The most depressing thing about Catholicism - no mystics living on earth

[BobCatholic]

Yes, there are tons of them living in heaven.

But none on earth.

I wanted to talk to someone who had a connection with God so I could ask questions to God through them. God won’t talk to me, but maybe I could talk to God through them.

There are no living mystics on earth.

This is depressing.

This means there is no way for me to ever have a two-way conversation with God.

 

[Casilda]

They are out there. Some Catholic, some Eastern Orthodox. We ourselves must search for them. They are in monasteries, convents. Some lead ordinary lives and are unnoticed because of our hurried existence. They smile at us. Sometimes they ask us questions, to make us think.

Yes, they can be elusive.

 

[BobCatholic]

They are out there. Some Catholic, some Eastern Orthodox. We ourselves must search for them. They are in monasteries, convents. Some lead ordinary lives and are unnoticed because of our hurried existence. They smile at us. Sometimes they ask us questions, to make us think.

Yes, they can be elusive.

But how do I find them? It is impossible

 

[bardegaulois]

But how do I find them? It is impossible

Most of our mystics have been religious, right? Visit a nearby monastery and you’ll probably meet a couple.

 

[Bulbasaur05]

Try some monastic pilgrimages. Many are old and reclusive.

 

[fhansen]

Yes, there are tons of them living in heaven.

But none on earth.

I wanted to talk to someone who had a connection with God so I could ask questions to God through them. God won’t talk to me, but maybe I could talk to God through them.

There are no living mystics on earth.

This is depressing.

This means there is no way for me to ever have a two-way conversation with God.

They don’t necessarily talk to God in that manner anyway, as if they could serve as a direct mediator between you and Him.

 

[TK421]

Yes, there are tons of them living in heaven.

But none on earth.

I wanted to talk to someone who had a connection with God so I could ask questions to God through them. God won’t talk to me, but maybe I could talk to God through them.

There are no living mystics on earth.

This is depressing.

This means there is no way for me to ever have a two-way conversation with God.

There are mystics alive on Earth, and they don’t have casual conversations with God.

 

[lax16]

Yes, there are tons of them living in heaven.

But none on earth.

I wanted to talk to someone who had a connection with God so I could ask questions to God through them. God won’t talk to me, but maybe I could talk to God through them.

There are no living mystics on earth.

This is depressing.

This means there is no way for me to ever have a two-way conversation with God.

What do you mean by a mystic?

 

[powerofk]

Yes, there are tons of them living in heaven.

But none on earth.

I wanted to talk to someone who had a connection with God so I could ask questions to God through them. God won’t talk to me, but maybe I could talk to God through them.

There are no living mystics on earth.

This is depressing.

This means there is no way for me to ever have a two-way conversation with God.

First of all, it’s quite possible for you to have a 2-way conversation with God. First of all, who speaks through scripture if not God Himself? Second of all, you might want to pray meditative prayers. Stay in silence before the Blessed Sacrament. Tune out your distractions. God will speak to you in the smallest corner of your heart. And if not there, He will send you people to guide you in the direction He wants you to go.

As for mystics - mysticism is quite alive and well. But to be a mystic is as much a cross to bear as it is a gift. It’s not easy to bear Divine visions on a fairly regular basis. And, most people aren’t declared to be “mystics” until after they have passed on and their lives have been opened and examined. Why? Because the Church needs to examine whether their private revelations and charitable works jive with the gospel.

 

[Elizium23]

Conversations with God

God speaks through dates

Has something happened in your life that you just cannot make sense of? Perhaps an untimely death, or a sudden loss. I remember how awed I was the week of 9/11 when I realized it fell the same week in 2001 as the Triumph of the Cross and the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days (a time of seeking forgiveness, extending mercy, and averting judgment). But we don’t just need perspective on tragedies. The timing of a birth or stroke of good fortune also might be explained by a look at the liturgical calendar.

God speaks through impulses

As I drove home, I stopped at a light and noticed a homeless person. He caught my eye, smiled, and pointed to the rainbow that was arcing overhead. (Yes, I realize how clichéd that must sound now, but I swear that is just what happened.) I smiled back, said a silent prayer. Then I noticed he was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts. He wasn’t shivering, but the rain had to be uncomfortable. Without really thinking about it, I rolled down my window and offered the jacket. Would he want it? He seemed startled, but replied that, yes, he could use it because he was not ready for winter. I handed him the jacket just as the light turned green.

