I’ve started praying the rosary every day this week after a long hiatus, and I know that one of the promises of the rosary is that you will receive signal graces. In the past few days, I have seen the idea of young widows pop up at least three times. With the latest occurrence, I got very fearful that my husband could be involved in a tragedy in the near future. Am I paranoid? Tonight when it happened again, I started crying just thinking about it. Does God ever send us signs that terrible things will happen???
I don’t know anything about signal graces. But thoughts like this, Maybe from the devil, but maybe not, but you can always make the most of it and turn it to good either way-love your husband like any day could be your last together. It will mean even if you both live to a hundred and two you’ve made some good use of your time on earth for example when I knew I was starting a full time job, and had six weeks left at he with my children full time before starting, I was devastated, but it was amazing how good it was for us- every day suddenly took on new meaning and a special effort to be present with them.
According to this explanation, it does not appear that what the OP describes could be defined as a signal grace.
I’ve received many prayer-related signs, some of which have frightened me. But I’m not good at interpreting such signs without guidance, so I take them to my spiritual director (when I have one) or a trusted priest (when I don’t have a spiritual director). Anything that discourages us from prayer, however, is not from God. It is important to keep praying, even when doing so appears to have perturbing, distressing effect. If we stop praying to avoid these feelings, the Evil One gets what he wants.
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for example when I knew I was starting a full time job, and had six weeks left at he with my children full time before starting, I was devastated, but it was amazing how good it was for us- every day suddenly took on new meaning and a special effort to be present with them.