Strange occurence during Holy Rosary last night

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MaryDS

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Hello all

I’ve recently become much stronger in my faith and have started attending the old Mass or Latin Mass. I have also recently started saying the Rosary and have done so, nearly daily for about 10-14 days.

I have a picture about 10" by 8" on the wall at the foot of my bed of Our Lady of Fatima and keep a small picture of Jesus or a large crucifix nearby while praying. While saying the Hail Mary’s, I focus heavily on the picture of Mary, as it really helps me to concentrate and mean the words I am saying.

Yesterday, after about the third decade, while saying the Hail Mary and looking at the picture, the picture suddenly appears to flash, it kind of turns blue or white and the small area around it, kind of flashes as well. Its hard to describe, but the picture didn’t display the same colours it did before,t was like someone took a photograph of it. At the same time of the flash, I felt like something going on in my brain! It was like a small electric shock, without the electricity. Like a mini-shock wave or buzz. I didn’t feel pain, just a bit funny for about a second.

After that, I stopped praying and was literally stunned! I couldn’t speak for a few seconds, it was a really weird sensation, then I said aloud to myself, " What was that?", then I tried to concentrate again and found I had lost the will to speak completely. Physically it felt slightly difficult to speak, but mentally, it was really strange, like I couldn’t speak, and I couldn’t and didnt actually speak for about 10-15 seconds maybe. It felt so weird, not like it wasnt me anymore or I was another person, but I felt ever so slightly detached.

It took me a while to get back into the Rosary, but then I was scared to look at Mary and the last two decades was said pretty poorly as I was scared it would happen again and more severely.

Now, I’m thinking it could be two things.

It could have been a eye-brain thing, where I was staring at something for so long and so intently that it caused some kind of neurological disturbance and disturbed activity. I’m a student nurse, so it doesnt sound completely unfeasable.

The second theory is that is was a demonic attack to stop me from praying. Maybe satan sees I am on the right path and tried to disturb and scare me off it.

What do you think?
 
I think it most likely would be something with your retina or iris. These are both very sensitive parts of the human body, and respond very drastically to changes in light.
Also, just as you can look at a 2D image and it becomes 3D (optical illusion), maybe it was just the brain playing tricks on you.

The rosary is one of the most powerful set of prayers, I don’t know if a demon could even stand being in the vicinity of a person reciting the rosary.
 
Optical illusion… like this:


Stare at the image for 60 seconds then stare at the wall.

Stare at anything for 60 seconds or so and you’ll start to see the ‘burn in’ of the colors you were looking at and they’ll appear as opposite colors. The more you stare the more the image before you may start to shimmer or move as your eye moves a little causing the burned in image to ‘float’ off a little… don’t know if I made sense … just try it out when you’re not praying the rosary and you’ll see what I mean and that it happens all the time when you stare at anything for at least a minute or so…
 
I implore you, and anyone else who sees flashes of light, to see an oculist.

This happened to me, and it turned out to be my retina tearing.
Don't put it off !
 
MaryDS said:
Hello all

I’ve recently become much stronger in my faith and have started attending the old Mass or Latin Mass. I have also recently started saying the Rosary and have done so, nearly daily for about 10-14 days.

I have a picture about 10" by 8" on the wall at the foot of my bed of Our Lady of Fatima and keep a small picture of Jesus or a large crucifix nearby while praying. While saying the Hail Mary’s, I focus heavily on the picture of Mary, as it really helps me to concentrate and mean the words I am saying.

Yesterday, after about the third decade, while saying the Hail Mary and looking at the picture, the picture suddenly appears to flash, it kind of turns blue or white and the small area around it, kind of flashes as well. Its hard to describe, but the picture didn’t display the same colours it did before,t was like someone took a photograph of it. At the same time of the flash, I felt like something going on in my brain! It was like a small electric shock, without the electricity. Like a mini-shock wave or buzz. I didn’t feel pain, just a bit funny for about a second.

After that, I stopped praying and was literally stunned! I couldn’t speak for a few seconds, it was a really weird sensation, then I said aloud to myself, " What was that?", then I tried to concentrate again and found I had lost the will to speak completely. Physically it felt slightly difficult to speak, but mentally, it was really strange, like I couldn’t speak, and I couldn’t and didnt actually speak for about 10-15 seconds maybe. It felt so weird, not like it wasnt me anymore or I was another person, but I felt ever so slightly detached.

It took me a while to get back into the Rosary, but then I was scared to look at Mary and the last two decades was said pretty poorly as I was scared it would happen again and more severely.

Now, I’m thinking it could be two things.

It could have been a eye-brain thing, where I was staring at something for so long and so intently that it caused some kind of neurological disturbance and disturbed activity. I’m a student nurse, so it doesnt sound completely unfeasable.

The second theory is that is was a demonic attack to stop me from praying. Maybe satan sees I am on the right path and tried to disturb and scare me off it.