In retrospect, I know that the impulse I had was unusual for me. I’m the kind of person who is extremely uncomfortable with strangers, and initiating a conversation (as distinguished from just handing out assistance) is not something I am often able to do. I can only conclude that the impulse and the grace to follow through was an answer to all those Hail Marys. I could have drawn back from the impulse, driven on, and I would not have sinned in doing so. But God answered my prayer by making it possible for me to do something bigger than I usually could have done.

You are probably having all kinds of two-way conversations with God, and you just don’t know it yet.

 

[ichabode]

This means there is no way for me to ever have a two-way conversation with God.

Bob, maybe that is your problem you are talking too much. Perhaps just sit, don’t fidget, and listen in front of the tabernacle. It sounds like God might not be able to get in a word.

 

[franklinstower]

Yes, there are tons of them living in heaven.

But none on earth.

I wanted to talk to someone who had a connection with God so I could ask questions to God through them. God won’t talk to me, but maybe I could talk to God through them.

There are no living mystics on earth.

This is depressing.

This means there is no way for me to ever have a two-way conversation with God.

Your understanding of what it means to be a mystic is inaccurate. Even the greatest of the saints and mystics or even the prophets of old could not sit down and just ask any question they wanted and get answers to those questions. God reveals insight to the mystic in Gods time and the subject matter is Gods choosing not their own. The only people who clam to be able to do what you are looking for are Channels from the New Age movement and they are not talking to God.

What you really need is a qualified spiritual director. I found mine in a Trappist monastery- he is a mystic and a contemplative and it was been wonderful. He can give guidance but he cannot just get direct answers from God-- that is a myth for the most part. You need someone qualified who can sit down with you in person and help you make sense of all of this in my opinion

Another suggestion-- go to the spirituality section of this forum and ask the same question, there are lots of people there who are nuns and such who could help…

You can enter into very deep connection with God in silence- something much better than getting answers to questions, you can learn to dwell in Gods presence and be transformed by it. God does speak to all of us but not in words.

 

[CRATUS]

Yes, there are tons of them living in heaven.

But none on earth.

I wanted to talk to someone who had a connection with God so I could ask questions to God through them. God won’t talk to me, but maybe I could talk to God through them.

There are no living mystics on earth.

This is depressing.

This means there is no way for me to ever have a two-way conversation with God.

I thought we talk to God through prayer. I would be very careful about people who claim to have a personal mystical connection to God, especially if they are demanding money. They can manipulate you.

 

[E_7]

Besides Scripture, God speaks to you through people that are in state of grace because they are like instruments of God , just like people in mortal sin are instruments of the devil.

 

[chimo]

Yes, there are tons of them living in heaven.

But none on earth.

I wanted to talk to someone who had a connection with God so I could ask questions to God through them. God won’t talk to me, but maybe I could talk to God through them.

There are no living mystics on earth.

This is depressing.

This means there is no way for me to ever have a two-way conversation with God.

What do you want to ask God about?

 

[Exiled_Child]

Yes, there are tons of them living in heaven.

But none on earth.

I wanted to talk to someone who had a connection with God so I could ask questions to God through them. God won’t talk to me, but maybe I could talk to God through them.

There are no living mystics on earth.

This is depressing.

This means there is no way for me to ever have a two-way conversation with God.

