Strong mental images and interior locutions while praying? What to do?

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Let me ask you some important questions at this point in my life. I have a doubt on how to act on interior locutions that I might get while in prayer, or even some brief and strong images that I have “seen” in my mind while praying.

To put things in perspective: I’ve been returning to God after some hedonistic years in which I wasn’t really serious about my faith. I still struggle to have a prayer schedule, but I try to pray, and I’m doing my best to live in a state of grace. Also, I must add that I have no mental illnesses (aside from being headache-prone/migraine sufferer) and I’m a quite analytical and emotionally stable person.

In the last times, while praying, I’ve “heard” the words “Trust Me” numerous times. That doesn’t worry me at all. But during a Mass, in the same fashion, and just after complaining a bit about a headache, I’ve “heard” → “they are your preparation for martyrdom”. This message has been repeated on new headaches along the last year.

Around 5 years before, and again, while praying and searching for God, I “saw” in my imagination a very clear image of a red Rosary, from whose cross were slowly falling blood drops. That brief image stroke me. I told God that His will be done, and just took it as a fancy reminder to pray the Rosary.

After dismissing it, and just a few weeks ago I received another strong image like that in my mind: I was at the Crucifixion scene, under the Cross, hugging it, and getting my face covered with the blood that dropped from Jesus. Again, it was a very brief but strong image.

Are these things normal while praying? How can I know if they’re true or they just come from my imagination or are even inspirations of the enemy? What could they mean (if anything)? Has anyone experienced something of the sort? How do you think I should act upon them?

Thank you very much for your time and advice.
 
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This is really not a place to discuss these spiritual matters. We are strangers to you. Please consult a priest.
 
Locutions are generally startlingly profound private revelations, where one definitively knows they’ve been communicated to by an “Other”. Same with visions. While incomparably affected the receiver isn’t particularly confused about the meaning. God does these things for a reason; the knowledge or experience gained having some purpose of His which doesn’t go unaccomplished even as it may be understood better in hindsight.
 
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The sign of the Holy Spirit’s presence or influence is, always and everywhere humility and unity. Anything which tends to separate or divide the Body of Christ is not from God.

Speak with Father and perhaps seek a spiritual director.
 
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All I can say is if I were you, I’d ask God to reveal what it is He wants me to know from these experiences. Ask how these experiences should be used to glorify Him.
 
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Saint John of the Cross said we should be careful about such experiences and not automatically accept them. The Bible also says “test everything” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
But here are some things to consider. Are such things serving your spiritual good? Do they help you love God? Do they help advance your prayers? Do they just leave you disturbed?
Such spiritual experiences can come from three things. From God. From your own mind. From the devil. So is is best to take care.
 
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Thank you again.

@po18guy @Codex I don’t currently have any spiritual director nor enough confidence with any priest to ask him such a thing. But I may search for one in the near future. I don’t see how these concrete experiences I mentioned could separate me from the Church. I mean, I’m the first one which is surprised and I just want to seek God.

@kb117 This is what I’ll do.

@mdgspencer
I know they can come from God or not. But I also know that God will use them even if they’re not from Him (otherwise, He wouldn’t have allowed them to happen).
To answer your questions:
Are such things serving my spiritual good? I don’t know yet, but I think they’re at a minimum a test for my trust in God.
Do they help me love God? I think they do. I’ve been far from Him for a good while, and I don’t deserve or need nothing of the sort.
Do they help advance in my prayers? At least, they remember me I must seek God, and that being close to Him implies some sacrifice.
Do they just leave me disturbed? They left me disturbed for a little while, until I accepted them and told God that His will be done. Now they just… surprise me, but they don’t worry me. I mean, if they turn to be literal and true, I’m glad God gives me this grace, and I must seek Him to be prepared. If they’re not, I must equally search for God. I don’t exactly know what to think about this, really. That’s why I shared it.

@Ksm2 I’ll leave you a reply there.
 
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