The following will be my "take" on the why and the how of mystical phenomenon. My thoughts derive from my own mystical phenomenon over many years--the bulk of my life both as Protestant yet more pronounced after my conversion to Catholicism.
What I will share is wrought from numerous and varied situations, personal experiences, prayer, researched studying to find out what was occurring within me, seeking advice and input from priests and bishops, and from reading whatever I could discover of others who also had mystical experiences of various forms and types.
There are some Scriptures from current daily Mass that I find appropriate to the topic. The first is from Matthew 7:6: "Jesus said to His disciples: 'Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.'"
This Scripture seems to fit the topic of the whys and hows of mystical phenomenon because the discussion is not suited nor necessarily well-received by all people. In fact, there may be few who will grasp with understanding, and even fewer who will reflect kindly on what will be my honest, sincere overview of a topic which is vast--more so than what I can begin to do justice in a blog post. But I will try to highlight my thoughts.
I suppose this topic has arisen again due to someone asking about it from what I've written recently in regarding the mystical ecstasy I've experienced at any Mass over the nearly past 11 years. The past two times I've been physically able to attend Mass, the mystical state seemed less deep in the shorter Mass; and in the longer, Saturday evening vigil Mass the state did not begin until the reading of the Gospel when it usually starts at the first reading. By the Consecration, however, the ecstasy was deep, blissful, and nothing recalled through until the ecstasy lifts after the last hymn--usually after most people have left the church or are in the vestibule, visiting.
I suppose the reason I thought the ecstasy during Mass might be gradually leaving could be due to the unusually high level of pain I've been experiencing lately. Also, I have wondered about my earthly longevity and was recently reminded that others who have had mystical phenomenon lasting over several or many years, would find the phenomenon leaving as they approached their earthly deaths. So there was some wishful thinking involved, I suppose. I relate with Teresa of Avila in her famous line, "I die because I do not die." Yes, there is a longing to be with Christ in full union for all eternity.
Patience! I must summon the virtue of patience!
But back to why the inquiry as to if the state had left or not. Frankly, I had forgotten about it staying or leaving, either one. So I was explaining to the person who inquired, that it did not matter to me either way. The person thought it would be good if it would leave as in the past there have been difficulties regarding having a visible mystical phenomenon occur with people around, such as is the case at Mass.
Parishioners and priests have gone through various reactions; and often these reactions would sooner than later evolve to the negative. They'd either not understand, or would be envious, or would doubt, or would begin to persecute and find various reasons why I should not be among them during Mass. Priests could be as ornery and nasty as to tell me I was not to come to Mass, or to bid their parishioners to "run" me out. Seriously.
However, that has certainly not been the case in my current locale. The lead priest very much wanted me to attend Mass; he is somewhat familiar with the phenomenon through Teresa of Avila and other mystics. He also assured me that none of his "people" would touch me nor harm me. Thus far he's been astoundingly correct!
Yet mystical ecstasy during Mass is but one of a variety of mystical phenomenon experienced or of which I'm aware. And my list will not be exhaustive on the topic. I will simply list out some which over the years I've experienced, plus might add in examples of a couple or so that I'm familiar with through hearing of others experiencing them. I will try to list these from childhood on--from back before I knew such experiences are not typical to everyone.
1. Dreams (I mean the type of dreams that are forewarnings, forebodings, and messages, lucid dreams, vivid dreams.)
2. Being extra-sensorily perceptive of others, of situations, of self, of a sense of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit.
3. Drawn to religious events, worship, experiences in the temporal yet later realizing they were extremely meaningful beyond age at the time.
4. Discovery of the power of prayer.
5. Sensing other beings about, from the other side--ghosts, lights, poltergeists, telekinesis, electromagnetism and its effects.
6. Locutions
7. Visions--both image and corporeal
8. Visitations from known and unknown souls from the other side--usually with some message verbally or acted out in a scene or by posture and gesture.
9. Oral communication via my body by means of saints, apostles, Holy Spirit, God the Father, imparting wisdom and assistance helpful to myself and others.
10. Bi-location (traveling by spirit but bodily being present to others in order to help them in some way, often through counseling and encouraging; this can be in this world, past or present or future; and it can be in the other world--the spiritual realm
11. Flight of spirit out of body yet attached to the Holy Spirit
12. Mystical betrothal of soul, espousal of soul, mystical marriage
13. Encounter with angels visible or invisible
14. Vicarious suffering (being given the suffering of another, with the other having relief of his or her own suffering for a period of time)
15. Death experience; encounter with God outside of this earth, this realm; being sent back
16. Infused spiritual writing
17. Foreknowing of some event or foreboding and warnings to be given others
18. Requests and/or messages from souls in purgatory and/or in heaven
19. Showings of souls who have been released from purgatory into heaven
20. Interior stigmata
21. Experience of tongues (yet was told not necessary as already experienced instantaneous thought-flashing which requires no interpretation
22. Transverberation of the heart
23. Demonic assaults--visual, physical, temporal, spiritual, aural, olfactory, tactile
24. Reading souls
25. Mystical scent, scent of the mysterium tremendum
26. Slain in the Spirit
27. Mystical ecstasy
and of that which I have not (or don't think so!) experienced:
- Indwelling of the Holy Trinity--each Person and in Triune experience such as St. Angela of Foligno experienced and others;
- Consummation of mystical marriage;
- Levitation
- Exterior stigmata
- Seeing color or energy waves
So there we have it. I'm sure there are other experiences I've forgotten or do not have a label to attach and other experiences of which I'm unaware and have not experienced known and unknown.