What do you think?
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I think you should see a doctor. If a patient came to you, as a nurse, and described such symptoms, coupled with the short period of being unable to speak, what would you tell them? At the least you could rule out something neurological (like a TIA or seizure) before ascribing something to an eye-brain thing, which generally would not cause such physical symptoms, or a demon, which is even more unlikely.
 
The best thing to do is get your eyes examined. That will help find out if this is just a strange vision problem or not. That’s the first step.

Just keep on praying and do not stop; the first place the devil will be found is in attempts to get you to stop praying for any reason.
 
I don’t claim to know what happened, but I do know this: When a person begins to go through a conversion (and I would describe what you are going through as a degree of conversion) two things happen: 1.) The devil will attack you, and 2.) God will send you consolations.

When I went through my conversion I experienced both. I experienced serious attacks by the devil, and I also experienced consolations from God.

If what you experienced was an attack by the devil or a consolation from God, a good spiritual directer should be able to discern it. Mention it to the Priest at the church you have been attending and see what he says.

One of the signs that it was from God is that you might have felt a sense of encouragement and enlightenment. If it was from the devil, you probably might have experienced a sertain amount of anxiety, sadness, or despair. From what you wrote, it doesn’t seem to be a consolation from God.

You may want to look up The Rules for Discerning the Spirits by St. Ignatius. The “rules” were given to him directly by the Blessed mother. You should be able to locate them by doing a google search.
 
Well, it could be that you have an eye problem, But, don’t rule out some sort of spiritual communication. I have had a similiar thing happen but with my Devotion to the Infant of Prague. Some years ago I purchased a very expensive statue of the Holy Infant. Since then I have said the Novena to Him on a perpetual basis.

If I concentrate really intently, I will occassionaly have this same “optical” experience. I think it is a physical thing from intense concentration but I would never rule out something spiritual.

I have also had a similar experience while saying the Litany to the Holy Angels. I fell almost into a trance but snapped out of it when someone or thing held my hand. There was no one else in the house. It kind of spooked me for a while. But I am back at it hoping to experience it again.

Nice to know other can experience this sort of thing.
 
Let’s look at the fruits of what happened.
  1. It stopped you from praying
  2. It stopped your speech, thus you couldn’t pray .
  3. You felt Confused and Disoriented , and so couldn’t concentrate to pray.
  4. You were afraid to look at a picture of holy Mary.
  5. You had feelings of anxiety, and fear.
So knowing all this …I’d say it comes from the Fallen One’s. I think you probably know this in your heart.

Some Prayers to St Michael St Gabriel, St Raphael, St Ariel, St Phanuel, Guardian Angel are suggested for protection.
 
SoulRebel111 said:
Let’s look at the fruits of what happened.
  1. It stopped you from praying
  2. It stopped your speech, thus you couldn’t pray .
  3. You felt Confused and Disoriented , and so couldn’t concentrate to pray.
  4. You were afraid to look at a picture of holy Mary.
  5. You had feelings of anxiety, and fear.
So knowing all this …I’d say it comes from the Fallen One’s. I think you probably know this in your heart.

Some Prayers to St Michael St Gabriel, St Raphael, St Ariel, St Phanuel, Guardian Angel are suggested for protection.
Click to expand...
I agree. Even if what you saw is wholly physiological in nature, the devil is instilling fear into you to harm your prayer life and your walk with the Lord.

Whatever you do, don’t give up your prayer life!
 
paperwight said:
I implore you, and anyone else who sees flashes of light, to see an oculist.

This happened to me, and it turned out to be my retina tearing.

Don’t put it off !
Click to expand...
CB_Catholic said:
I think you should see a doctor. If a patient came to you, as a nurse, and described such symptoms, coupled with the short period of being unable to speak, what would you tell them? At the least you could rule out something neurological (like a TIA or seizure) before ascribing something to an eye-brain thing, which generally would not cause such physical symptoms, or a demon, which is even more unlikely.
Click to expand...
Just agreeing with these posters.
Be sure to explain the circumstances under which it happened.
 
Many thanks to all who have responded.

Hope to speak to my tutor soon; she has a wealth of medical experience and is Catholic, so she should prove a valuable help. I will of course speak to my priest as well.
 
I would tend to believe it a demonic attack, I have had several that resemble your description and could yes be described basically as a slightly disorienting electric shock to the mind.

For such a case I would prescribe the constant wearing of the St. Benedict’s medal or crucifix, properly blessed with the full exorcism blessing. Also, holy water, and holy oil, and the St. Michael prayer for basic relief.

If you’ve attracted enough attention you will have to do more than that, but that will be of use.

Above all else do not let your rosary devotion suffer, and remember the power of the Holy Name: Jesus, spoken and prayed.
 
This sounds like a demonic attack. But I think you already knew that. The devil is trying to stop you from praying, and stop your deep concentration. I have had these same exact things happen to me during my most peaceful and deep prayers. Keep praying, and as stated pray to St. Micheal.

In Christ,
Nicole
 
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