Interior Locutions

[Evania]

My questions are: Can you describe what an interior locution is, and how it differs from something you hear with your ears?

Is this phenomenon rare in the life of an everyday person?

(I’m not necessarily talking of the type of locutions such as lengthy messages given to chosen souls to relay information to the world. I know that is extremely rare. Mainly, I’m referring to God choosing to answer a soul briefly and unexpectedly in a moment of prayer.)

If you have experienced this phenomenon once or more in your life, what was it like?

Thanks for your response, and God Bless!

 

[Julia_Mae]

My questions are: Can you describe what an interior locution is, and how it differs from something you hear with your ears?

Did you ever go out to the car and then think, “I wonder if I locked the door?” That’s your thought-voice and most common interior locutions are in that voice. They are experienced, however, not as something generated by you, but as something given to you.

A vocal apparition, sound without vision, would be in someone else’s voice. I have read of people hearing a beautiful woman’s voice they “know” is Mary. No one else hears it, but it is clearly identifiable as coming from the outside of the person and not just occurring inside their mind.

I think of it as God putting “words in my head.” Others opinions will vary.

Is this phenomenon rare in the life of an everyday person?

I don’t think so, but I also think that what’s rare is someone identifying it as a locution instead of their own thoughts. Like, someone will say, “I don’t know, something just told me not to go that way,” when they have avoided the bridge washing out. But if you ask if they think it was an angel or God, they say no, it just occurred to them. Then they usually justify it somehow.

Mainly, I’m referring to God choosing to answer a soul briefly and unexpectedly in a moment of prayer.

If you have experienced this phenomenon once or more in your life, what was it like?

I have to say, I think this happens all the time. Not just in response to prayer, although I think in prayer we finally become attuned to what is happening. I think our Guardian Angels and Patron Saints and whoever are always telling us stuff, reminding us, helping us find our keys or not stress out over trifles or think about how another is feeling. I think they talk to us all the time.

The first time it happens and you know what it is, you just know what it is, it’s kind of … humbling and amazing and makes you think, *“Oh that can’t be … me? Does this really happen?” * I think the key is that the locutions are almost always accompanied by peace. One time God “yelled” at me. Only it wasn’t yelling, it was just telling me how something was my fault, but there was so much love I couldn’t feel badly about myself. I was just so grateful to know and … I wished I’d been able to tell my children the way God told me when I was messing up. .

Keep praying. Keep listening. God bless you abundantly.

 

[boomerang]

I believe I experienced one, about a year ago. It was an answer to something I had been worrying and praying about. It felt like a very intrusive thought that suddenly overrode my other thoughts I was having at the time. It’s like hearing a distinct, clear, loud voice that rises above the background noise, only the “voice” is in your mind. These inner locutions just sort of “barge in” on your thoughts and leave you wondering, " Where did that come from? Did I just think that?"

I had read an article recently, I think it was on CNN’s Belief page, about “hearing voices”. It was interesting. A lot of people have heard voices. Now, these are real voices I’m talking about. Audible voices. I don’t mean schizo people. I mean normal people getting messages from above.
These messages are always very brief, only a few words. This inner locution I believe I had was very brief, just four words. But with inner locutions, you can never be really sure you’re not imagining it. Unless you get some information that you couldn’t possibly have known except by supernatural means. Audible voices are another thing entirely, and I should know, I heard one 21 years ago, and I’ll never forget it. It shocked the you-know-what out of me. My mother heard one also, about 60 years ago. Shocked her, too!

I started a thread about “voices” you might like to read here: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=748233

 

[Justicia_et_Pax]

I believe I have had interior locutions. Certainly my experiences fit with what St Teresa of Avila describes in her book ‘Interior Castle’, talking about the seven mansions. I am discerning with a SD who admits he will never be able to tell me for sure either way, but who currently believes that I have experienced something and that I have a deep-seated spirituality.

