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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Those chosen to receive visions and locutions.	Anne	Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Question: I was wondering: I know visions are usually given when something concrete is asked of the visionary. For instance, Saint Faustina and the Divine Mercy, St. Catherine Laboure and the miraculous medal. Since it is hard to say why certain people are chosen, is it possible that anyone with any mental condition, like depression, would never be picked because people would think they lost their minds and it would reduce credibility?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCL, LTh, DD, LNDC Dear Anne: God chooses whom he pleases. He is not deterred by anyone's mental condition. If He wishes to chose depressed person, for example, He will do so. Actually, many of the Saints, if evaluated under today's standards, would be considered mentally ill or have personality disorders or other emotional problems. One does need to discern the validity of any visions or other mystical experiences. Such discernment cannot be done by the visionary himself. A Spiritual Director must help the visionary make the discernment. As a general guide for discernment I recommend the book, A Still, Small Voice: A Practical Guide on Reported Revelations, by Father Benedict J. Groeschel. The direct answer to your question is that God will chose whomever He pleases. We need to remember that Moses stuttered in his speech making him ill equipped to confront the Pharaoh about letting the Jews leave Egypt. There is an old saying, "God does not called the equipped, He equips those whom He calls." God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Those chosen to receive visions and locutions.

Anne

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Question:

I was wondering: I know visions are usually given when something concrete is asked of the visionary. For instance, Saint Faustina and the Divine Mercy, St. Catherine Laboure and the miraculous medal.

Since it is hard to say why certain people are chosen, is it possible that anyone with any mental condition, like depression, would never be picked because people would think they lost their minds and it would reduce credibility?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCL, LTh, DD, LNDC

Dear Anne:

God chooses whom he pleases. He is not deterred by anyone's mental condition. If He wishes to chose depressed person, for example, He will do so.

Actually, many of the Saints, if evaluated under today's standards, would be considered mentally ill or have personality disorders or other emotional problems.

One does need to discern the validity of any visions or other mystical experiences. Such discernment cannot be done by the visionary himself. A Spiritual Director must help the visionary make the discernment.

As a general guide for discernment I recommend the book, A Still, Small Voice: A Practical Guide on Reported Revelations, by Father Benedict J. Groeschel.

The direct answer to your question is that God will chose whomever He pleases. We need to remember that Moses stuttered in his speech making him ill equipped to confront the Pharaoh about letting the Jews leave Egypt.

There is an old saying, "God does not called the equipped, He equips those whom He calls."

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum