Dreams and Catholicism

[Christ_is_love]

Hi all!

I would like to learn more about what the Church’s position is on dreams, interpretations of dreams, and if the Church believes God can speak to us through dreams.

I ask this because when i was younger i used to have random dreams and they used to come true. I would see them on the news the next day or in the same week. I also had one that related to a family member and it happened in real life. I often thought it was quite scary and was unsure if i should believe they were from God. Looking back on them i don’t believe they were from God, because the devil can also use dreams to steer us away from our faith, especially because they came true, and the devil could be convincing me that i am psychic. BUT, on the other hand, the devil doesn’t know the future does he? If he doesn’t, then these dreams could be from God, and i would see it as a gift from God, and just accept it.

Also, lately, i’ve been having small visions as i’ve been trying to sleep. I’d be falling into a sleep, then i’d have a religious vision then see white and then wake up with a jump. This often occured during the day, as i was praying, and i’d fall asleep… at least i thought i was asleep.

Lastly, it’s a significant dream recently involving 2 airplane crashes, the last one exploding infront of me, and i was praying the Fatima prayer from the Holy Rosary. In the dream as i was praying i accepted that the plane was crashing infront of me, and opened my arms to welcome it, then the fire of the explosion came at me and i woke up. I have come to interpret it as the second coming of Christ. I woke up with a racing pulse and couldn’t breath properly. I think it was from God, especially because there was no time attached to it, it wasn’t revealed when these things would happen.

I know that the Bible contains events where God spoke through dreams to Prophets and people, and in the New Testament via angels. What if now He is speaking through the Holy Spirit, hence we don’t see Him, nor angels. I understand that in the ancient times interpreting dreams was seen as being suspicious and practicing magic. But as the current Catholic Church, is it okay to say this dream is from God? I know that in some cultures they hold dreams with significance because they believe that God speaks to them through it.

Any thoughts and comments are welcome.

Thank you and God Bless.

 

[Trishie]

Dear friend, I can’t specifically comment on your dreams, but in principle affirm our Catholic acceptance of St Joseph’s dreams. He was informed in a dream that the Child his fiancée Mary was carrying was conceived through the Holy Spirit; he was informed in a dream of the danger threatening the infant Jesus’s life; and again, advised when it was safe to return from exile in Egypt as the Jewish king who wished to murder Him was dead.

It is also the case that dreams are often attempts by our brains to resolve emotional or developmental issues in our minds and lives…so one does need to be judicious in interpreting our dreams.
Clearly, you do realise this…and what I would do in consequence of such a dream would be to dedicate myself more devotedly to prayer for souls…but wouldn’t become in any way fixated on the dreams. Whatever prompts us to pray more fervently is good but best not to become hung up on the idea of prophesies etc., remembering that Jesus said that no one know the hour or the day but the Father. Matthew 24: 36 - 44; Mark 13: 32 - 37; Luke 17: 26 - 30, 34 - 36

God’s kindest blessings to you.

 

[Trishie]

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

2115 God can reveal the future to his prophets or to other saints. Still, a sound Christian attitude consists in putting oneself confidently into the hands of Providence for whatever concerns the future, and giving up all unhealthy curiosity about it. Improvidence, however, can constitute a lack of responsibility.

2116 All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to “unveil” the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c1a1.htm