As has been described above, it is not something you hear with your ears: it is something you hear or understand deep within your heart. It often sounds or feels like something other than yourself, which (if you are quite self-aware) is how you can tell that something is happening to you, rather than you creating something yourself.

The interior locution that resounds with me the most was one I had at Lourdes. Being there, I realised I rarely approach our Blessed Mother and that perhaps I should. I begged her to explain to me a particularly troubled 6 months of my life. It was as if a veil that had been covering the truth from me was gently lifted and swept away: suddenly I understood everything with a great love, joy and clarity

For me at least, these experiences have been quite distinct from private revelation because locution contents have been specifically to do with me and my life. I have not been given messages or experiences for the benefit of the wider Church.

 

[Evania]

Thank you for explaining this to me. That has to be what I had experienced. I had something happen to me, kind of drastically, some years ago. I was sitting in the living room reading a book. I was absorbed in what I was reading, and I heard a voice “barge” into my thoughts. I definitely identified it as a male voice. It very firmly told me to get up and check on my cat. I was stunned, and looked up and thought, What in the world was that?. . .Foolishly, I dismissed it as my imagination. As I went back to my reading, it happened again so forcefully and “loud”, literally like an urgent yell, that I immediately jumped to my feet. I had a vision pop in my head of my cat being strangled by something. I instinctively ran to the bathroom. As I entered, I saw that she had jumped up on a high shelf, and had been playing with a plastic bag that had some items in it. When she attempted to jump back down, one of the handles had wrapped around her neck, and she almost hanged herself. I immediately grabbed her and unwrapped it, and she was fine afterwards.

I’ve had smaller more peaceful experiences since then. I haven’t had many, but it’s always very humbling. I’ve never heard a voice similar to the one that I heard since that one evening though. Although it was very loud and firm, I was so happy that I listened. I love animals, and that would have been devastating to me. To this day, I can’t help but think, if God loves and took care of my cat that much, how much more does He love and take care of me?

 

[Lifesong]

I had one four years ago. I was not yet Catholic but had in the past two years before reconnected and recommitted myself to Christ and living a Christian walk. My life had changed especially in how I treated people and my own sense of peace- it is a long story I won’t go into here but it was due to an illness of one of my kids that started me back on the narrow road. Anyway, I had some family stress that caused me to blow up at my family in a way that I thought I had abandoned and I was very disappointed in myself. I am a walker and I was walking with my headphones in a park and asked the Lord why I let that happen and I heard a voice not my own in my head say “Do you trust me” Well it took me aback, I told my pastor at the time later I had a walk to Damascus moment in the park, and I just kind of set it aside as the Lord’s grace that I desperately needed. Long story short as my conversion story into the Church three years later would fill a book but when discerning the Church I saw a story on my google news feed about a group that was promoting Divine Mercy Sunday and I almost fell over when I saw the image and the inscription “Jesus I trust in You”. I knew I had to know all about this devotion as it was the answer to the question I was asked and as part of my discerning the Church I prayed the Divine Mercy Novena and at the and of the nine days walked the same park and told the Lord I was ready to accept his invitation. Coincidentally or maybe not so much the Shrine of Czestochowa which has a lovely side alter with the Divine Mercy image is right next to the park where I walk. I visit it often.

Blessings,

Val

 

[Julia_Mae]

Coincidentally or maybe not so much the Shrine of Czestochowa which has a lovely side alter with the Divine Mercy image is right next to the park where I walk. I visit it often.

Blessings,

Val

My opinion is: not so much.

I hope more people will post their experiences here, what a wonderful thread!

 

[ajecphotos]

I would love to hear or see Our Dear Lord. I dream about that.

 

[WaitingForJesus]

I have had some of these experiences as well. Usually it is a voice in my thoughts. Sometimes it is totally unmistakable as being from another source because it is so insitent and directive, i.e. “you need to do x”. And, if I then do not do “x”, it will keep coming up over and over. It is impossible to ignore. That sounds very much like what others have described.