And so what of this list of "whats"? It is not that one is thinking about these experiences all the time or even is aware of them after awhile. It is like chronic pain: One does not know what life is like without it after living with it for years and years. I figure of the above list of "what types of mystical phenomenon" readers can do a Google search if more description desired.
Or to discover the "how," consult the writings of various mystics who left writings, or their spiritual directors or other writers who describe the "how" of mystical phenomenon--what it is like, the effects on the body and mind, and yes, the effects on the body can be quite physical and painful.
Why mystical phenomenon? It is, I suppose, foremost a "sign" of how real is God, how present Is His Real Presence--active and interactive in our daily and nightly lives. It is a sign of the spiritual realm alive and all about us, all the time, of which this temporal realm is mere external--albeit a necessary aspect in our lifetimes for however long, spent on this earth. Mystical phenomenon signal to us God's presence but also God's instruction to us and others, His help in our times of need and in our on-going spiritual journeys.
The why of mystical phenomenon always comes with responsibility--serious and sometimes heavy responsibility. Those who experience mystical phenomenon are not shoe-in's for heaven, not at all. With the phenomenon can come suffering, can come missions and assignments, can come teaching and living out what we are shown and taught. Not all live out their missions, their assignments, their responsibilities, their sufferings to a high degree or even a marginal degree, or so it seems.
Mystical phenomenon are just that: mystical events, mystical activity, mystical "things" that manifest from the spiritual realm into our temporal realm. The Scripture that I think emphasizes the serious nature and the grave responsibility of such phenomenon is this, from 1 Peter 4:12-13:
"Beloved, do not be surprised by the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation."
I suppose that part of the "why" of mystical phenomenon also includes the "who". Why do some people experience mystical phenomenon once or twice or many times, or live out their lives kind of between the two worlds--experiencing mystical phenomenon on-going or off-and-on consistently--and others go through this life's journey without, even quite devout souls--great theologians, apologists, active life holy ones, striving toward union with Christ in blind faith without so much as a whispered locution even once?
All I know that makes sense to me, was made clear, was by reading the late John Knowles' book titled What Is Mysticism. Of all my books thus far, that one succinctly explained basically that mystics are called by God, are born this way--that is those afflicted with mystical phenomenon more than happen chance. At least that was part of the unfolding of his intelligent study and writing on the topic.
Most of us have heard the story of St. Thomas Aquinas who spent his life studying and writing theology--until toward the end of his life he had one major mystical experience. With that one knowing of God in the numinous, His Real Presence via a mystical experience, it is said that Aquinas ceased his studious writing and said it all was "as straw" compared to what he'd experienced in one swift uplift of his soul into God.
So as to the "who" has mystical experiences, we do need to emphasize that most saints did not have a plethora or even a smattering or even a couple or handful of experiences called mystical phenomenon.
I do have some thoughts on how it is to have these experiences and to realize that not so many others do, and how wrong it is for people who do not have them to yearn for them, or to envy those who are thus afflicted with mystical phenomenon.
And no matter how much a person might pray for some one or other mystical phenomenon, don't count on your prayers being answered. The same can be said for those who have mystical phenomenon and pray for them to be taken away. I can think of Catherine of Siena whose external stigmata was taken away and instead she was given internal stigmata which she realized hurt even more. But mostly, God chooses what He wills for each and all of us, and as Job said so wisely and in truth: "The Lord gives, the Lord takes away; blessed be the Name of the Lord!"
I used to pray that the mystical ecstasy during Mass would be taken away. No, I idd not need a priest or bishop to order me to pray that--although a couple or three or four did tell me to pray that. I already had! And I kept it up for several years, as I certainly was not one to want my inner life exposed through mystical phenomenon, even if most people came up with a variety of temporal reasons why I appeared to be dead or deeply asleep, unable to be roused.
A few years ago I stopped praying that prayer, for I knew that the Lord would take it away when He wills, and He would keep it for as long as He wills. It is not for me to like or dislike it. It is as it is, and there are lessons I've learned along the way, persecutions I've learned to embrace, and also to be most grateful for the love that Jesus extends when in that state, removing my physical pain for that time period.
However, the older I become, the seemingly less I notice the mystical phenomenon. Perhaps I am more used to it, or perhaps there is less because for whatever reasons God knows less is needed, less is more, in a way. Or during the ecstasy at Mass, it may have to do with my full surrender to His grace and will. I am His, and He knows it. He has me captive then.
