AboutDr. Jay Nelson Forrest Expertise I can answer any question dealing with Christian mysticism, such as questions concerning the awakening call, the purgative way, the illuminative way, the unitive way, spiritual experiences, spiritual direction, spiritual disciplines, prayer, ecstasy, the rule of life, internal monasticism, asceticism, mystical theology, devotional helps, chanting, meditation, contemplation, hesychasm, and more.
Experience
Dr. Jay N. Forrest is an ardent student of Christian mysticism in all three branches of Christianity (Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant). Jay Forrest was a Charismatic minister for over 20 years, pastoring churches in Wisconsin, Missouri, Tennessee, Arizona, and New Mexico. He is the author over over 150 articles and poems and several books. He currently is a Adult Sunday School teacher for Our Lady Queen of Angels Church.
Question I emailed you two days ago on the meaning of the Vision of St. Michael. You said that you would need to know what the vision looked like, and my spiritual state of being at the time.
I was a Christian at the church of Christ Church. I never believed in Saints, vision, demons etc. We were never taught that. So when I started dating my boyfriend of 3 1/2 years, I started to understand more about catholics. He would tell me all of the Miracle Stories, and it just put the biggest smile on my face hearing those stories. At the time I was not going to church, I walked away from it when I was 17 years old. I am 21 now. I saw the vision when I was 20. My dad was a catholic for 40 years then converted over to the Christian faith. He tells me now that he would be very disappointed in me If i ever turn Catholic. He was seeing that I was going to a Catholic church every now and then. I know that when I tell him that I converted over we are probably going to have an argument. This has always been on my mind. I'm really close to my father and just knowing the fact of him being disappointed in me just kills me.
During the time that I had the vision, I was very curious about the religion. I always asked questions about being Catholic.
When I was laying in bed, I was thinking about converting, but my dad would always pop up into my head while I was thinking that. Probably 20 min after that I was laying on my back just thinking, then all of a sudden I saw a bright person on the right side of the bed. I was not scared. I probably was the happiest I have felt in a while. He was only there for a second and then disappeared. I sat up and thought for a second, then I hurried up and called my boyfriend and explained to him what I saw. I told him that I saw a very tall, built, handsome man that had a white toga on with a sword in his hand, and he had blond wavy hair, it wasn't short hair but it wasn't long hair either. The sword was held in his right hand at his side. Right away when my boyfriend heard sword, he said that's St. Michael. I asked him what the meaning of me seeing him could mean. He said that I'm probably am going to be going to battle with some, and that he is saying that he has my back. At first I didn't know what or who I would be battling with, and then I thought about my dad.
I'm not sure If St. Michael gives you a vision to only warn you about something that has to deal with religion. I'm not sure if he is trying to tell me something.
right now, a year after it happened, I am not converted yet, I am still learning things, but I know I will be converted, I pray at the church at least three times a week, and I practice everything that I am aloud to do. So I do not take the communion. My spiritual state now is stronger than ever. I have never felt so close to god as I do now.
So is St. Michael telling me that he will be by my side when I do convert and I have to tell my dad? Or is he telling me something else?
Answer Hi Jennifer,
I am glad you clarified. I am not sure the angel was Michael or another angel, but the message is that God is protecting you and drawing you to Himself. Jesus said, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28 NRSV).
May I suggest a few things to you. Pray about what I am about to say and may God bless your understanding.
Conversion is conversion to God, not to any organization. It is not Biblical to say that you are converting to the Roman Catholic Church. Jesus said to come to Him, not to a church - any church for that matter. Becoming a true believer means becoming a follower of Jesus and making Him the Lord of your life (Romans 10:9-10). Protestants call this being born again (John 3:3-6). Catholics call this being converted.
Conversion literally means to turn from a self-centered life to a God-centered, putting your complete trust in Christ's death for your sins. The Eucharist celebrates this great truth and points us to the purpose of Christ's death. See, God wants to have a personal relationship with you. In fact, God wants to make you His dwelling place (Ephesians 2:22). This is what Christian mysticism is all about.
After receiving Christ and becoming a true Christian, you become a part of the family of God. The family of God is made of of believers from all different churches, Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox. So a Protestant who becomes a Catholic is not really converted t the Catholic Church, rather they embrace a greater fullness of God's truth and revelation.
I would even go so far as too suggest that each branch of the church has something that the others can learn from. After all, Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox believers are all part of the true spiritual church - which is an invisible organism - and is called the body of Christ.
It saddens God that the different churches cannot acknowledge our spiritual unity in Christ. I have personally been blessed by all three branches and therefore testify that none is better than the other, just different. Each has something to offer, and each has there problems. It takes a level of spirituality to discern the difference between the church as an organism and the church as an organization. Our unity will be found only in the organism of the body of Christ.
Do not convert to Catholicism, convert to Christ. Do so within the Catholic Church, that is fine. But come to Christ that is the issue. Do more than change your church membership, change your heart. Give up your self-centered life and begin living a God-centered life, and trust that God will guide you as you grow.
Read the great saints of our Catholic faith, such as St. Tesesa of Availa and St. John of the Cross. I pray that they will bless you with a passion for the presence of God.
