Strange happenings with the BVM's Rosary

[Sword of the Lord]

Note, first, that I'm very hesitant to share this; but nevertheless, here goes:

Maybe some of you recall me speaking of my dreams from 18-36 months ago. I first became a Christian in January of 2012 because of a dream I had. In this dream I was walking in utter darkness. There was nothing. It was so lonely and empty. A soft but strong voice called to me, saying that forgiveness was mine; all I had to do was ask for it. I immediately woke up weeping. I was a hardcore atheist, but even then I knew it was Christ/God. That night I repented and gave my life to Christ. Not long after that, I had a dream that I was crucified. I take that to mean that by accepting Christ's call and gift of salvation I was crucified with him; joined him in his sacrifice. And then about 18 months ago I began to pray the Rosary and was attacked in a dream. I dreamt that the devil had taken over my body and I was punching holes in my house walls, destroying my property, ripping pages from Scripture, and destroying my Rosary. I woke up and my Rosary was actually destroyed, but nothing else was. I believe that the Rosary caused this, that it made the devil so mad that he had to lash out in my life. I prayed and prayed and never had an experience like that again. Until now...

Not too long ago I received another Rosary as a gift. I have began to pray the BVM's Rosary again, and again I'm experiencing some things. When I pray the normal, standard, Rosary of the BVM I feel stabbing, aching pains in my hands, feet, and side. My hands and feet first, and then my side, and they stay all at once. It's quite obvious to me that these are crucifixion pains. It is so interesting to me, and awesome, and strange. From dreams of being crucified, to actually feeling it to some degree, and again, more spiritual activity in my life brought on by the Rosary. While I'm praying and I have these feelings, the energy in the room ranges from peaceful and loving, to something else entirely that frightens me, but it is always suppressed and the feeling of crucifixion wounds and peace and love come back.

 

[Gwendolyn]

Hi Mike,

Thank you for sharing. Interesting things can happen - even negative ones - when spending time in prayer. Another poster here, Chrystal, sometimes experiences negative things when she spends time in prayer. It is no secret that the adversary will do whatever he can to discourage Christians from praying.

I myself have had a few strange, negative dreams. The worst ones were when I was spending time in a convent with an order of nuns. I have also had 2 positive dreams that were really interesting - one in which St John the Apostle told me the story of Pentecost when I was a child, and one in which St John Chrysostom gave me advice on seeking truth. I enjoyed the sense of peace that followed.

Anyway. As with all things, the way to judge the benefit of things like this is to judge them by their fruits. If something yields greater peace and joy and results in a deeper, more robust faith, then you have your answer.

 

[RileyG]

Interesting.

I remember when I was 11/12 I had a dream of a dark place filled with these horrible, disgusting grey figures in a furnace of fire. The "place" felt like complete despair. I do believe it was hell- BUT I will not claim it was. The rosary would literally fill my heart with so much peace and warmth after that dream. It helped me get through.

***shudder***

 

[Sword of the Lord]

Do you ever experience crucifixion pains when praying the Blessed Virgin Mary's Rosary, Riley?

 

[RileyG]

Do you ever experience crucifixion pains when praying the Blessed Virgin Mary's Rosary, Riley?

Well.... When I was around 10-12 I experienced pain in my feet and hands , yes.

 

[Michie]

I had chest pains tonight. Although I do not think it spiritual but an intense panic attack. I won't go into detail but it involved more family issues. I'm at the end of my rope. I prayed & it subsided but I seriously thought a trip to the ER was in my future. I prayed & called my husband & I feel a bit better but still on the paranoia side of things. I'm beside myself & would appreciate some of your prayers Mike. You know what I think.

 

[Michie]

Well.... When I was around 10-12 I experienced pain in my feet and hands , yes.

I find that amazing. I don't think it could be anything but a grace. I think for some there is an intense spiritual battle when they pray.

 

[RileyG]

I had chest pains tonight. Although I do not think it spiritual but an intense panic attack. I won't go into detail but it involved more family issues. I'm at the end of my rope. I prayed & it subsided but I seriously thought a trip to the ER was in my future. I prayed & called my husband & I feel a bit better but still on the paranoia side of things. I'm beside myself & would appreciate some of your prayers Mike. You know what I think.

I will dedicate my office and rosary to you, Michie. God Bless you.

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

I had chest pains tonight. Although I do not think it spiritual but an intense panic attack. I won't go into detail but it involved more family issues. I'm at the end of my rope. I prayed & it subsided but I seriously thought a trip to the ER was in my future. I prayed & called my husband & I feel a bit better but still on the paranoia side of things. I'm beside myself & would appreciate some of your prayers Mike. You know what I think.

Sorry to hear this Michie. Panic attacks can be powerful, but remember they are just a reaction to stress. You cannot allow the family issues to rent space in your head. I do understand the stress, but you need to not beat up on yourself and allow yourself some leeway.

Try to remind yourself that your human and vulnerable, then ask God for help.
You can only do the best you can, and recognize that.

