"I feel so free now!"

I stopped by a Catholic Church where my friend Camille works to get a check from her for a speaking engagement I'll be doing this Friday night. I'm going to be speaking about the Sacrament of Marriage to engaged couples. I've done this a couple of times before for her and she tells me I received rave reviews both times. 

Now, I am single, but I received my certification in Spiritual Direction about 10 years ago from the Society of Missionaries of Mercy. The fact that I talk to dead people won't be brought up! 

While I was there I met a couple of Camille's coworkers and did a couple of quick readings for them. One of the women kept telling Camille that she wanted to book an appointment with me, but never did. I'm sure it was fear that kept her from doing so. 

Plus, there's this general idea that the Catholic Church frowns up what I do (actually, it really doesn't but more on that in a moment). Now, being from an island that is so Roman Catholic it hurts, I've had the same apprehensions for a long time now. While the spiritual director part of me would counsel someone that there's nothing they could do that would cause God to turn their back on them, the Medium part of me sometimes wondered if God did turn his back on me because of what I do. 

I'm sure, in all honesty, it was the part of me that didn't really want to do what I do to begin with that was making me doubt. Still, I prayed about this, a lot. 

So here I was in the Pastoral Center of a Catholic Church doing readings. I mentioned to the Camille and her coworkers that I never thought I would be doing this, there! I felt that this was an answer to my prayers. I didn't have to feel guilty anymore, God was blessing me for the work I do. 

When I was done doing the readings, both women made the comment, "Wow, what a gift God has given you." What is more gratifying was hearing one of the ladies say, "Thank you. I feel so free now! "

I wanted to say to them, "Thank you, I feel so free now!" I didn't. I did say it to God. 

"Dialogue with the dead is feasible, Vatican spokesman says."

By John Hooper

London Observer Service

ROME - One of the most authoritative spokesmen of the Roman Catholic Church has raised eyebrows among the faithful by declaring that the Church believes in the feasibility of communication with the dead. 

The Rev. Gino Concetti, chief theological commentator for the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, denied he was signaling any change in approach. But he agreed that his remarks might come as a jolt to many believers. 

He said the Church remained opposed to the raising of spirits, but added: "Communication is possible between those who live on this earth and those who live in a state of eternal repose, in heaven or purgatory. It may even be that God lets our loved ones send us messages at certain moments in our life." 

His comments were first made in support of an American theologian, the Rev. John Neuhaus. Neuhaus how a friend had seen a ghost. He said there were various explanations, but "the important thing is not to deny such things priority."

Concetti said the key to the Church's attitude was the Roman Catholic belief in a "Communion of Saints," which included Christians on earth as well as those in the after-life. "Where there is communion, there is communication," he said. 

Concetti suggested dead relatives could be responsible for prompting impulses and triggering inspiration - and even for "sensory manifestations," such as appearances in dreams. 

Concetti said the new Catholic catechism specifically endorsed the view that the dead could intercede on earth and quotes the dying St. Dominic telling his brothers: "Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to you after my death and I shall help you more effectively than during my life." 

This article was published by the London Observer Service and was written by John Hopper.