Can the dead speak to us?

[Ione]

I agree with you. I had a close friend that told me that when he went into his grandmothers house to see his grandmother, he looked at the clock and saw the time as 1:30.

I forgot to mention in my first post that not only had the dials on my mother’s clock stopped at almost the precise time of her death, but that when I wound the clock up, I found it was broken. Weeks later I took it to a clock smith who confirmed my account by adding that several of his customers had told him the same story of their clock breaking at the hour of a death in the family.

The opposite happened with my grandfather. My mom said there was a dusty clock on the mantel that the hands hadn’t moved on in years. After my grandfather died the clock started ticking again and the dust hadn’t been touched. My grandfather always liked to tinker with things.

 

[JCnMe]

No- the “dead” cannot- but those who have passed into everlasting life can- and only God can write in the book of life and only God can remove a name from the Book of Life and place it in the Book of the Dead… that’s the missing piece of information that brings on the fear and the misconception that anyone who has transitioned from this life is “dead”-and that is the distinction discussed in the old testament…Love never dies- and it is very important to those loved ones who have passed to let us know that they are very much alive in spirit and ok-it is a Gift from God that they are allowed to give that information to comfort us-such comfort was promised to us in the Beatitudes and made possible for us through Jesus Christ- and all communication through dreams etc with loved ones or Divinity is possible through the Love of God and falls under Private or Personal Revelation…fear of such things is what allows any lower level entites in- because one who fears is not made perfect in God’s Love… God is Love…hope this helps- and to all who have experienced this-Trust God in all things- your loved ones are alive and well in God’s Light and Love and have given you a very special gift- the knowledge that life and love continue…:heaven:…God Bless

 

[donnielee46]

Regarding the souls in Purgatory…Nicky Eltz’s interviews with Catholic visionary Maria Simma are summarized in Eltz’s book, “Get Us Out of Here,” and is must reading for those who might doubt that the “Poor Souls” have the power to communicate with the living. Simma has not been formally accepted by the Church…but has not been denied either.

I have had many personal experiences, and I believe that those loved ones in Purgatory may make limited contact with the living to remind us to continue praying until they are cleansed and elevated. I had many contacts from a favorite aunt who had passed on, until the point that I sensed that she had been elevated. Just before that time, she sensitized me to my own mother’s attempts to reach out. My most memorable experience with Aunt S. was at my daughter’s college graduation in 2004. We were seated in the grandstand at the local fairgrounds for the exercises. At one point, I became a bit melancholy, and was thinking about how great it would have been if all the family members who had passed on could have been there for this proud moment. Just as I thought this, I looked down, and two rows below, and just off to the right sat my dead aunt. I glimpsed her for only a second, as a voice whispered in my ear, “We’re all here!” When I turned to look for her again, she was gone. I cannot relate this story today without getting choked up.

My wonderful mother-in-law, who passed last year, has made herself known to me on many occasions in a variety of ways.

The dead only want to be prayed for and remembered to hasten their rise from Purgatory to Heaven. To relate this to necromancy and demonology is ridiculous!

 

[BMSODM]

I think God can and does use His vessals in many ways. Just like there have been records of saints appearing to many, there is no reason to think that God wont use familier spirits as instruments of private revelations. We are called to test the fruits in everything and so when one of these private revelations come to us we should always see which way they take us. If they bring us to God then they would be considered good fruit.

One example is when I was a child I didnt get to see my grandmother before she died because my mother wouldnt let me, even thou she requested I was to come to her. My grandmother and I had a big fight right before she died and I never had a chance to ask her to forgive me. Because my mother forbid me to she her I held a lot of anger towards my mother. I hated her for over 15yrs for never allowing me to see her. But by Gods grace as I first started my walk with Christ she came to me in a vision and told me she knew I was at the door and she knew I loved her and was sorry and she told me I was going to be ok and she loved me. I cryed that night like a baby and felt every ounce of bitterness be lifted from my soul. I was cleansed that night. This is just one small example of God allowing a soul the grace to communicate with His childrens spirit.

We must remember that if we are a child of God we dont die and we are certainly not dead. We have eternal life that began 2000yrs ago on the cross. At that very moment we have been living for all eternity.

I have many accounts of beatific visions. We each have different gifts for a different purpose and some of these gifts are only for a one time use only. They are needed at that time to help us with a certain cross. So never say never and certainly never put handcuffs on our Lord for our lack of understanding or faith.

