Talking with the Holy Spirit

[ThomasDoubter]

Hello all,

I was just flicking through a book by John and Lisa Bevere, which a missionary friend lent me a while back. In the book, they have several conversations with the Holy Spirit that could be transcripts of telephone conversations with friends. My wife read another borrowed book by a guy called Benny Hinn that had him talking to the Holy Spirit whilst brushing his teeth, or something to that effect.

As Catholics, have any of you experienced such a thing, or is ‘being with the Spirit’ reserved for those that are ‘born again’? Has the Holy Spirit, or the Blessed Virgin or a saint, ever conversed with you? Not a strong acknowledgement of Their presence, but an actual conversation?

For my part, I was most certainly guided back to Catholicism by the Holy Spirit. I had undergone a spirit baptism with Pentecostal friends, spoken in tongues (which I still can’t explain satisfactorily, even to myself!), and was embarking on a charismatic faith journey after years in the wilderness. However, it was the lack of the Lord’s Prayer at our services that first had me turning my head back towards the Church of my youth - the Catholic Church.

Through a growing uneasiness, I found myself reading the book on Jesus by Pope Benedict XVI. It has a sublime explanation of the Lord’s Prayer. I felt so inspired after reading it that I prayed the Lord’s Prayer immediately; which with my newfound understanding was as if for the first time. The power of it literally made me weep. The feeling of euphoria I had at that moment is difficult to describe. I called my wife upstairs and told her that I was going back to the Church. She (a non-catholic) was surprised, but quite moved herself by my conviction and the sheer joy I expressed.

I am convinced that it was the Holy Spirit that led me back to the Catholic faith. Yet through all of this, I never felt that I was spoken to in actual words. It was more a feeling of being guided.

 

[Ben_F]

I believe that thoughts are not our own. We have dark thoughts as well as thoughts of the light. I believe both have a scource. Paul asked God about the thorn in his side, in which the Lord replied that His Grace was sufficient. I´ve had that conversation also. Is this conversation with the Holy Spirit? I don´t know. I also read the Pope book, and now have a whole new outlook on the Lord´s Prayer. I don´t believe you can want anything that´s not covered in the Lord´s Prayer. I´ve also had other conversations with My Lord like the one above. The Devil has talked to me also. It´s hard to shut him up at times. God bless:thumbsup:

 

[Iotaunum]

Firstly, I would say that the Holy Spirit can and does answer prayer and guides people and gives them graces, especially bringing people to the Church of Christ. The Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church, and we recieve graces through the Holy Ghost by means of the sacraments and prayer. This is certain.

Secondly, there are many Saints who were privilaged with apparitions/locutions etc from Chirst, His blessed Mother, or another Saint and were guided by the Holy Ghost. However, this is not so frequent and I would avoid all people who claim to have conversations with the Holy Spirit- particularly charismatics, pentecostals and those who are “being with the spirit” , “have the gift of the spirit” or are “slain in the spirit” etc. This is not the Holy Spirit, nor anything like the gifts the Apostles received.

 

[Heuchler]

God may talk to some, but he probably isn’t talking to Benny Hinn. Hinn uses techniques that magicians and shamans have used to appear to heal others through God. Hinn is probably a fake seeking money and fame.

Don’t worry about the Holy Spirit talking to you. He probably won’t. Seek more to love others and to love God. I’m also glad to hear about your conversion to Catholicism. If the whole world would look deeply at the truths in The Our Father I believe humanity would have change if heart and the world would be changed forever. We would better resemble the love of Christ more and have a greater communion with God. There would be more saints in the world and more conversions to christianity. I guess we just need to spread the word then