But above all else, regarding the mystical ecstasy during Mass He shows through the sign that it is, how powerful is Mass--filled with His Real Presence and His LOVE; how all Seven Sacraments are present in the Mass--not to be shorted or one more than the others including His Living Word; and that the Mass is the Stairway to Heaven.
I've had people be envious just from the state during Mass. All I know is that it is nothing to envy. There is nothing a person can do to have some mystical phenomenon occur, no matter how much one might wish for it, pray for it, or even think one is not wanting it when one is deep down. God knows; He sees right through us.
I marvel at times how He knows who He decides is going to live this type of life, who will have many experiences and who will have a couple or three, and who will live in faith alone, love along, in hope that is unseen. (Consider, again, just how many saints are canonized or in process, who do not have mystical phenomenon as part of their life's findings. MOST do not; but somehow the ones with some mystical phenomenon seem to catch the human imagination--the tales of the unusual....)
I wonder at times, that He seems to have souls in bodies who are for the most part self-conscious, not super emotional, not wanting to be noticed, whose temporal life seems kind of down to earth, or who have some type of background they gravitated into with whatever earthly gifts that the Lord wants them to have.
They then are to fulfill their mission--whatever that specific mission is by which the Lord has chosen them to experience mystical phenomenon as part of the signage He wills for this or that message or messages, either private and to redound to His glory, or publicly such as a message for the world.
Most are just people who live and die, and maybe something about their lives is, later on, helpful to others in their faith journeys, in their love of God and in discipling others to follow Jesus Christ. Or maybe the signs of the phenomenon help their own souls and just a few around them, to grasp the reality of the numinous, of the reality of God in our every day lives, our savior, our Lord, our God!
They are people who God uses in their weakness, for whatever His reasons, and also very much because they need the help, they ask for the help, and He gives the help. But the mystical phenomenon themselves--these are signs that the Lord chooses to visit upon some souls, to provide lessons and realities of His Real Presence, of the Holy Trinity, in our temporal daily and nightly lives, always. And mystical phenomenon are signs of the reality of the next life, of the mystical realm of union with God for all eternity...and conversely, of the reality of hell for unbelievers and unrepentant sinners.
Even in putting out my own thoughts on why and who, someone could be tempted to try to be whatever way they think God would be pleased to visit them with some mystical phenomenon or other or a lot. It just doesn't work that way--any more than a mystic who experiences some little or some more or much mystical phenomenon can try to be other than what he or she is born into or as. Not going to be "normal" in the sense or regard of mystical phenomenon.
Even trying to distance from it does not stop it. It is the same with pain, such as chronic back pain or someone who is clinically depressed for years. Can't stop the effects of the body or the emotions and mind. God can; but the reason why we are visited with various afflictions be they physiological phenomenon or mystical phenomenon, is because God's view is not our view. He does not perceive and utilize suffering in the same way we do. To Him it is gain; to us it is something we usually want to be out of, to have gone far from us.
And that is how it is with those who have mystical phenomenon, or those who stay clear of pride that can so easily latch onto one's mind, heart, and soul. Pride over mystical phenomenon can be like pride over some natural great talent and ability to some others. It will suck in the person whether mystic or movie star or great athlete or CEO or politician.
At least with mystical phenomenon, the responsibilities and suffering that goes in tandem with mystical experiences--the responsibilities and suffering (often from the mouths and hands of others) is enough to stop pride before it even gets a tender root-hold.
So these final two Scriptures are to remind others who might be tempted to envy those who have mystical experiences or those who wish for them. It also is to remind those who have mystical experiences to be thankful we don't have the other trials and afflictions that others bear of which we'd not want, no matter how normal their lives may seem. In other words these Scriptures are for all of us!
"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets."
"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few."
In whatever ways the Lord brings us into Himself, He knows why, what, and how His ways are best for us--and for His purposes! It all comes down to what is best for our souls, the souls of those around us, best for our missions in life--why God has us here for His purposes, His will, for furthering His Kingdom on earth and in heaven.
None of us need to be considering or thinking about this or that spiritual experience mystical or not. We don't make things happen, and if we are trying, we need to ask ourselves some firm questions. Even in mystical aspects of prayer--no need for formulaic types of praying. His Real Presence will lead the desiring soul through various phases of prayer--not necessarily in a certain order but sometimes in a gradation. Yet even if a soul is brought to a high level of prayer by God's love for us, on our death beds we might be uttering simple verbal prayers of our childhoods. Did not Jesus teach us the verbal and mental Our Father?
Somehow writing this post was rather a chore. Again, mystical phenomenon is just that: mysterious phenomenon. Temporal, physiological phenomenon is as it is--and wondrously mysterious in its own right. The way to God: Faith, Hope, and Love...and the greatest of these is LOVE.
God bless His Real Presence in us!
No comments:
Post a Comment