Visions from God

[misfitz]

I posted the following in the forum where the moderators answer. But, I’d like some opinions from people here about this. Most especially if anyone has dealt with anything similar.

My mother claims to have visions and/or understandings from God and I’m not sure what I am to believe. She claims to be shown things about the guys I’ve gone out with and about the one I’m now engaged to. Some of the things she has told me are that he has been shown to her as being “black”, meaning evil. That he was responsible for his wife’s death. He is a widow and his wife died during her pregnancy due to amniotic embolism. My mother claims that he injured her in some way, possibly forcing himself on her while she was pregnant.

With regard to the last boyfriend, she claims that Jesus showed her that his sister and mother are whores.

I was a member of a Catholic singles site which she told me she was shown as being evil and that Jesus said is a mess.

I’m not sure whether or not to believe that God would show her things. How do I know if it’s God and not the devil? She claims that many of the things are shown to her while she attends mass.

And it’s not just me she is shown things about. She has also told me about things concerning my brother, his wife, and his in-laws. And also things pertaining to me and the people at my job.

She claims that she has had these “visions” for several years now and that she was shown things about my father as they went through a divorce.

What am I to make of this? It puts fear and confusion in me most especially with my fiance.

What am I to believe? She has told me things that are true.

 

[Tietjen]

I posted the following in the forum where the moderators answer. But, I’d like some opinions from people here about this. Most especially if anyone has dealt with anything similar.

My mother claims to have visions and/or understandings from God and I’m not sure what I am to believe. She claims to be shown things about the guys I’ve gone out with and about the one I’m now engaged to. Some of the things she has told me are that he has been shown to her as being “black”, meaning evil. That he was responsible for his wife’s death. He is a widow and his wife died during her pregnancy due to amniotic embolism. My mother claims that he injured her in some way, possibly forcing himself on her while she was pregnant.

With regard to the last boyfriend, she claims that Jesus showed her that his sister and mother are whores.

I was a member of a Catholic singles site which she told me she was shown as being evil and that Jesus said is a mess.

I’m not sure whether or not to believe that God would show her things. How do I know if it’s God and not the devil? She claims that many of the things are shown to her while she attends mass.

And it’s not just me she is shown things about. She has also told me about things concerning my brother, his wife, and his in-laws. And also things pertaining to me and the people at my job.

She claims that she has had these “visions” for several years now and that she was shown things about my father as they went through a divorce.

What am I to make of this? It puts fear and confusion in me most especially with my fiance.

What am I to believe? She has told me things that are true.

I would question it. I sounds more to me like a control issue and/or perhaps a mental health issue. I can’t imagine Jesus showing someone that someone else was a “whore.”

 

[misfitz]

I would question it. I sounds more to me like a control issue and/or perhaps a mental health issue. I can’t imagine Jesus showing someone that someone else was a “whore.”

Thank you for responding. A priest told me the same thing about the “whore” comment. Unfortunately, the priest was unable to help me discern one way or another as to her visions…whether they be from God or the devil. He left me feeling that it was possible that her visions could be from both.

Again, thanks for the response!

 

[Dragoro]

Somehow I think if God was going to give someone visions, it would be for more important things than a dating website, boyfriends and the such. I imagine she’s just old fashioned and can’t wrap her head around it.

 

[Reynardus]

I can’t say whether or not it comes from God but from what you’ve posted, it doesn’t seem like it. I can’t imagine God revealing personal things freely with such openness which seems to border on slander. The one person I could think of that had such a gift was St. Pio and he only revealed things when it was necessary for one’s conversion or repentance and in a charitable, firm manner. Certainly not insulting nor in public. (I think)

Has any of what she said been verified with evidence? Are you sure it’s not being made up?

If you are fearful that she might reveal some personal hidden things and if it is indeed preternatural (coming from the devil as opposed to coming from God which is supernatural) then you can remedy part of the problem by making a good confession. I’ve heard Catholic Demonologists say the demonic cannot reveal things said under confession.

 

[misfitz]

I can’t say whether or not it comes from God but from what you’ve posted, it doesn’t seem like it. I can’t imagine God revealing personal things freely with such openness which seems to border on slander. The one person I could think of that had such a gift was St. Pio and he only revealed things when it was necessary for one’s conversion or repentance and in a charitable, firm manner. Certainly not insulting nor in public. (I think)

Has any of what she said been verified with evidence? Are you sure it’s not being made up?

If you are fearful that she might reveal some personal hidden things and if it is indeed preternatural (coming from the devil as opposed to coming from God which is supernatural) then you can remedy part of the problem by making a good confession. I’ve heard Catholic Demonologists say the demonic cannot reveal things said under confession.

I’m not sure that any of it can be verified with evidence. I will have to concentrate on what else she has told me. It seems to me that anyone else could have come up with the same stories with the info I’ve given her. Except of course for the mother and sister comment. That was just strange.

 

[Danuska]

I know some people who have a gift of vision, including some priests - they are associated with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, that is why I think that it is highly improbably that your mother has this kind of gift. Especially if you read about discernment, gifts of the Holy Spirit will help you grow spiritually, the fruit will be peace and love, the visions of your mother disturb your peace, and they do not build your faith or anything like that. It could have something to do with mental disorder or I do not know what, but I am fairly sure that you should not take them that seriuosly.

