Have you ever had an unsettling or unusual prayer experience?

[casslean]

I was recently praying the rosary and had a very strange and rather unsettling experience. I had been praying the Sorrowful Mysteries, which are themselves quite intense, but my experience was one of feeling at times like I was being pushed along a very uncomfortable experience of those events, and when I considered pulling away mentally, it was as if I was being reprimanded. For days later I found myself really unsettled and unsure - not the experience I’ve ever had of prayer, which is that it is usually a way for me to find peace.

I’ve been reluctant to tell people about this experience, but I also feel like the disquiet and uncertainty I experienced during that incident has also created a barrier that makes it harder for me to really enter into prayer. I’m just not sure how to interpret that - am I backing away from something God is asking me to do? Or is there something else at play that might be trying to influence me? Or is it all in my head and I need to get over myself?

Any thoughts anyone might have would be very much appreciated.

 

[Casilda]

my experience was one of feeling at times like I was being pushed along a very uncomfortable experience of those events, and when I considered pulling away mentally, it was as if I was being reprimanded.

Very telling. This is what the Mysteries are supposed to do, take us there. Yes, the Sorrowful ones are intense. During Great Lent we recite only the Sorrowful until the Resurrection. Then we experience the Joyful. Godspeed.

 

[tomo_pomo]

why would you push yourself away while praying? Just keep on praying, accept whats coming and have faith in Lord nothing is gonna happen to you what is not good for you.

I was praying sorrowful mysteries too, and all of a sudden Ive become like Jesus. Tied to the pillar and started scourging and whipping. Except what i saw was all those people i met who were telling how stupid were religious people are, how those are all fantasy etc. They were scourging me with the words and insults and I was taking it all. People who I used to be very good friend, now they are on opposite side… It gave me courage… Just like Lord Christ was taking it all from people and He Loved them, He truly loved them and there they are, scourging Him and insulting. I realized what is humility.
Same repeated in other mysteries and at the end it was given that in order to Love you neighbor you must first be their Servant, because there is Christ in them, waiting to be Served. Its profound realization that gave me boost and step forward to becoming Humble Servant of the Lord. So don’t run away, but listen.

 

[Alex4Mary]

Often when I pray the rosary I use a method of mental visualization while meditating on the mysteries. Especially the sorrowful mysteries. I put myself in the situation of a person in a situation such as the beloved disciple when seeing Jesus on the Cross, or a innocent bystander looking upon the cross. I imagine to the best of my ability what it looks like. Sounds like , smells like. The wind that must have whipped when the darkness covered the land. The smell of blood as it poured down our Lords body. And it invites me to think about the mysteries in a deeper way. I believe it is a form of Ignatian prayer. But I would recommend boxing up the anxiety then visualized being the guard who says surely this was the son of God. And take that visual box full of feelings. And place it at the base of the cross. Sacrifice it along with Jesus. And feel the emotions. I will admit I cry alot during the sorrowful mysteries. But that’s what allows me to meditate on them.

 

[Casilda]

I will admit I cry alot during the sorrowful mysteries. But that’s what allows me to meditate on them.

Sometimes I can not pray at all and only cry because I can not find the words.

Romans 8

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. 27 And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.