Oh, they’re out there, Bob. I mean, I guess it hinges upon your definition of “mystic.” I would point to Francis and Benedict, to begin with. They would both surely fit any definition of mystic people might have. In my opinion, at least. But if you don’t mind, may I recommend a couple books? One is something I found in a used bookstore a while ago, entitled, The Wisdom of the English Mystics, by Robert Way. It’s a lively and engaging survey of people like Julian of Norwich, Richard Rolle, Margaret Kirkeby, Walter Hilton, William Blake and the unknown author of The Cloud of Unknowing, among others. (Robert Way also did a great job translating Cloud himself; I read his translation daily.) Anyway, one thing he gets across rather well, is that the whole enterprise of an active comtemplative prayer life is necessarily secretive. There may not seem a lot of mystics and holy people, but we would have no way to know one way or the other. We all have our own private relationships with God, in other words. The second book I wanted to recommend is called, The Cloud Upon the Sanctuary, by a very pious German Catholic named Karl von Eckartshausen. His book is Beauty and Grace itself! I suspect that book would strongly resonate with you; it certainly did with me. Please, do yourself an enormous favor and read that book. It’s quite possible today’s hidden mystics will find you, before you find them!

amazon.com/Cloud-upon-Sanctuary-Karl-Eckartshausen/dp/1442161205/

 

[BobCatholic]

There are mystics alive on Earth, and they don’t have casual conversations with God.

OK, so how does one have a personal relationship with someone who won’t talk to you?

Bob, maybe that is your problem you are talking too much. Perhaps just sit, don’t fidget, and listen in front of the tabernacle. It sounds like God might not be able to get in a word.

I can’t believe God is unable to do anything, there goes omnipotence…

 

[BobCatholic]

What do you mean by a mystic?

A mystic is someone who has 2 way conversations with God.

I am only able to have one way. Prayer is a monologue only.
That’s why I pray for others and won’t pray for my needs, I only have a corporate relationship with God, not a personal one.

First of all, it’s quite possible for you to have a 2-way conversation with God. First of all, who speaks through scripture if not God Himself?

Scripture does not give me any personal answers.

Second of all, you might want to pray meditative prayers. Stay in silence before the Blessed Sacrament. Tune out your distractions. God will speak to you in the smallest corner of your heart. And if not there, He will send you people to guide you in the direction He wants you to go.

The nearest church with Eucharistic adoration is so far away. It is far easier for me to find a mystic in a monastery far away.

 

[BobCatholic]

I thought we talk to God through prayer. I would be very careful about people who claim to have a personal mystical connection to God, especially if they are demanding money. They can manipulate you.

To me prayer is a monologue. The answer usually is “no” or no answer at all, so I now only pray for others, since anything I cannot count on anything good I ask for.

I know about the scam artists who ask for money like that, I’ll avoid them like the plague.

What do you want to ask God about?

How I can actually have a personal relationship with someone who refuses to talk to me? (namely Him) If my wife never talked to me again (by her choice), that does not tell me my marriage is doing fine. To me, God being silent is like giving me the silent treatment, that he’s angry or disappointed in me. Or he thinks I’ll never make it to heaven, so why bother?

Besides Scripture, God speaks to you through people that are in state of grace because they are like instruments of God , just like people in mortal sin are instruments of the devil.

I’ve gotten conflicting and contradictory messages from people who are not having 2 way conversations with God.

 

[BobCatholic]

You are probably having all kinds of two-way conversations with God, and you just don’t know it yet.

That may have been in the past, but not anymore.

Your understanding of what it means to be a mystic is inaccurate. Even the greatest of the saints and mystics or even the prophets of old could not sit down and just ask any question they wanted and get answers to those questions.

That makes things more depressing.

God reveals insight to the mystic in Gods time and the subject matter is Gods choosing not their own. The only people who clam to be able to do what you are looking for are Channels from the New Age movement and they are not talking to God.

To me, God’s time appears to be never, and the the subject matter is who knwos?

I avoid the New Age stuff.

What you really need is a qualified spiritual director. I found mine in a Trappist monastery- he is a mystic and a contemplative and it was been wonderful. He can give guidance but he cannot just get direct answers from God-- that is a myth for the most part. You need someone qualified who can sit down with you in person and help you make sense of all of this in my opinion

I tried, can’t find one.

Another suggestion-- go to the spirituality section of this forum and ask the same question, there are lots of people there who are nuns and such who could help…

Been there, done that.

You can enter into very deep connection with God in silence- something much better than getting answers to questions, you can learn to dwell in Gods presence and be transformed by it. God does speak to all of us but not in words.

Getting the silent treatment from God is a horrible thing. It is like he’s disappointed in me, or I’ll never make it to heaven so why bother talking to me - waste of time.