, in order to raise the drooping spirits of his soldiers. If he had not believed that he was chosen for the purpose of rescuing Israel, he would never have exposed himself, by destroying the idol and grove of Baal, and by calling the people to arms. Yet he might fear at present, lest he might be destitute of some of the necessary qualifications, and might entertain some apprehensions, lest the promises of God might by only conditional. The readiness with which God grants his requests, shews that he was inspired to act as he did, and his faith is greatly commended, Hebrews xi. 32. Other great saints have asked for a miraculous confirmation of what was promised, Exodus iv. 1., Josue v. 13., and Luke i. 34. (Calmet) — Vessels. Hebrew sephel, Septuagint lecané, “a dish.” Syriac, “a basin.” The dew in Chanaan is very copious, resembling a shower of rain, insomuch that the roads are rendered extremely slippery. (Roger. i. 2.) (Calmet)

Ver. 40. Ground. In these two miracles the Fathers observe, that the fleece represented the Jewish nation, favoured with so many graces, while the rest of the world was dry and barren; and that, when the latter was watered with dew from heaven, by the coming of Jesus Christ, the Synagogue was deprived of those favours. (Origen, hom. viii.; Theodoret, q. 14.; St. Jerome, ad Paulin.; St. Augustine; &c.) — In the first miracle we may also contemplate, the incarnation of our Saviour [Jesus Christ] in the womb of the most pure Virgin [Mary], Psalm lxxi. 6. (St. Bernard, serm.; St. Jerome, epist. Paul.) (Calmet)
 
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This is the story about Bishop Sheen, as best I could find it on the internet. I think it was in his Autobiography or he told it on one of this television episodes, or both…

I’ve been to Lourdes twenty-six times. This particular time I wanted a spiritual favor; it would not have profited me in the least. And when I left, it was not forthcoming. So I was making my thanksgiving after mass. It was my last day. And I was talking to the blessed mother and this is what I was saying: "Now listen. I have come over 3,000 miles to visit you…"

The story is in google book form and I can’t copy and paste it, so here is the link if you’d like to know the rest of the story…

books.google.com

Selling Catholicism

When the popularity of Milton Berle's television show began to slip, Berle quipped, "At least I'm losing my ratings to God!" He was referring to the popularity of "Life Is Worth Living" and its host, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen. The show aired from 1952 to 1957, and Sheen won an Emmy, beating...
books.google.com

I think it’s quite good.
 
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JamalChristophr said:
Now signs confirming that God is present or exists are contrary to Faith and would definitely be a sin.
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What about someone who is not a believer asking for a sign? I mean genuinely asking, not being snarky towards God.

My question comes from my own experience.

I had left the Church for some 14 years or so, had only recently returned to the practice of the faith (mass attendance), and felt nothing inside. With respect for God (if there was one), I asked for a sign just to let me know that I wasn’t alone, that He did indeed exist, in any form.

I received my sign, and was struck to the core by that reality, that God indeed does exist. From there, I used my God-given reason to investigate and challenge until I was satisfied that I should remain in the Catholic Church as a means of honoring and growing closer to God.

So do you think asking God for a sign of His existence a sin in that case?
 
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I suppose not. Just an imperfection. 😛 God knows our weaknesses and He grants Graces as he wills. That is probably the better answer.
 
I do it all the time, usually unsuccessfully. But it has worked for me. Usually I pray earnestly about something and eventually do reach a resolution/answer. It may or may not be the kind of sign I was looking for that gets me there. I am suspicious in fact when this is too easy or as I predicted - it is me not God acting, willing. Once in awhile it is easy though - and from God.

Signs can be a lot of things for me. Some one will say something (even a stranger, chance event); I will see something (I count media, an old movie on TV, etc.) that sparks a thought or memory which takes me in a particular direction. Prayer, the Bible, Church Fathers. A writer I read years ago I will reread or think about - just did that with Emily Dickinson with respect to something I was thinking/praying about. I’ll walk somewhere I like to go and just figure out things at a certain point. Dreams sometimes. I do think God answers these requests for guidance or signs in his own way. Be open to signs and receptive to any other means by which this might happen. Remembering of course that signs of this kind always bring you closer to God, your faith, the Church, never contradict it. They are affirmative, inspiring, strengthen you in Christ. Grace filled.
 
Yep:

Here’s an example [i’m long retired]

Back when I was working and traveling a lot, I was in Vegas for the Electronics Show. On “Good-Friday” [during LENT] I went to the nearest Catholic Church from 12 to 3 pm.