 

[TerraAngel]

As my elderly mother was failing, I once said to her “If I should “go first,” I’ll stick around and be close to you; and if you “go first” you stay close to me too. I need you.” She said “uh-uh” and changed the subject quickly since she didn’t like talking about death or illness. I meant that we could stay close in any way the Lord allows this to happen. It was more or less just an expression of love (and subconsciously, my worry about her).

When she died suddenly within the year, I was grieving deeply. While beginning to consolidate her house and belongings, I sat alone on her living room floor with my back to the kitchen. Suddenly I heard her footsteps going to fridge to stove to sink and back again – the sounds we all know from early childhood and are incredibly familiar to us.

Of course I froze in place - I was all alone and it was night. I finally said “Ma, is that you? If so, cut it out! You’re scaring me!” They immediately stopped and I never heard them again.

I recently thought - “Boy, I asked her to stay close and when she did, I chased her away!” But if that was the case, my mom knows me well and chose to not scare me.

It could have been my mind playing tricks on me, but I’m firmly planted on this earth, and don’t usually imagine or hear things. I never expected anything to happen when I asked my mom to stick around. I’ve always wondered if the Lord sometimes allows us these little “gifts” as comfort…

 

[Disciple4Christ]

On the day my Dad passed, I was leaving the hospital walking by a full waiting room. I felt a chill go down my spine as though a hand grabbed me by the spine. It stopped me in my tracks I remember the embarrasment of my action in front of all these people. But I heard the words come into my head " It’s ok Jimmy I am alright now" that was it. A very short message that not only comforted me but has strenghtened my faith and brought me back to the Church.
Now God is all powerful and he knows what we need if he allowed this to happen to me, How can that be of a deamon?
Just to clarify my mindset at the time if anyone would have told me this story before it happened to me I would say they where nuts. But it was real I know it was a huge GIFT from God.

He is so awesome open your heart to the truth he will fill it to overflowing !

Love you all Peace!

 

[Charlemagne_II]

donnielee

I see that was your first post at CA. Welcome to the club!!!

 

[donnielee46]

To TerraAngel and Disciple4Christ:

Your experiences are very real and similar to my own: Footsteps across the lower floors and the sound of doors opening and closing when no one was there; a light tug on the back of my shirt as I walked into the house; seeing Aunt S. at the wheel of a car pulling out of a driveway as I drove, which caused me to change my route home that day (thereby avoiding an accident, perhaps??), and more.

Without trying to offend anyone, I think that 99% of us will spend some time in Purgatory until we have reached the State of Grace. This is achieved by prayer, Masses, etc. These relatives who have passed on need our prayers, good works, and Masses to move on, and they do try to remind us of this constantly.

When I was a youngster in CCD classes back in the 1950’s, we envisioned Purgatory as a “junior sized version of Hell with a parole board.” Now we tend to look at it from the “pain of loss” standpoint. But those in Purgatory not only suffer the loss of not being with God, but also the loss of not being with those thery loved on earth…people they may be able to see and watch all of their trials and tragedies without being able to intervene. Now THAT is real suffering!

 

[Drachir]

My grandmother and I were very close. She raised me and was like a mother to me. Several strange things have happened since she passed. The one that stands out the most is that one day I asked her to give me a sign if I was going to live to be 80. I’m 70 right now. The next day a crucifix that was securely fixed on the wall of my porch fell onto the table in front of it. I heard it fall from inside. After I rehung it and came inside I looked down the hallway and saw that my picture of the Sacred Heart was cocked at a 45 degree angle. No one had been down that hallway, except me, for days.

Another time when I had a part time job doing a newspaper motor route there was one place with townhouses that I had to do on foot. It was very dark with lightning everywhere and just beginning to lightly rain. I said “Me-Ma please help me so I don’t get soaked”. I got out of the car and the rain stopped and I could smell her perfume very strongly. She always wore the same kind. When I got back in my car after the delivery the sky seemed to open up and pour down rain.

 

[donnielee46]

Thank you, CharlemagneII!

I would also invite all on CA to visit my website: OurPreciousAngels.net

It is a prayer site for infants and children who have passed due to abortion, stillbirth, accident, injury, disease, etc.

I hope you will find it inspiring.

 

[HopeInChrist]

Hi all,

I, too, have had these experiences, but I think they’re just wishful thinking, tricks of the mind, or optical/auditory illusions. Once we are “gone”, we don’t come back.

-Hope

 

[JCnMe]

To the Contrary- they can and do-they hear us-they see us-they interact with us through God’s Love to comfort us and inspire us and motivate us…even the Vatican has said it is acceptable to ask our loved ones(sorry I can’t say who or when but I read the announcement within the last three years) along with Saints and the Blessed Mother for intercession on our behalf- it works both ways- our prayers for them and theirs for us…we are spirit and the Cathoilic Faith is all about belief in the “seen and unseen”…

 

[Charlemagne_II]

wishful thinking, tricks of the mind, or optical/auditory illusions.

