Should i tell a priest about my potential supernatural experience?

  • Thread starter Thread starter goldensun
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
G

goldensun

Guest
The only reason i ask this is because over time its been constantly bugging me and i want to stop thinking back on it.

I often doubt myself about whether it was a real experience or just a figment of my imagination, but honestly i feel as though it was legitimate because of the unforgettable peace i feel when i reflect back on it.

Basically what happened was one night about a few years ago while i was sleeping i was tempted in a dream to lust (i wont get into specifics). Often while i am dreaming i realize its just a dream, and at this point i recognised it as such. Ive struggled with habits of viewing pornography, and masturbation for many years and and in my dream i refused it let it take that direction.

Immediately my dream stopped, i felt this incredible rage just wash over me in waves of hate and anger and my ears seemed to fill with this roaring noise. I opened my eyes in the darkness and this black form that was darker than the night was over me, and i became terrified. I felt it start attacking me and slowly started to feel my sternum crack and buckle under this incredible weight that just came over me. I remember the pain as i could literally feel my ribs and skull start to crush. I couldn’t get up because of it, but i remember moving my head to look over at my mum who happened to be sleeping across the room that night and trying to scream at her but my vocal chords felt crushed so my voice came out as almost a whisper, and it hurt to go on.

So at this point my mind was only filled with the terror of it all, i wasnt thinking about God at all when i thought to myself “Oh my god im dying”. This is one of my bad habits, i say God’s name in vain daily and each time i do it i always scold myself, cause im trying to stop that habit. But at that moment it reminded me of God and a image of Jesus and the Eucharist filled my mind and it was like a light just bursting into my mind and though i was still in pain, and i could still feel the crushing and rage emanating from this presence over me, this incredible peace and love and joy filled me.

I thought to myself that i am about to die in mortal sin (cause at that time it had been months since my last confession), but i thought to myself trust in God and His mercy, and i felt the love within me grow as my mind just filled with this image of Jesus. Like, i cant even describe it to be exact it was just so amazing.

After that i felt this numb buzzing sensation come over me and i felt air fill my lungs again and i cant really describe it but i felt with that first breath my lungs and chest expanded and my bones popped back into place.

The rest of the night i felt so ecstatic with joy and peace i started praying and praising God, at one point i fell asleep but the next morning i decided not to tell my mum, so that i wouldn’t freak her out- but mostly so i wouldn’t have to tell her about my temptation in the first place.

Today, because of the Grace of God i have no longer struggle with temptations to do with lust. Im over that and im trying to improve myself in other ways, but i keep thinking back to that moment. Like, do you think i should have told a priest, or someone? Because so far ive just kept it to myself. Like it took me years to finally break free from that vice.

I really just want to get an outsiders opinions. Like do you think what happened to me was legit or just a figment of my imagination? I guess thats why im scared of telling people haha
 
If you feel you must talk with someone about your experience than a priest is the appropriate person.

It sounds like you have had a wonderful revelation of the power of God’s mercy. Just make sure you have, indeed, confessed all your mortal sins.

Be at peace.
 
I would suggest you talk to your priest, if for no other reason than to establish that you can talk to him about this sort of thing, and it is possibly you may have more such experiences. If he is familiar with you, it is easier for him to provide wise counsel. He may refer to you someone who could provide more help as he sees fit, or just to handle this one thing better, in ways you can’t on an internet forum. He can deal with any sin issues if there are any.

My personal rule is that anything that might be supernatural that is disturbing, frightening or possibly involving the demonic needs to be discussed with someone who can evaluate it and help you. Especially so if you cannot shake the memory. Please don’t keep it to yourself but schedule an appointment with your priest.
 
Contrary to the above poster, I wouldn’t recommend mentioning this to a priest unless you experience something wherein you are being commanded in some way, or if an experience is causing you to drift away from sound doctrine. In my own opinion, for what it’s worth, I just don’t see the need. Rather, I would recommend you simply ignore the experience.

If some consolation or even vision leads to obvious graces in our lives, fine. Thank God for the graces, while asking for the further grace of ignoring the consolation. We don’t need to focus on the consolation, because that would be making emotions and curiosities and experiences the seat of our spiritual life. Doing that just leads to knocking on all kinds of doors you don’t want opened. Our spiritual life should be rooted in the objective, not in the subjective.

If God really, really, REALLY wants you to pay attention to an extraordinary mystical phenomenon, He’ll let you know in a clear way, and THEN it’ll be time to go to Father for discernment. Even approved apparitions tell the visionary to listen to their Confessor and spiritual director above what they hear from the apparition itself. Jesus speaking to St. Faustina is an example of that.
 
Thanks for sharing. What a wonderful grace our Lord has poured out onto you.
Peace to you.
 
It sounds like you may suffer from a condition called “sleep paralysis”. Common elements of sleep paralysis attacks are a feeling of a crushing weight upon you, seeing dark shadowy or demonic figures, difficulty breathing, inability to move or speak, intense feelings of fear and dread, feeling like you are dying or have died, seeing images and lights, hearing sounds, etc…

I would suggest that you both research this condition and speak with your priest and get his opinion.
 
goldensun said:
The only reason i ask this is because over time its been constantly bugging me and i want to stop thinking back on it.