 

[Michie]

I will dedicate my office and rosary to you, Michie. God Bless you.

Thank you Riley.

 

[RileyG]

Thank you Riley.

Most Welcome.

God Bless you and embrace you in his love. Amen.

 

[Michie]

Sorry to hear this Michie. Panic attacks can be powerful, but remember they are just a reaction to stress. You cannot allow the family issues to rent space in your head. I do understand the stress, but you need to not beat up on yourself and allow yourself some leeway.

Try to remind yourself that your human and vulnerable, then ask God for help.
You can only do the best you can, and recognize that.

Well I woke up with my niece knocking on the door... weepy yet wanting me to comply. I knew what was right & I stood up for what I thought was right. But it broke my heart.

 

[Eretria90]

About a year ago I experienced something that was related to my Rosary-making. It dealt with the smell of Jasmine flowers suddenly appearing during my sleep and the presence of either the Blessed Virgin Mary...or more likely, Blessed Maria of Agreda (she's incorrupt and apparently when you visit her tomb you can smell Jasmine scent).

I've told it to very few people so I'm hesitant about sharing it. I know the smell of roses where there are no roses is associated with the Virgin Mary but mine were the smell of Jasmine flowers. It's odd, to this day I cannot "find" that smell. I've tried looking for Jasmine flowers but most flower shops do not even have these flowers, which I guess are grown in China.

I consider this experience true and something that actually occurred, and definitely not a result of sleep paralysis.

 

[Michie]

About a year ago I experienced something that was related to my Rosary-making. It dealt with the smell of Jasmine flowers suddenly appearing during my sleep and the presence of either the Blessed Virgin Mary...or more likely, Blessed Maria of Agreda (she's incorrupt and apparently when you visit her tomb you can smell Jasmine scent).

I've told it to very few people so I'm hesitant about sharing it. I know the smell of roses where there are no roses is associated with the Virgin Mary but mine were the smell of Jasmine flowers. It's odd, to this day I cannot "find" that smell. I've tried looking for Jasmine flowers but most flower shops do not even have these flowers, which I guess are grown in China.

I consider this experience true and something that actually occurred, and definitely not a result of sleep paralysis.

I love reading these things brave enough to post it. Come what may. God bless you.

 

[LoAmmi]

Did you feel short of breath or anything similar?

 

[Sword of the Lord]

Did you feel short of breath or anything similar?

No. And it's only during prayer.

 

[Sword of the Lord]

I prayed another Rosary 7 or 8 hours ago and felt these pains once again, but nothing after or since.

 

[LoAmmi]

No. And it's only during prayer.

I was only asking because asphyxiation was what commonly killed someone during crucifixion. The weight of their body was putting immense pressure on their chest so they had to try to brace themselves with their legs to relieve it. It's why breaking someone's legs would cause death within a few minutes.

 

[Sword of the Lord]

About a year ago I experienced something that was related to my Rosary-making. It dealt with the smell of Jasmine flowers suddenly appearing during my sleep and the presence of either the Blessed Virgin Mary...or more likely, Blessed Maria of Agreda (she's incorrupt and apparently when you visit her tomb you can smell Jasmine scent).

I've told it to very few people so I'm hesitant about sharing it. I know the smell of roses where there are no roses is associated with the Virgin Mary but mine were the smell of Jasmine flowers. It's odd, to this day I cannot "find" that smell. I've tried looking for Jasmine flowers but most flower shops do not even have these flowers, which I guess are grown in China.

I consider this experience true and something that actually occurred, and definitely not a result of sleep paralysis.

I wish I would be given that grace (smelling roses and flowers).

Curious: Why would you mention sleep paralysis? You're not sleeping or just waking if you're making rosaries??

I used to have sleep apnea and paralysis when I was a child. I would wake up several times a week and be unable to breathe or move for 30-60 seconds (estimate). As a baby I had to be hooked up to a machine when I slept. I also used to get migraines several times a week, to the point of vomiting and having to cover my head with a pillow to avoid light and noise because it would cause more vomiting. They never did find anything wrong with me. I was thought to have a benign cyst that was found when I was 15, but recent MRI's have shown no such thing. I haven't had a migraine or apnea or paralysis in quite a long time, though. I think my last migraine was when I was 19, and the apnea and paralysis would hit maybe two or three times in a whole year up until this year; I haven't had any incidents this year. I kind of wonder if any of this is related to Aspergers, as physically there's nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe the migraines were a result of sensory overload; my sensory problems used to be much worse. Maybe too much light and noise, mixed with the huge amounts of energy used to function "normally" just caused my body to shut down. But that's just a theory.

 

[Sword of the Lord]

I was only asking because asphyxiation was what commonly killed someone during crucifixion. The weight of their body was putting immense pressure on their chest so they had to try to brace themselves with their legs to relieve it. It's why breaking someone's legs would cause death within a few minutes.

Lord Jesus I never want this pain/experience.

:o