Other times I have noticed myself having strange random thoughts about something. Then later that day or the next, something will happen or someone will say something that made it evident that my seemingly strange thoughts were being guided by angels and/or the Holy Spirit. In one case, I had made a decision to go visit someone who was extremely ill as I feared he would die and his soul was not at peace. This was not a person I know well, but I felt compelled to do this. On the day I was to go, I kept having this thought “you will be like an angel”. And, I kept thinking “how ridiculous…I am the last person in the world that would be like an angel”. Well, it turns out he was in great need as there were some very serious things he told me of that needed to be confessed, and I arranged to have a priest visit him later. I also prayed with him for some time. When we were done he said to me, “I know this is going to sound really wierd, but you are like an angel to me”. Needless to say I was blown away. It was as if the Lord was speaking to me through him. And, I realized then that so many of my thoughts are not my own.

That’s a key point. We think we are in control and making our own decisions, but so often we are not. Someone said when the Lord speaks it gives peace and that is so true. When demons speak to us the opposite is true. They fill us with doubt and fear and try to keep us from doing what the Lord wants. We need to frequently call upon the angels, Mother Mary and Holy Spirit to protect us and help us do the Lord’s will.

 

[simple_soul]

My opinion is: not so much.

I hope more people will post their experiences here, what a wonderful thread!

*I never knew what an interior locution was until I came to CAF. I had read about them and that saints had them but never knew what they were or that I could be one to receive them since I do not consider myself a saint. It was not untill after I read a thread here at CAF that explained how saint was not born a saint and that thier lives were a journey to sainthood that I started to maybe consider that these thoughts and voices might be considered locutions. My only thought is that I know I can not come up with some of the things I thing about on my own so if they are good thoughts/voices then they must be from God…so here goes…

The first time I ever remember having something of a voice like you described was when I was a young child. My parents used to take us to several different churches. They were trying to find one that they liked and were checking out the Eastern churches as well. It was at one of them that bore the name Holy Ghost that I remember well. The priest there was very caring and friendly. One day after church my family and he were standing outside with him talking and it some how came up about our birthdays and it was pointed out to me that I had the same birth date as the cornerstone of that church had engraved on it. I just remember looking at it and then feeling the wind blow into my face and I looked up at the blue sky with the white clouds in it. The wind seemed to blow through my mind and it seemed to carry a silent voice with it that said: “see we have the same birthday.” It was a very special memory for me and I remember over the years the memory of somehow sharing the same birthday with God always brought and still does bring a smile to my little heart, mind and soul and has always filled me with a great sense of peace, trust, security,comfort and joy. Almost like sitting on my grandfather’s lap with my head leaning against His chest with His arms around me just holding me until my fears would go away because He would take care of everything.
*

 

[DBT]

For those interested, St. John of the Cross speaks of the various types of locutions in chapters 29-31 of Book 2 of “The Ascent of Mount Carmel.”

catholictreasury.info/books/ascent/asc47.php

As others have mentioned, locutions are words impressed upon the interior of our soul coming as though from a “voice” not our own. Many, I suppose, have experienced what St. John describes as successive locution … otherwise known as inspired thought. These are typically words or ideas we “hear” that are part of our meditative efforts … the fruit of our own effort. These words certainly can be inspired by the Holy Spirit … or they can be the result of our own inflamed intellect. Or, in most cases, a comingling of the two. So we must be careful discerning and acting upon these interior words lest we risk “baptizing our opinion” as St. John says as “God told me.”

Substantial locutions are entirely different and are, I believe, what most posters on this thread have in mind when they speak of locutions. These “words” come as though out of the blue … not the fruit of any reflection we might have been making at the time. And the words are usually very brief and contain a certain force … namely that they do in us what the words say.

