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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
I see energy fields around everything.	Marie	Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Question: I am new to this website and it is absolutely wonderful - thank you for all you have done and are continuing to do. I see "energy fields" because unlike a halo or aura, they are around everything, not just people - its around signs, buildings, benches, trees, animals, you name it. I really don't think its a vision problem. Could it be from God because I do not feel anything bad around me? Sometimes at Church I see a very prominent golden halo around some parishoners and the priest. And even around the statute of Jesus on the cross. The colors range from sort of a clear, to white to yellow, gray, dark gray. I was told by one priest that it is nothing to pay attention to and not to worry but I wanted your opinion also. He said it can be a Christian or non-Christian 'ability.' I am a very devout Catholic and returned to the faith very strongly after a deliverance almost a year ago. Can you direct me to some good reading on it - I'm just curious? My mother had the stigmata - just dark red spots on her wrists around Easter. Can spiritual gifts be inherited? Also, do you need more information to answer my question?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Marie: Your priest is correct, it could be a Godly ability, or it may not be. A third possibility is it could be a medical or psychiatric issue. I would advise seeing an Eye Doctor to rule out any natural causes or diseases of the eye. Also, you might consult with a psychiatrist to be sure there is no medical problems. The bottomline with anyone who has these sorts of experiences is to: 1) seek a medical/psychiatric evaluation to ensure there is not some natural explanation; 2) Ask God to take away the phenomena if it is not from Him (the problem is that if it does not go away that is not definitive proof that it is from God since our psychology could "keep it", thus #3 below is needed) 3) Seek a wise Spiritual Director. A good book to read that deals with mystical phenomena is "A Still, Small Voice: A Practical Guide on Reported Revelations" by Father Benedict J. Groeschel. In terms of finding a Spiritual Director I recommend the book, "Seeking Spiritual Direction: How to Grow the Divine Life Within", by Father Thomas Dubay As for your mother have the Stigmata, that is very unlikely. Stigmata is VERY rare and is a gift given only to the holiest of persons. If she is a stigmatic then the Church should be investigating. Stigmata-like effects can be produced psychologically. Frankly, and I hope you are not offended, that your mother had Stigmata-like marks suggests a higher possibility of your experience having a psychological origin. Can spiritual gifts be inherited? No. Spiritual Gifts of whatever sort are individually given by God to the person. They cannot be passed down from generation-to-generation. Any "gifts" that are passed down from generation-to-generation are either natural in origin or perhaps demonic, but they are not spiritual gifts from God. Spiritual Gifts from God are a grace given personally to the individual. 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

I see energy fields around everything.

Marie

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Question:

I am new to this website and it is absolutely wonderful - thank you for all you have done and are continuing to do.

I see "energy fields" because unlike a halo or aura, they are around everything, not just people - its around signs, buildings, benches, trees, animals, you name it. I really don't think its a vision problem. Could it be from God because I do not feel anything bad around me?

Sometimes at Church I see a very prominent golden halo around some parishoners and the priest. And even around the statute of Jesus on the cross. The colors range from sort of a clear, to white to yellow, gray, dark gray.

I was told by one priest that it is nothing to pay attention to and not to worry but I wanted your opinion also. He said it can be a Christian or non-Christian 'ability.'

I am a very devout Catholic and returned to the faith very strongly after a deliverance almost a year ago. Can you direct me to some good reading on it - I'm just curious?

My mother had the stigmata - just dark red spots on her wrists around Easter. Can spiritual gifts be inherited? Also, do you need more information to answer my question?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Marie:

Your priest is correct, it could be a Godly ability, or it may not be. A third possibility is it could be a medical or psychiatric issue.

I would advise seeing an Eye Doctor to rule out any natural causes or diseases of the eye. Also, you might consult with a psychiatrist to be sure there is no medical problems.

The bottomline with anyone who has these sorts of experiences is to:

1) seek a medical/psychiatric evaluation to ensure there is not some natural explanation;

2) Ask God to take away the phenomena if it is not from Him (the problem is that if it does not go away that is not definitive proof that it is from God since our psychology could "keep it", thus #3 below is needed)

3) Seek a wise Spiritual Director.

A good book to read that deals with mystical phenomena is "A Still, Small Voice: A Practical Guide on Reported Revelations" by Father Benedict J. Groeschel.

In terms of finding a Spiritual Director I recommend the book,
"Seeking Spiritual Direction: How to Grow the Divine Life Within", by Father Thomas Dubay

As for your mother have the Stigmata, that is very unlikely. Stigmata is VERY rare and is a gift given only to the holiest of persons. If she is a stigmatic then the Church should be investigating. Stigmata-like effects can be produced psychologically.

Frankly, and I hope you are not offended, that your mother had Stigmata-like marks suggests a higher possibility of your experience having a psychological origin.

Can spiritual gifts be inherited? No. Spiritual Gifts of whatever sort are individually given by God to the person. They cannot be passed down from generation-to-generation. Any "gifts" that are passed down from generation-to-generation are either natural in origin or perhaps demonic, but they are not spiritual gifts from God. Spiritual Gifts from God are a grace given personally to the individual.

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