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I have a very specific question about the Church's teaching on dreams. This happened about four years ago. Any input you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
My father was killed in a work accident. A month before he was killed, I had these terrible nightmares every night. They progressively got worse and the night before he passed away, they were so intense, I thought I would have a heart attack. I remember telling my best friend that something bad was going to happen. I just didn't know what. I have struggled to interpret this as
I wanted to get a Catholic interpretation of my dream. Initially, I was sent in the wrong direction by someone I thought I could trust.
My mother feels that God was warning me. At this point, I feel it was more the evil one tempting me. Well, he lost, because this suffering has only brought me closer to God. It still bothers me because I don't know if my mother's opinion is an appropriate explanation. I don't ask for these things to happen. I don't call on them. For years I have had dreams about people who have died.
I have also felt a presence that I can't explain; I don't know how to interpret this either.
The day my father died, I could tell you the exact moment it happened. I went into this sort of trance. I just don't know what to do with this information. Most people think I am weird!
Luckily, through the grace of God, I am on the right path.
During a Lectio Divina study, I had a vision in my head of the Blessed Mother reaching out for my hand. Right now, I just pray that none of these weird things happen again.
I'm just looking for direction and don't wish to get caught up in anything that goes against what our Church teaches.
If you can shed any light on this, it would be appreciated.
Lori
{
Can you give me a Catholic reading on these dreams and what does the Church teach about them? }
Mike replied:
Hi, Lori —
Thanks for the question.
There is no such thing as a Catholic interpretation of a dream and the Church has never taught anything officially on the topic. As a matter of fact the Catechism of the Catholic Church only mentions the word dream twice (from the mouths of saints), under the hope and conjugal fidelity paragraphs.
Hope
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1821 We can therefore hope in the glory of Heaven promised by God to those who love him and do his will. (cf. Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 7:21) In every circumstance, each one of us should hope, with the grace of God, to persevere "to the end" (Matthew 10:22; cf. Council of Trent: DS 1541) and to obtain the joy of Heaven, as God's eternal reward for the good works accomplished with the grace of Christ. In hope, the Church prays for "all men to be saved." (1 Timothy 2:4) She longs to be united with Christ, her Bridegroom, in the glory of Heaven:
Hope, O my soul, hope. You know neither the day nor the hour. Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly, even though your impatience makes doubtful what is certain, and turns a very short time into a long one. "Dream" that the more you struggle, the more you prove the love that you bear your God, and the more you will rejoice one day with your Beloved, in a happiness and rapture that can never end.
Conjugal fidelity
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2365 Fidelity expresses constancy in keeping one's given word. God is faithful. The Sacrament of Matrimony enables man and woman to enter into Christ's fidelity for his Church. Through conjugal chastity, they bear witness to this mystery before the world. St. John Chrysostom suggests that young husbands should say to their wives:
I have taken you in my arms, and I love you, and I prefer you to my life itself. For the present life is nothing, and my most ardent dream is to spend it with you in such a way that we may be assured of not being separated in the life reserved for us. . . . I place your love above all things, and nothing would be more bitter or painful to me than to be of a different mind than you.
Paranormal events, like the one you have described in your question, should be brought to a spiritual director or priest for advice and counsel.
I guess what it comes down to is being aware of invisible holy angels that are trying to help us, as well as the demonic ones that wish to ruin our lives. You appear to have been blessed with this awareness.
Living a sacramental and daily prayer life will give you a good foundation in your Catholic Christianity.
Hope this helps,
Mike
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