Saint John Bosco

[martin]

I find morning prayer most difficult as I be thinking far ahead of myself and usually get them done haphazardly on the go.. At night though I try and make up for it when I'm much more settled in mind.
I was thinking maybe that's why I have such dreams as I pray shortly before I sleep and be in a calmer disposition than I be during the day. 

[Brigid]

I find morning prayer most difficult as I be thinking far ahead of myself and usually get them done haphazardly on the go.. At night though I try and make up for it when I'm much more settled in mind.
I was thinking maybe that's why I have such dreams as I pray shortly before I sleep and be in a calmer disposition than I be during the day.  

That could be, although He can, of course, show us dreams no matter when (or if) we pray. Have you had a number of these dreams?

[martin]

Have you had a number of these dreams?

Fairly regularly.. Most I can dismiss quite easily but others stay with me for many days or weeks or even months.
I can call those ones to mind at certain times when having difficulties and draw much encouragement from what I learnt in them.
I don't know how much credibility it is prudent to attach to them but in many cases they have helped me. That's why I be reluctant to dismiss them totally.

[Brigid]

Have you had a number of these dreams?

Fairly regularly.. Most I can dismiss quite easily but others stay with me for many days or weeks or even months.
I can call those ones to mind at certain times when having difficulties and draw much encouragement from what I learnt in them.
I don't know how much credibility it is prudent to attach to them but in many cases they have helped me. That's why I be reluctant to dismiss them totally.

Seems to me that if they help you, it would be a shame to dismiss them, whether they are sent from Him or a product of your own inner self. You do need to be very discerning, but it seems as if (from your other posts) that isn't a problem for you.

[Bailey2]

Martin, how I wish you had a sp dir to lay these dreams before..........
I have had a few; and only at certain times in my life... then they completely go away for years.  And, my my...... what reversals in life come of them! 

I think it is good not to attach to them........ they are just one way of many I think , that God communicates.

Brigid, I tend to think that God is so within us that even if it comes from the inner self, God is there...... if it leads one towards holiness.   

[Brigid]

I agree, Bailey, however there is that which comes from God Transcendent (rather than God Immanent) and also that within us that has some concupiscence attached.

[Bailey2]

I agree, Bailey, however there is that which comes from God Transcendent (rather than God Immanent) and also that within us that has some concupiscence attached.

Yes, but both are communicated to flawed human beings and can be misinterpreted because of concupiscence or just because of being human; why sp. dir. is a good thing and also discernment in general...... and why I agree with Martin about not becoming attached to any experience, including dreams!      But, that is not to say these things can be a powerful means of an ever-deepening conversion....... oops, there is that deep word again!   

[martin]

I agree, Bailey, however there is that which comes from God Transcendent (rather than God Immanent) and also that within us that has some concupiscence attached.

That is so true.. A good reason to take advice as Baily said.. Discernment sometimes can be a gift one gives to another but to self-discern our own experiences might not be the most prudent thing to do as it's hard to look at our own circumstances with any true detachment whereas some one else can look from the outside in so to speak and see a clearer picture of things.
We all have dreams and to take up someones time with them (a Priest for instance) maybe verging on OTT. But if they seem to be leading one in a particular direction, maybe it would be wise to talk them over with someone..
So far it has not been the case where a dream has made me question anything of faith nor lead me in any specific direction . More like confirmation of things already known or a clearer understanding of them.
It may not be the wisest topic for a new thread as there would be limits to what could be discussed on an open forum and visions of it degenerating into a free-for-all if certain elements in the wider world got wind of it
We have a library full of books dealing with this topic but can't find one credible catholic author on the subject therefore I haven't read any of them. The whole subject seems to have been commandeered by the New Agers..

Wise advice from you both Brigid and Baily. I get much SD on this forum. 

[Patricia]

I have the weirdest dreams, so I have stopped paying attention to them.   

[Patricia]

John listened, and followed Comollo to confession. But turning the other cheek never came easy to him. He would force himself to it, but it would never become something congenial to him.

To do violence to oneself .  Something I must learn to do. To break away even from something that is so part of my personality .  It could be judging a person before knowing the person well enough or being too impatient. 

[Bailey2]

It may not be the wisest topic for a new thread as there would be limits to what could be discussed on an open forum and visions of it degenerating into a free-for-all if certain elements in the wider world got wind of it Roll Eyes


agreed 

[Shin]

I must start doing a clearer evening prayer time. My morning prayer time is set and I make 'arrow' prayers all day long, but no set evening prayer as St. Bosco taught.

Aren't arrow prayers splendid? 


May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most incomprehensible and ineffable Name of God be forever praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified in Heaven, on Earth, and under the Earth by all the creatures of God and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.   Amen.

Jesus said "This Golden Arrow will wound My Heart delightfully, and heal the wounds inflicted by blasphemy."

Our Lord told Sister Marie de Saint-Piere on March 16, 1844,

"Oh, if you only knew what great merit you acquire by saying even once,
'Admirable is the name of God',
in the spirit of reparation of blasphemy!"

[Patricia]

I say the Golden Arrow prayer too.(whenever I remember)

[Patricia]

Exercise for a happy death

When my feet, benumbed in death, shall warn me that my mortal course is drawing to a close ----- Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me!
When my eyes, dim and troubled at the approach of death, shall fix themselves on thee, my last and only support ----- Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me!
When my ears, soon to be shut forever to the words of men, shall be opened to hear your voice pronouncing the sentence of my irrevocable doom -----Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me!
When I shall have lost the use of my senses;  when the world shall have vanished from my sight;  when my agonizing soul shall feel the sorrow of death ----Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me!

~~~ St. John Bosco

[Shin]

Exercise for a happy death

When my feet, benumbed in death, shall warn me that my mortal course is drawing to a close ----- Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me!
When my eyes, dim and troubled at the approach of death, shall fix themselves on thee, my last and only support ----- Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me!
When my ears, soon to be shut forever to the words of men, shall be opened to hear your voice pronouncing the sentence of my irrevocable doom -----Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me!
When I shall have lost the use of my senses;  when the world shall have vanished from my sight;  when my agonizing soul shall feel the sorrow of death ----Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me!

~~~ St. John Bosco

Oh I truly love this one Patricia, and I have never seen it before! I must add it to the site! It's beautiful and moving!

[Patricia]

I have another one on death and I will post it in the Guardian angel thread.   You know, each one of us is going to go through the last hour ( whether we like to think of it or not )  and it is going to be difficult.  We must begin praying right now while we are in our senses that grace may be given us in our last hour to sustain us and not let us fall into despair.