Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
God's Voice - How do i hear it?	Matthew	Thursday, July 5, 2007
Question: Brother Ignatius, I try and sit before the Lord in Eucharistic Adoration at least 2-3 times a week. I suffer from OCD (as i've told you in the past) and it is very very difficult to focus during prayer. The other night i was so very relaxed in there, that i actually began to drift off a little bit due to tiredness. During this sort of state (half asleep/half awake) i recall hearing a voice in my head saying, "I'm not here in the Eucharist, I'm not in the Catholic Church." Now, this obviously is not the voice of God, is it perhaps the devil making scary suggestions/temptations to me? How does one discern the true voice of God? How do i know when God is speaking to me and what am i to make of that voice that i heard? For that matter how does one discern whether it is the devil speaking or a voice from my own head, one of my own fears? Thanks for your help Brother.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Matthew: The answer is within your post. You KNOW that it is a lie when you hear a voice tell you "I'm not here in the Eucharist, I'm not in the Catholic Church." The first way to discern the voice of the devil is when that voice tells you a lie. God does not lie. When the voice uses a grain of truth to trick you but is really telling you a false teaching you know that it is the devil and not God. When a voice tries to convince you of anything not consistent with God's Revelation, it is the devil. This is why it is so important to know our Faith. If any voice tells you ANYTHING contrary to the official teaching of the Catholic Church, then that voice is the devil. Anytime a voice tells you things like, "You are not worthy of God's love; God does not love you; God will not forgive you", that is the voice of the devil. Again, knowing the Bible and knowing the Church teaching will alert us to these lies. The devil lies, distorts, exaggerates, obfuscates, tricks, or in any other way tries to lead you in a direction away from the Church and her teachings. So, know your faith and stand upon the sure and secure foundation of that faith. As St. Paul said, if anyone comes teaching a Gospel different than that which has been taught by the Church, then shun such a person for he is a false prophet, or a spirit not of God. If you are not sure about something, then ask someone who does know the faith well enough to discern the situation. In all events, stand upon the Rock of the Church. It is sure ground. 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

God's Voice - How do i hear it?

Matthew

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Question:

Brother Ignatius,
I try and sit before the Lord in Eucharistic Adoration at least 2-3 times a week. I suffer from OCD (as i've told you in the past) and it is very very difficult to focus during prayer.

The other night i was so very relaxed in there, that i actually began to drift off a little bit due to tiredness. During this sort of state (half asleep/half awake) i recall hearing a voice in my head saying, "I'm not here in the Eucharist, I'm not in the Catholic Church."

Now, this obviously is not the voice of God, is it perhaps the devil making scary suggestions/temptations to me? How does one discern the true voice of God? How do i know when God is speaking to me and what am i to make of that voice that i heard? For that matter how does one discern whether it is the devil speaking or a voice from my own head, one of my own fears? Thanks for your help Brother.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Matthew:

The answer is within your post. You KNOW that it is a lie when you hear a voice tell you "I'm not here in the Eucharist, I'm not in the Catholic Church."

The first way to discern the voice of the devil is when that voice tells you a lie. God does not lie. When the voice uses a grain of truth to trick you but is really telling you a false teaching you know that it is the devil and not God. When a voice tries to convince you of anything not consistent with God's Revelation, it is the devil.

This is why it is so important to know our Faith. If any voice tells you ANYTHING contrary to the official teaching of the Catholic Church, then that voice is the devil.

Anytime a voice tells you things like, "You are not worthy of God's love; God does not love you; God will not forgive you", that is the voice of the devil.

Again, knowing the Bible and knowing the Church teaching will alert us to these lies.

The devil lies, distorts, exaggerates, obfuscates, tricks, or in any other way tries to lead you in a direction away from the Church and her teachings.

So, know your faith and stand upon the sure and secure foundation of that faith. As St. Paul said, if anyone comes teaching a Gospel different than that which has been taught by the Church, then shun such a person for he is a false prophet, or a spirit not of God.

If you are not sure about something, then ask someone who does know the faith well enough to discern the situation.

In all events, stand upon the Rock of the Church. It is sure ground.

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