I am posing this question in response to one of my friends questions...clearly my friend isn't Catholic. In my friends eyes having a spiritual experience of some sort is the only way of knowing that you have a relationship with God. In their eyes one can ask God for a spiritual experience (such as speaking in tongues, gift of prophesy) and thus God will grant their request. Also if God is silent in our prayer life...Somethings wrong with our relationship?? Just wondering what others thoughts are on this.

Thanks!

I think Mother Angelica's book "Dawn on the Mountain" presents Scriptural references to answer this exact question. I don't have it at my fingertips.

But my understanding of the matter is that dark periods in our prayer life are not a withdraw of God's presence, just a withdraw of His sensible presence. There are times when we don't see the light or feel the warmth, but we can grow and be strengthened if we respond with faith (a virtue), believing that He is still there even though we don't feel anything or have a strong desire to pray (but persevere in prayer anyway). The signs and wonders mean very little; often those are only experienced in the baby stages of the spiritual life from what I understand (not as an explicit rule; but often the sensible signs of God's presence, if they are authentic, are just a means for God to draw us to Himself and help us to establish our relationship with him).

First of all, I don't think it's your right to ask for a spiritual experience, as if God ought to give you one. That's pretty obvious.
I'm gathering your friends are protestants, probably evangelical,charistmatic? I know some friends of mine who feel the same way. It might be wise to point out to them the hypocrisy of their position. If they believe in Sola Scriptura, why is it that they rely only on their OWN spiritual experience for the basis of their relationship with God (and thus, their faith). Is the Bible just not quite cutting it for them anyore?
Besides, what other signs do you need? God became Man, He suffered and died on the cross, all for you. You want more? Look around, it doesn't take much imagination to spot miracles all over the place. All of creation cries out God's love for you.
There are plenty of signs of God's love for us around. If He chooses to give you more through 'spiritual experiences', great. For me, it's enough. I know He loves, very very much. And I love Him in return. Very very much. Sounds like a relationship to me!
Mind you, these 'spiritual experiences' don't always come from God. They can be a product of your imagination, or worse, from the devil. So it's not exactly the safest thing to put all your trust in these experiences. However, I KNOW I can trust Sacred Scripture, Apostolic Tradition, and the Church's Magisterium.
Now, I don't think I've answered your question properly, and to the full. I tend to do that. I kind of have to rush off, so forgive me.

God bless you, and have a blessed Sunday.
Gabriel

What did Jesus say to the D. when He was tempted? "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord your God."

One thing I find irritating about the Pentecostals is their DEMAND for such signs. How would they be treated if they went to England to meet the Queen, and they DEMANDED her attention? They'd be thrown out.

We Americans don't like the idea of royalty--our nation having been built on the lack thereof. But being in the presence of the President of the US would be a comparable situation. We would be seen as protesters; charged with disorderly conduct; and escorted to the hooscow.

Review the Introduction to the Devout Life, Marieteresa. St. Francis de Sales treats of this exact subject somewhere in the middle of the book. Catholic Online Retreat yahoo group has been running IDL for the last few months--a section a day--and I've been forwarding these to our committed foundational aspirants for the Cloisterites.

Good grief, and to think I nearly married a pentecostal minister!

Blessings,
Gemma

God is sometimes very silent, and sometimes there is a Darkness..the question is Do we have Faith or do we Just Believe?

I do think though, there's a bit of Thomas in all of us at different times.