Wow!! Forgive me for being so forward but can you describe that day and how and where it happened? Can you describe the details some? Oh wait...was that when you saw Mary while in prison or did this seventh garden happen after that? If you don't feel comfortable answering, I understand.
No Jimmy, I met Our Lady in 1981, when she told me she would teach me how to pray the rosary....this happened I think about 1985. I posted on how it happened a few posts above when I write of walking the sheep dogs in the woods in the monastery....
Jimmy, with all respect.. I don't think any of us noisy ones here (I can't speak for the silent) have entered into the seventh garden of prayer for too often you can see all our weaknesses and our short tempers etc. (no offence intended) A person in that seventh Garden, wouldn't even want to be here. They would see this as a terrible distraction and a hindrance to spending more time with God. In my opinion.. I have many spiritual battles within (as I am sure many of you do) I struggle against myself, I withdraw in to myself, then come back out again in prayer... These spiritual battles are to do with my past. I can get flashbacks when I pray... These can be constant and can last for months. It feels like an awful spiritual attack etc.. In many ways, it feels very akin to a dark night. But it is a spiritual battle, my soul reaching out to God regardless, things are happening on many levels.. A part of the soul wants to draw back, to hide, to lick it's wounds and to hide them.. The higher spiritual self (for want of a better word) is continuously pushing forward to God and pulling the weaker/sick part of the spirit forward. Another part of my spirit might relish in a particular sin, the higher part of my spirit is continuously struggling against this particular sin and bringing it forward to God's attention for His love to shine in that dark area and to change things. There are times when there is no battle going on. And it is like honey on my lips and my soul being wrapped in peace. In these times, I think God is holding everything off, giving me a break and battling for me, if that makes sense.. We all have these battles going on within us I think. I am just very aware of mine.. I hope this makes sense, and even helps some people understand what is happening. Growth and change and healing are happening, and the spirit is becoming closer to God, even though it doesn't feel like it.
Oh yes forgive me Padraig. I did read that post a while back. You described it in such a beautifully simplistic way that I think it didn't sink in with me that it was the point where you entered the seventh garden. I was looking for the great Visions and Trumpets blowing (as you put it) version and missed it due to its simplicity. Either that or I just plain forgot due to age...haha.
I am sorry Elizabeth that you think people in the 7th Garden might not be on the forum. Actually I suspect there is more than one. I only ever met one person in my life who told me he was in the 7th Garden and he was Dominican Archbishop. We had a long chat about it and we both exchanged notes. He was very open and forth coming about it. In my experience what we perceive to be the actions and effects of prayer Gardens ahead of us are very far from the truth. It is only when we pass through the gates that our eyes are opened. Perhaps when you arrive in this Garden you may well be in for a few surprises yourself. Things in the Spiritual Life are so often not how they seem...
No offense taken. Believe me I am positive that I haven't even left the first garden. I may have stepped in to next one very briefly but instantly come back to the first one. I feel that so much of what is going on inside of me is very similar to what you describe here in the spiritual battle that is.
That is my understanding, right or wrong as it may be. I hope to get the train to this garden one day Padraig.
The garden I am in at the moment is being tilled and dug up Padraig. That is certainly what if feels like. God must be doing a lot of work there. He has spent ages on this garden.. Must have plenty of bindweed and brambles.
I am reading St john of the cross.. The dark night, it is indeed very interesting. There are two dark nights of the soul.
Not quite; there is a Dark Night of the senses , which is transient and there is the Dark Night itself
For Jimmyiz This link was posted somewhere on this very forum, so I do not think Padraig will object. Padraig, if you will, I will edit my message http://www.catholicplanet.net/forum/archive/index.php?t-191.html
Mary's Child, You do make sense. Your God-given resiliency is an inspiration for me. Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
Thanks Insearch. I have read Padraig's conversion story a couple times before. Above I was referring to when he entered the seventh garden but I found it. Thank you though.
I should perhaps explain that several years ago when I began to publish on the net my account of meeting Our Lady and my conversion I was very,very reluctant to do so. However Our Lady was very insistent and she is a hard Lady to say , 'No' too. I was concerned it might be a source of pride and that it was a very personal private matter. My spiritual director Fr Bernard was dead by then and on his death bed instructed me not to take another Spiritual Director as he believed I would never find another one I could trust. So I did as Our Lady asked and the fruits have been very good, I have heard of my story being read out to Catholics groups as far apart as California and Slovakia bringing greater love for Mary and even conversions. Years later she indicated in prayer that she wanted me to start this forum which she described as, 'My little ark' She also indicated that she wanted me to be very open about my prayer life and mystical experiences. Once again I dug my heels in and once again Mary had to kick ass. But all these years later I see once again that, 'Mummy was right'. ..and I am glad she talked me into it. I write this to explain my frankness and openness about all this stuff. a certain Lady up in heaven is twisting my arm very , very hard. But ,you know what ,I must admit now I quite enjoy writing on these subjects now, though at the start it was a bit like getting my tooth pulled.
By the way, people could do worse than reflect on why Mary choose to describe this forum as, 'My little Ark'. Check the word 'Ark' in your bible.
