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Chapter 5

Signs from Above

There are times when something supernatural breaks through our ordinary existence. We may become aware of God’s presence, or we may feel as if Our Lady, the saints, or angels are near. We may feel as if we have received a sign from above.

These kinds of mystical experiences are not common, but they are also not rare. According to a Pew Forum survey, 37 percent of Catholics reported that they have had a mystical experience at some point in their lives. These experiences involved a vision, an unexplained coincidence, or some spiritual happening that went beyond the ordinary and left a lasting impression.

Mystical experiences are not something that people can conjure up on their own. These kinds of experiences tend to happen unexpectedly and are so profound that they are often difficult for people to describe adequately.

Most of these experiences take place in an instant, which leaves the person feeling as if he or she has crossed over into some spiritual realm. The result is almost always some new insight, awareness, knowledge, or truth. Sometimes, the experience offers consolation and encouragement. Other times it instills in the person a feeling of courage and a renewed sense of zeal. It almost always leaves the person with feelings of deep reverence and awe.