Years ago the words “It’s all true” was impressed upon my soul. I have not doubted any aspect of Faith or Church teaching since. Examples St. John of the Cross gives include “Be good” and the soul is raised to a heighted level of virtue or “fear not” and the soul immediately acquires enduring peace in the midst of a storm.

Dave

 

[Lady_Love]

If you have an interior locution you will know it. I have had them a few times. No matter what I might be thinking about at the time my mind will be silenced instantaneously and all I can hear is “the voice.” It pierces to the depth of your heart and what accompanies it is a stillness and peace you couldn’t produce. The voice says even more than the words could possibly relay.

 

[Evania]

*I never knew what an interior locution was until I came to CAF. I had read about them and that saints had them but never knew what they were or that I could be one to receive them since I do not consider myself a saint. It was not untill after I read a thread here at CAF that explained how saint was not born a saint and that thier lives were a journey to sainthood that I started to maybe consider that these thoughts and voices might be considered locutions. My only thought is that I know I can not come up with some of the things I thing about on my own so if they are good thoughts/voices then they must be from God…so here goes…

The first time I ever remember having something of a voice like you described was when I was a young child. My parents used to take us to several different churches. They were trying to find one that they liked and were checking out the Eastern churches as well. It was at one of them that bore the name Holy Ghost that I remember well. The priest there was very caring and friendly. One day after church my family and he were standing outside with him talking and it some how came up about our birthdays and it was pointed out to me that I had the same birth date as the cornerstone of that church had engraved on it. I just remember looking at it and then feeling the wind blow into my face and I looked up at the blue sky with the white clouds in it. The wind seemed to blow through my mind and it seemed to carry a silent voice with it that said: “see we have the same birthday.” It was a very special memory for me and I remember over the years the memory of somehow sharing the same birthday with God always brought and still does bring a smile to my little heart, mind and soul and has always filled me with a great sense of peace, trust, security,comfort and joy. Almost like sitting on my grandfather’s lap with my head leaning against His chest with His arms around me just holding me until my fears would go away because He would take care of everything.
*

That is beautiful! Mind if I ask you when your birthday is?

 

[simple_soul]

For those interested, St. John of the Cross speaks of the various types of locutions in chapters 29-31 of Book 2 of “The Ascent of Mount Carmel.”

catholictreasury.info/books/ascent/asc47.php

As others have mentioned, locutions are words impressed upon the interior of our soul coming as though from a “voice” not our own. Many, I suppose, have experienced what St. John describes as successive locution … otherwise known as inspired thought. These are typically words or ideas we “hear” that are part of our meditative efforts … the fruit of our own effort. These words certainly can be inspired by the Holy Spirit … or they can be the result of our own inflamed intellect. Or, in most cases, a comingling of the two. So we must be careful discerning and acting upon these interior words lest we risk “baptizing our opinion” as St. John says as “God told me.”

Hi Dave, good to read from you again. I was wondering if you could explain a little deeper as to what an inflamed intellect is. Thank you for the link.

 

[simple_soul]

That is beautiful! Mind if I ask you when your birthday is?

It is 12/10/1969. I kind of consider myself one of the last of the flower children.

 

[DBT]

I was wondering if you could explain a little deeper as to what an inflamed intellect is

Hi Simple Soul -

In the context of successive locution, an “inflamed intellect” is the fruit of prayer in which the soul becomes closely united with God leaving it feeling inspired. The “words” that are formed in our mind (intellect) are our own yet, at the same time, influenced by the Holy Spirit to the point of being taught and led by Him. We gain knowledge and insight about God or ourself we previously didn’t have.

St. John of the Cross describes it as …
St. John of the Cross:

These successive words always come when the spirit is recollected and absorbed very attentively in some meditation; and, in its reflections upon that same matter whereon it is thinking, it proceeds from one stage to another, forming words and arguments which are very much to the point, with great facility and distinctiveness, and by means of its reasoning discovers things which it knew not with respect to the subject of its reflections, so that it seems not to be doing this itself, but rather it seems that another person is supplying the reasoning within its mind or answering its questions or teaching it.

