Do You Hear God/ Jesus/ Mary Speaking Words Of Wisdom

[ardillacid]

If you hear voices, is that a mental disorder? What should one who hears voices do?

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='notardillacid' date='17 October 2009 - 03:21 AM' timestamp='1255760511' post='1986867']
If you hear voices, is that a mental disorder? What should one who hears voices do?
[/quote]
I would start by first considering what the voices are telling you. If they are telling you go to confession and Mass I would certainly listen. If they are telling you that you have secret knowledge or you are reallllly special, definitely go to Confession and Mass AND make an appointment to talk to the priest. If they are telling you something stupid like you are realllllly special and have super powers go to the nearest mental health clinic and check yourself in.
In all cases talk to a competant catholic professional [ priest, nun, shrink, therapist]and discuss it.

[Mark of the Cross]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='18 October 2009 - 02:04 AM' timestamp='1255791891' post='1986943']
Iwould start by first considering what the voices are telling you. Ifthey are telling you go to confession and Mass I would certainlylisten. If they are telling you that you have secret knowledge or youare reallllly special, definitely go to Confession and Mass AND make anappointment to talk to the priest. If they are telling you somethingstupid like you are realllllly special and have super powers go to thenearest mental health clinic and check yourself in.
In all cases talk to a competant catholic professional [ priest, nun, shrink, therapist]and discuss it.
[/quote]
The 'voice' I hear that I know is God/Jesus is always wise and gentle, just like a Fathers voice should be. Certainly people need to be careful and follow the above advice because I'm sure satan also talks to people and is the one that tells people to do silly/violent things. To hear Jesus doesn't require any special saintliness or I would have no hope. Maybe it just requires 'faith'. The first time I heard him was during a life crisis and I cried to him for help. Clearly I heard him say "Trust me my son!" After that I had to believe and have lost count of the number of times he has spoken to me. Maybe 20 or so times in 60 years and possibly more that I don't know about.

[Theologian in Training]

"You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic" --House

I once went on a silent retreat, and the few times I heard a voice, it was clear and definitive. I asked my spiritual director at the time whether I was going crazy or whether something else was happening. He said: "When you are in the desert, the voice is easier to hear."

Then I thought more about what he was saying, but if you think about it, when the Desert Fathers were in the desert, they contended with three voices, their own, God's and the Devil's, it was in discerning the voice that they came to find which one was genuine and which one was not. Yet, as with anything, by "your fruits you will know them." What the voice says is important and not just important integral to understanding what it is that is being said and why. Also, you have to always take into consideration the context, does it happen in prayer? on the street? by yourself? with people? Discernment is key, however, the best way to know, is to ask yourself how you are left, with peace or anxiety, with tranquility or fear? Usually that, too, is a good indicator.

[Mark of the Cross]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='20 October 2009 - 02:47 AM' timestamp='1255967226' post='1987827']
"You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic" --House

I once went on a silent retreat, and the few times I heard a voice, it was clear and definitive. I asked my spiritual director at the time whether I was going crazy or whether something else was happening. He said: "When you are in the desert, the voice is easier to hear."

Then I thought more about what he was saying, but if you think about it, when the Desert Fathers were in the desert, they contended with three voices, their own, God's and the Devil's, it was in discerning the voice that they came to find which one was genuine and which one was not. Yet, as with anything, by "your fruits you will know them." What the voice says is important and not just important integral to understanding what it is that is being said and why. Also, you have to always take into consideration the context, does it happen in prayer? on the street? by yourself? with people? Discernment is key, however, the best way to know, is to ask yourself how you are left, with peace or anxiety, with tranquility or fear? Usually that, too, is a good indicator.
[/quote]
Maybe that's my answer. I hear Jesus talking to me because I spend a lot of time in the wilderness, but then I am not alone there. In the wilderness I have many brothers and sisters.
When my head snaps around at a girl in revealing clothes which does nothing for me except make me appear coarse to those who observe it, I know it was the satan that caused this. Once when I was to do a talk for RCIA, I was very nervous and thought should I take a Valium so I can do it well, but then no, I should just do it to prove my trust in God. In my mind flashed a thought. "You don't have to be a Martyr Mark, I know how much you love me." This I believe beyond any doubt was Jesus talking to me.