How would you explain the first example in post #1 as “wishful thinking, tricks of the mind, or optical/auditory illusions”?

 

[Katrina5]

I agree with you. I had a close friend that told me that when he went into his grandmothers house to see his grandmother, he looked at the clock and saw the time as 1:30.This is the time the clocked stopped. He looked all around for his relatives and did not see anyone there. He then, went to his mothers house next door and found out that his grandfather had died at 1:30. Instead of going straight to his mothers house, he went to see his grandmother, for some reason or other. This has nothing to do with demons.He was not into that stuff. And neither am I, when I got that message from my husband; “Merry Christmas, honey.” We just read each others minds because we were soul mates and knew what each one was thinking and feeling.

Lmora

I don’t think it’s demonic at all. When my Dad died, we came home the next day to find all the clocks stopped at 9:38. It was kind of strange, because some were antique wind-up clocks, but the two electric clocks were stopped too.
When we got the death certificate it had Time of Death 9:38pm. We weren’t surprised. Our dad used to sing the song to us: “My grandfather’s clock…stopped short, never to go again, when the old man died.”
Why would anyone give the devil credit for something that we took as a warm message that our Dad was in heaven? I don’t know.
I know the devil is real, but Love is stronger than death.
My Dad also met Jesus two weeks before he died when he choked and was revived. He assured us he wanted to be with Him. Dad was baptized two years before he died, an answer to the prayers of our family.
We saw the hand of God in this, not the hand of the devil. If something brings you closer as a family and to God, it isn’t evil.

 

[Katrina5]

Hi all,

I, too, have had these experiences, but I think they’re just wishful thinking, tricks of the mind, or optical/auditory illusions. Once we are “gone”, we don’t come back.

-Hope

Well, Hope, I don’t think the person has to actually physically return. Eye has not seen, ear has not heard what God has ready for those who love Him.
I believe that God lets us comfort one another by doing things that may seem like a “trick of the mind”. When it happens to you, you just KNOW it’s not a trick, it is real.

Who said wishful thinking isn’t from God? As long as it isn’t magical thinking, “I wish my loved one would win the lottery for me”, then what is wrong with it? My parents have been in Heaven for over twenty years, but there are times when I feel despair, and I know they are telling me, “You’ll be alright. Hang in there, it isn’t time to die.”

I believe we have been told we “will be like angels” in that we will not have physical bodies after death. No, we don’t sprout wings and halos, and angels are distinct creations of God, but we will be like them.
That passage was about marriage-- physical marriage-- so it explains that won’t have physical bodies.

 

[Katrina5]

To the Contrary- they can and do-they hear us-they see us-they interact with us through God’s Love to comfort us and inspire us and motivate us…even the Vatican has said it is acceptable to ask our loved ones(sorry I can’t say who or when but I read the announcement within the last three years) along with Saints and the Blessed Mother for intercession on our behalf- it works both ways- our prayers for them and theirs for us…we are spirit and the Cathoilic Faith is all about belief in the “seen and unseen”…

 

[Tetiaroa]

The topic of this tread brought us to one question.

Are the dead still alive and can we communicate with them?

The Catholic Church’s definition of Christians include both Christians here on Earth and in Heaven (Saints).

Paul advised to offer prayers for everyone. We pray to Saints in Heaven, we pray to Mary, and we ask our friends to pray for us. Prayer is also regarded as a way of communication and not an act of worship. We distinguish prayer and worship by saying that prayer is a way of communication either to God, Angels, Saints or Mary. Worship is reserved only for GOD alone. When worship, we offer up our sacrifice before God.

Now Saints and even Mary died a physical death. Since they are baptized Christians, they can no longer die. They are still alive in Christ.

One may argue that Catholics are communicating with the dead when they pray to Saints in Heaven or to Mary. But according to Catholics, these people are not dead and praying to them is not communicating with the dead. They are still members of Christ body. They are still alive but not physically. This is through the baptismal grace instituted by Christ.

 

[TerraAngel]

I know that 20+ years ago, I prayed to quit smoking and also asked my deceased Godfather and his brother to intercede for me (one had died of heart disease and one died from lung cancer - both were heavy smokers). I was able to quit and it’s been 22 years now! Relationships that may have been casual seem to become loving after praying for our deceased ones. I feel more close to them now than I ever did in their life times.