And others who wrote before me here can also be right, that gift could be from an evil one. some time ago i read a story about a guy who got a gift of healing and he could tell the sins of the poeple who came to visit him. He even moved to Lourds, trying to serve poeple. But he noticed one thing, his own spiritual life was not getting any better, he was impatient with people, didn’t feel like praying and so on. And the poeple who visited him, usually left sad and disturbed and not consoled. Then he prayed to God, offered his gifts to God asking Him to do with them what He pleases. And his gifts disappered - God took them away, because they were never from Him in the first place.

Read Galatians chapter 5 on the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

 

[misfitz]

I know I’ve read about saints who were shown what hell was like. Does anyone know if there is any record of a saint being shown the sins of a person?

 

[mdgspencer]

Some visions are true, sometimes they do not occur or are not from God. You will have to discern this for yourself, and yoiu should discern this. It is difficult to give more advice about something from a distance.

 

[Danuska]

Misfitz, for exampl St Faustina could see the heart of the person, but that happened because God wanted that person to get on the right path in life, or because they came with false intentions to Faustina but pretended to come with kindness.

And of course, Padre Pio or St John Vianney, two of the most famous confessors who told the sins of the people, but again, what was the purpose? And when one man, who fathered a child with one woman, accused Fr Vianney that it was his, he never denied it, until that man called it off on his deathbed. So he not only didnt slander others, he allowed others to slander him.

 

[mdgspencer]

The Cure d"Ars knew the sins of people when they were with him in confession, and in fact, would remind them of sins they had forgotten. Of course, the fact that some people have had such knowledge doesn’t mean that everyone that claims such knowledge has it, and it is best to be very careful about such claims.

I know I’ve read about saints who were shown what hell was like. Does anyone know if there is any record of a saint being shown the sins of a person?

 

[SwizzleStick]

As others have posted, this sounds like a control or mental health issue to me. Why would the Lord give anyone such specific (and negative) information about individuals? If He were giving someone visions, I would think it would be more general and more inclusive, say involving the human race or the people in a specific country or area, not just specific individuals. I have no way of knowing anything for sure, but what you have described just does not seem likely to me.

 

[Sir_Knight]

None of us can say with COMPLETE certainty that these “visions” are not of a heavenly nature. However, as others have already pointed out, whenever heaven touches earth, it is usually for reasons that involve many and not just a few.

 

[wcknight]

Visions or insights from God occasionally happen to people of extraordinary faith. Padre Pio and a few others could “read folks soul” For instance he could tell if someone was not truthful during confession. On the surface it does seem as if your mother is using this as a way to control your life.

Does your mother appear to be especially saintly or pious ? Has any of her insights turned out to be untrue as far as you can tell ?

Spreading gossip or disparaging other folks does not appear to be a saintly trait. However, she may be a walking saint and especially blessed with messages from God. I would think most folks could tell if someone were saintly or just speculating with made up suppositions. Most of the saints I’ve read about were paticularly charitable, and their reputations and actions spoke for themselves long before they were declared saints officially.

 

[puzzleannie]

I My mother claims to have visions and/or understandings from God and I’m not sure what I am to believe. e.

someone who claims to have visions from God does not necessarily have this gift. all such visions, locutions, apparitions, messages etc. must be submitted to one’s confessor or spiritual director for discernment. Otherwise the person should simply disregard such things. that is the classical advice from Christian spiritual directors such as John of the Cross. To attempt to use such things to influence and manipulate the behavior of other people, esp. one’s children, is unhealthy at best, and could be something worse. If you feel she is delusional you should make sure she gets professional help. If you are an adult of reasonable intelligence and maturity you should be handling your own relationships w/o the control of your parents.

If the individual refuses to submit such events to spiritual direction and discernment in the mind of the Church, that can be taken as proof the messages are not from God. the priest has to talk to her, not you, nor should he be discussing this with you, as it is her business.

 

[misfitz]

someone who claims to have visions from God does not necessarily have this gift. all such visions, locutions, apparitions, messages etc. must be submitted to one’s confessor or spiritual director for discernment. Otherwise the person should simply disregard such things. that is the classical advice from Christian spiritual directors such as John of the Cross. To attempt to use such things to influence and manipulate the behavior of other people, esp. one’s children, is unhealthy at best, and could be something worse. If you feel she is delusional you should make sure she gets professional help. If you are an adult of reasonable intelligence and maturity you should be handling your own relationships w/o the control of your parents.

If the individual refuses to submit such events to spiritual direction and discernment in the mind of the Church, that can be taken as proof the messages are not from God. the priest has to talk to her, not you, nor should he be discussing this with you, as it is her business.

I had told her some time ago that I no longer wanted her telling me of her visions. She went ahead anyway and told me some things this week. Should she do this again, I intend to tell her that she needs to speak to a priest about this. I agree that it’s unhealthy, as it adds confusion and fear to my mind.

 

[Sir_Knight]

Definitely remind your mother that ALL messages / visions from above are subject to church authority …

*But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! – *Galatians 1:8