Their were a dozen or so Souls present. After a bit I KEPT having the recurring-
thought that I [Me] should read outloud a passage on the PASSION… I KEPT asking God for a sign, and suddenly I developed an extreme thirst; so I went to the rear of the church thinking the restroom would have a place to get a drink.

What I found was a drinking fountain AND next to it was a BIBLE… WOW

So I picked up the bible; asked God if He was SURE that He wanted me to do this, and felt AT PEACE. So I found in John the Passion narrative and began to read it OUTLOUD… immediately a lady got up and reported me, and a priest came and sat next to me a asked me NOT to do that.

The LESSON I learned was that I am NOT to put My own concerns, the COST to Me, a head of what God wants and expects from Me…

In other words: WHO’S in charge of MY lfie: Me or God… GOD IS! Amen
 
When I was a kid there was a large white wooden cross on a hill behind our house - it was very rural - from the back of our house (5 acres, pasture) we looked onto to a wooded hill with nothing but trees with this one cross. You could actually see it from anywhere in the south part of town. I used to stare and stare at it. For years it was there when I was growing up. I can’t remember when it disappeared though - maybe the 80s.

Anyway, years later, as an adult and a faithful Christian, I used to remember back when I would stare at that cross as a child (we were not religious as a family at that period). It had this way of sort of calling me I swear. I still think about it to this day. One Thanksgiving maybe four or five years ago I was on a long drive out of state to family for the holiday. I was remembering while driving about being a kid in that farmhouse and that cross. I look over across the freeway to the left - a white cross is on this hill. Right at that moment, driving on that freeway. It was the weirdest thing. I still think that was a sign - 100s of miles from my home. I did not know the road. It is not like I thought about that cross all the time. Strange coincidence. Again, I think it was an affirmation of my faith. It meant something. Some sort of connection, past and present - eternity.
 
@FollowChrist34

Seems like that is what is called a signal grace, one of the promises of those who pray the rosary faithfully.
 
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This year our pastor at the time (we just got a new one) had a homily on how God is the God of the Impossible. Abraham and Sarah having a baby long into their elder years to Jesus being raised from the dead.

The fact that you started praying for him after all he has put you through is evidence of ‘the impossible’.

You are struggling, but even your situation isn’t impossible.

You and your family are in my prayers.
 
I’ve asked for quite a few “positive” signs regarding girls/women I was romantically interested in, but I never got one really. I think I took those incidences as a sort of sign in themselves.
 
A few years ago when my husbansd died suddenly, I managed to get through each day by placing myself under Our Lady’s care. It was naurally, a difficult time. and a few family membes suggested that I should return to teaching. I was a teacher when I was younger but hadnt been teaching for some years and didnt feel it was possible to return. It seemed like there were too many barriers and it had been so long that I might even struggle for references.
While on a short visit to Fatima, I placed this confusion in Our Lady’s hands. In a kind of conversational way, I said to Our Blessed Mother that it seemed impossible and if she wanted me to teach she would have to find me a school.
The next day I received a text message from a former colleague ( from 8 years before!) asking me to come and do some supply (substitute teaching )in her school.
I fimly believe the Our Blessed Lady found this school for me. I am not someone who looks for signs , ( well maybe I am a bit ) but I think in time of suffering there is a nearness to Our Lord and Our Lady which puts us very close to God;s mercy… This incident has strengthened my fairh.
 
egretps said:
This may be what is also called ‘selective attention’. Thousands of images, words, actions pass by the average person a day. But, when we learn something new, or are ‘looking’ these things suddenly ‘appear’.

Now, I do believe that ‘signs’ or coincidence/serendipity do work to let us know. And, there have been times when I was seeking God’s will I did ask. I don’t see a problem with asking the Lord for direction or help in making a decision. But, yeah asking for a ‘sign’ can quickly get into sticky territory.

There was an interesting little article that helped explain some ‘coincidences’ that had popped up in my life: The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon • Damn Interesting
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I don’t see an issue with asking for a sign, I see issue with saying what the sign should take form as, for the same reasons mentioned above.

Listening for God’s voice in our lives is important, but we can’t say “Hey, God, like if you want me to be a priest, bring me the sign in form of flowers.”

Usually for me, the sign is that I am at peace. Suddenly whatever is causing me distress, stress or making me uncomfortable isn’t plaguing me or I am at peace with an outcome.
 
When we begin asking for signs, we are asking to be fooled by coincidences, led by our feelings, and could open ourselves up to the darker side of spirituality.

Scripture says to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, it warns against following after signs, we are even warned not to put the Lord our God to a test.

Form your conscience, act always in the way pleasing to God, stay in friendship with God, avoid sin, trust and obey.
 
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