I often doubt myself about whether it was a real experience or just a figment of my imagination, but honestly i feel as though it was legitimate because of the unforgettable peace i feel when i reflect back on it.

Basically what happened was one night about a few years ago while i was sleeping i was tempted in a dream to lust (i wont get into specifics). Often while i am dreaming i realize its just a dream, and at this point i recognised it as such. Ive struggled with habits of viewing pornography, and masturbation for many years and and in my dream i refused it let it take that direction.

Immediately my dream stopped, i felt this incredible rage just wash over me in waves of hate and anger and my ears seemed to fill with this roaring noise. I opened my eyes in the darkness and this black form that was darker than the night was over me, and i became terrified. I felt it start attacking me and slowly started to feel my sternum crack and buckle under this incredible weight that just came over me. I remember the pain as i could literally feel my ribs and skull start to crush. I couldn’t get up because of it, but i remember moving my head to look over at my mum who happened to be sleeping across the room that night and trying to scream at her but my vocal chords felt crushed so my voice came out as almost a whisper, and it hurt to go on.

So at this point my mind was only filled with the terror of it all, i wasnt thinking about God at all when i thought to myself “Oh my god im dying”. This is one of my bad habits, i say God’s name in vain daily and each time i do it i always scold myself, cause im trying to stop that habit. But at that moment it reminded me of God and a image of Jesus and the Eucharist filled my mind and it was like a light just bursting into my mind and though i was still in pain, and i could still feel the crushing and rage emanating from this presence over me, this incredible peace and love and joy filled me.

I thought to myself that i am about to die in mortal sin (cause at that time it had been months since my last confession), but i thought to myself trust in God and His mercy, and i felt the love within me grow as my mind just filled with this image of Jesus. Like, i cant even describe it to be exact it was just so amazing.

After that i felt this numb buzzing sensation come over me and i felt air fill my lungs again and i cant really describe it but i felt with that first breath my lungs and chest expanded and my bones popped back into place.

The rest of the night i felt so ecstatic with joy and peace i started praying and praising God, at one point i fell asleep but the next morning i decided not to tell my mum, so that i wouldn’t freak her out- but mostly so i wouldn’t have to tell her about my temptation in the first place.

Today, because of the Grace of God i have no longer struggle with temptations to do with lust. Im over that and im trying to improve myself in other ways, but i keep thinking back to that moment. Like, do you think i should have told a priest, or someone? Because so far ive just kept it to myself. Like it took me years to finally break free from that vice.

I really just want to get an outsiders opinions. Like do you think what happened to me was legit or just a figment of my imagination? I guess thats why im scared of telling people haha
Click to expand...
The fact it changed your life and brought you closer to God is all the evidence you need to know it was a legit grace from God. Don’t be afraid to shout it from the house tops.
 
Yours is not the first time I have heard this same basic story, if that’s any consolation. I like AveOTheotokos’ advice. It’s good to look at both supernatural and natural possibilities. As it’s something that continues to bother you, you can certainly talk to a priest about it. I think the grace you received coming out of that experience is pretty remarkable and that part sounds like it’s had a genuine positive and real effect on your life. Praise God.
 
Sometimes God communicates in seemingly mundane ways, too.

One day I was talking to Him about getting another lizard after mine died. I had felt really bad that Leo passed on, and I mentioned to God that the problem with lizards is that they need to eat certain foods and if they don’t get what they need, they die.

I went on to admit they can take better care of themselves in the wild as opposed to keeping them as pets.

When I got out of my car, I found a lizard on the ground. It was one of those decorative ones people put in their yards. The message was to just be happy with that one I found and God would take good care of the living ones.
 
I think it is good that you are getting different options to consider.

As I read your post I was thinking of the priest at the local parish. Off the sanctuary are these confessional rooms with a screen in them and a chair on either side, with plate-glass window into the sanctuary so they are nicely lit. I happened to be in the sanctuary for some length of time and I saw him sitting there, patiently waiting to hear confessions. No one came. He had answered the call of God, gone through seminary and gotten formed as a priest and put up with bothersome people like me for years on end, etc. I got the feeling he had weathered many a Saturday afternoon like that, waiting for the one soul in need of what he could do for them.

I think he would be happy to talk to you. That, anyway, was behind my answer.
 
Have you been having sleep problems? My son who just passed away had a pituitary tumor which gave him insomnia. He had events like what you describe all the time.

The fact that you’ve come to peace means it very likely was a diabolical experience. Put a St. Benedict medal between your mattress and box springs, and ask God to drive away all evil that could bother your sleep. I did that for my late son, and his “night terrors” seemed to ease.

I would write it down, go to confession, let the priest know about it, then have a medical check-up, just to be sure.

“Admirable is the Name of God” is what I always pray when hubby lets “gd” fly.
 
Keep praying. You will be put to the test again by the devil when you least expect it like when you accidentally viewed something…
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top