Click here to read more: catholictreasury.info/books/ascent/asc45.php

The “inflaming” is due to prayer … that’s the key point. However, locutions of this type are not to be trusted and, in typical St. John of the Cross fashion, we are not to seek or desire them and we should always be hesitant to act upon them if received. The reason: the difficulty in truly discerning whose “voice” we are hearing compounded by human weakness and bias in trying to interpret the meaning.

Contrast this now with the other type of locution mentioned … substantial locution. Here the words are directly impressed upon our soul by God without any participation or involvement on our part. Thus they come when we least expect it. And they produce a tangible result in our soul. As another poster mentioned, you will know it if this type of locution is given to you. So there are no problems “filtering” the meaning of the words as in the other type mentioned. Why? All the faculties … intellect, will and memory … become inflamed but by an entirely different cause: a direct “touch” from God as opposed to our own efforts in prayer. For these reasons, locutions of this type are of great worth to the soul and renunciation of them is not the proper course of action … for we can’t stop them even if we tried!

Hope this helps!

Dave

 

[DBT]

… and maybe a more practical slant on this, Simple Soul.

I’d like to think that any decent post I’ve ever made on these forums was under the influence of what St. John of the Cross describes as successive locution. I always try to be prayerfully recollected whenever I’m here and from time to time I know I’ve been given “insight” on matters that have helped people. Sometimes the inspiration is so real I feel I can cut it with a knife … such is the experience of an inflamed intellect. I try very hard though not to place to much stock in what I say, though, for precisely the reasons St. John mentions. I never want to think I have a monopoly on answers or feel convinced I’m right in any particular matter … that’s how I put his teaching into action to hopefully avoid the pitfalls he takes great pains to make. Further, the “feeling” of inspiration in successive locution is very transitory … intense at the time but it quickly fades when I’m no longer actively involved in the object of meditation … in this case, making a post. Sometimes I’ll go back and read a thread from years ago and I’m stunned how quickly the “feeling” of those old writings comes back.

Substantial locutions are another matter entirely. They have been given to me only on a handful of occasions. They are indelible … never to be forgotten … not at all transitory. They have impact … changed the course of my life even. Utter certainty as to meaning. And I have no desire to speak of them beyond this This is unlike successive locution in which I feel “compelled” to speak … by the Holy Spirit if it is good and fruitful … by my own voice if not.

Don’t know if this makes sense or not.

Dave

 

[ajecphotos]

Some informative replies.

 

[simple_soul]

… and maybe a more practical slant on this, Simple Soul.

I’d like to think that any decent post I’ve ever made on these forums was under the influence of what St. John of the Cross describes as successive locution. I always try to be prayerfully recollected whenever I’m here and from time to time I know I’ve been given “insight” on matters that have helped people. Sometimes the inspiration is so real I feel I can cut it with a knife … such is the experience of an inflamed intellect. I try very hard though not to place to much stock in what I say, though, for precisely the reasons St. John mentions. I never want to think I have a monopoly on answers or feel convinced I’m right in any particular matter … that’s how I put his teaching into action to hopefully avoid the pitfalls he takes great pains to make. Further, the “feeling” of inspiration in successive locution is very transitory … intense at the time but it quickly fades when I’m no longer actively involved in the object of meditation … in this case, making a post. Sometimes I’ll go back and read a thread from years ago and I’m stunned how quickly the “feeling” of those old writings comes back.

Substantial locutions are another matter entirely. They have been given to me only on a handful of occasions. They are indelible … never to be forgotten … not at all transitory. They have impact … changed the course of my life even. Utter certainty as to meaning. And I have no desire to speak of them beyond this This is unlike successive locution in which I feel “compelled” to speak … by the Holy Spirit if it is good and fruitful … by my own voice if not.

Don’t know if this makes sense or not.

Dave

Thank you Dave,

I beleive it has been most helpful.