 

[Katrina5]

I don’t know if the deceased can see us from heaven or not, or even if they can reach us here on earth, but I do believe that in some mysterious and unfathomable way they can at times send us signs and messages, maybe even appear to us in a dream. I’ve known people who claimed they’ve seen their loved ones for a brief instant after they had died. I don’t think this is impossible because our world and that beyond is so filled with mystery, things so far above us, that our finite human minds could never understand. I think maybe God does give us small gifts from time to time, maybe in a time of grief and mourning a loss of someone we loved, when the pain becomes so unbearable, I’ve known so many people that have told me stories of visions or signs.

However, as to conjuring up the dead, that is strictly forbidden by any Christian religion, and it is strictly stated in God’s Word. It is an abomination to call upon the dead, which would include mediums, psycics and ouija boards or any form of ADC that one would bring on themselves. I think any wandering spirits or ghosts are strictly demonic or in the lower regions somewhere. We do not understand how the afterlife works, and who knows where the souls go other then heaven or hell, and from all the mysterious ghostly appearances one would think there is a middle ground somewhere that some souls go to where they just are left to wander around. I honestly don’t think this is true, but we can’t even try to speculate about the afterlife since there is no way to find out for sure. Some day we’ll know all the answers. I also have a deep curiosity about after life topics such as the near death experience or the after death communications (ADC), but in all my years of reading book after book, I never have received one single clue other then reading people’s stories of their experiences. That’s not proof, just stories.

We have to leave it all with God and I think He made it this way. It’s actually none of our business and He will give us dreams and visions if He so chooses, otherwise, it’s not for us to know at this time. :angel1:

I think “conjuring up spirits” and “mediums” are NOT the same as a little comforting touch from a loved one.
My parents have given me comfort, encouraged me, after their deaths. Nothing MAGICAL, and many times, I am just thinking about them, something they said, or remembering them, and I know they are with Jesus.
I had dreams about my whole family living together (which never happened since the two oldest were married and on their own before the last two kids were even born) and in these dreams we would all be cooking breakfast, laughing, having a great time.

I lost my best friend when we were in college. I cried and cried and then I had a dream about her and she said, “I’m in Heaven, and I’m happy. Don’t cry so much!”

My cousin’s son was distraught and couldn’t sleep after his grandpa died. One night he slept peacefully and when he woke the next morning, my cousin said, “You slept pretty well last night” (He was only four years old). He said, “Grandpa told me he’s with Jesus and I should quit worrying. Mommy who is Jesus?” This was a family who had never been inside a church, in fact had been raised to believe “You don’t need God, God is for dumb people.” He’s all grown up now and takes his family to church.

Why WOULDN’T God use our loved ones to draw us closer to him?

 

[mangy_dog]

Most people have different reasons for believing in immortality. Some believe in it on authority. Other on sheer hope. Some even appear to have communicated with the dead.

There is nothing in Catholic theology I know of that prohibits our believing we can communicate with the dead. And if we can, that is another reason to glorify and praise God.

Science, of course, wants nothing to do with such a notion. How can it be proven? Too many sham cases. No way to falsify. A money making scheme. Etc., etc.

But people have had experiences. There are those who claim to have had visions of Mary.
I’m interested in such experiences with the dead, if anyone here wants to share. I’ve had at least three occasions of my own to sit up and take notice.

1. When a boy, I dreamed one night my great grandfather had died. I thought nothing of it, until the next day at lunch when I came home to hear my mother crying in the bedroom and a notice a telegram on the kitchen table. We lived 2,000 miles from my great grandfather.
2. At about the age of fifty I was invited to attend a retirement function for one of my old college professors. I had frequently socialized with him and his wife when I was a student, but had not seen either of them in many years. Passing through the crowded lawn I noticed the wife appear to be anxious about the professor and she had a worried look on her face. I thought she looked fairly healthy, so I assumed it was his health she was concerned about. I later mentioned to one of men who had been a student with me that I thought the professor’s wife looked good. He stared at me oddly for a long moment and then moved away. Another former student of the professor mentioned to me in passing that the professor’s wife had died about ten years earlier.
3. Several months before my mother died, she gave me the family mantle clock to put over my fireplace. The day she died I came home and noticed the clock had stopped. I went over to wind it up, and found that the dials were pointed to the approximate hour and minute she had died.

True, these are all anecdotal signs, pointing at least for me if for no one else, to the likelihood that something happens beyond the grave. I’m interested to know if any of you have been blessed with any such incidents of “proof,” or if you know of someone else who has.

If God permits, yes. And only for HIs good purpose.

Purgatory by F.X. Schouppe.