Story time. It's a long one so I'll split it into two posts. Here's the TL:DR for those that can't be bothered to read:TL:DR Mother Mary and Jesus say that my dad is sick, possibly dying, and that I'm weird and will be forever alone until God decides it's time to give me a GF.A week ago after church my grandma was invited to meet a prophet at the behest of one of her church-going friends. Her friend claimed that "Mother Mary" told her to invite my grandma to meet this guy at their monthly meeting as it would be "spiritually beneficial" to her. My grandma was drunk (alcoholic) so she couldn't drive herself, so I volunteered to take her, thinking it would be good for her to spend more time around church folk (and hopefully lay off the sauce.)The meeting took place at someone's apartment, I'm not sure whose, mainly in the front room. The front room itself as fully adorned as a sacred space. Statues and photos of Jesus Christ lined the walls, as well as photos of various saints and nuns. About 15 people gathered, myself and my grandmother being the only newcomers. After we situated ourselves the "prophet" entered the room. I don't know what I expected in his appearance, but I'll describe him here for you all.He was a balding man of Filipino descent of about 55 years of age (not an assumption, he introduced himself as an old Filipino man) He wore a patterned polo shit, blue jeans, New Balance shoes, and had a baseball cap that said "Boss" on it.1/3
>>42153287As the congregation went around introducing themselves to everyone, he acknowledged them in turn, until my grandmother introduced herself. She told him about her husband that passed and her daughter-in-law that was sick, and introduced me as her grandson. Then suddenly he stopped and said he was getting a message saying that her son (my father) was ill and she needed to contact him as soon as possible. She explained that her daughter-in-law was the one that was sick but the "prophet" insisted that her son was sick as well and needs to be reached out to. After a few assertions on the "prophet's" part my grandmother relented and accepted his message. Then the introductions continued (I didn't say anything, my part was already spoken for by my grandmother) and he stopped again at another person saying that he was due for surgery and it wouldn't go well. That he would need to pray the Holy Rosary for the Lord would test him and his family. The man expressed dismay at this news, tearing up some, and asked if he would die, to which the "prophet" said he wouldn't die but that this was to be a trial assigned by God. He had us pray the Holy Rosary and go through 5 sorrowful mysteries before performing the passing of the cross, where a crucifix that was taped to a stick would be passed from person to person and each one in turn would press the crucifix to their forehead and pray to the Lord. After which, he had told a couple stories. One of a plastic Mary figure that he had purchased that somehow had a baby Jesus wedged within, as well as a story of a saint, Saint Faustina I believe it was, and her storied works when she was alive (her photo was one of many that adorned the walls.)2/3
>>42153293Then he had told the congregation that 3 individuals at a time would follow him into the back room for private prayer, where he would lay hands upon us and channel the spirit of Mother Mary and Jesus and would tell us their holy message for us. So my grandma, another woman of the group, and myself, followed him into the backroom. He specified that we were not to talk about what happened in that room to anyone, so I won't share what he said about the other two, however I will speak on what he said to me. He poured some oil into my palms and dipped into it with his finger before making a sign of the cross on my forehead. Then he placed his hand on my heart and said "My Son, Mother Mary speaks through me and she wants me to tell you....you're a weird guy....ladies sometimes don't understand you, and you've been alone for a long time. But the Lord and Mary will deliver a woman to you and you'll know in your heart that she is yours. Pray the Holy Rosary every day for this to come to pass. You belong to the Mother." The "prophet" had two of the women from the congregation standing behind him writing down what he was saying so they could repeat it to me after the "channeling" (his word, not mine) was done. After the prayers were said, the other woman in the room with us insisted that he listen and obey this "prophet" as his words ring true to her and, as she said, everything he said has come to pass. This was also echoed by the others who had gathered for they all, in turn, made a point to tell my grandma and I that we need to obey this "prophet" because his word is true, that "his being here is Divine Providence. God sent him to us so we may listen to His word through him."After the private prayer my grandma and I had left for the evening.3/? (this is longer than I thought)
>>42153300Two days later my grandma's friend calls her and invites her to the next sermon in May and tells her "Mother Mary spoke to me again to make sure you come to the next session. You and your grandson must wear all white as we'll preform a ritual where we place a veil on you and he'll lift it to signify your rebirth. Be sure you bring flowers as well to celebrate this rebirth into the New World." (to be sure, this is a secondhand account of what was said, transferred to me by my grandma who was still drunk from the night prior)I explained to her that I would not be going back with her, that while I respect her desire to continue, my path lies along a different road. I would gladly drive her there but I would not enter nor revisit. She was shocked and saddened by this, but understood and left me be. I tried to pray and meditate on what the "prophet" said and even asked my dad (stepfather) what he thought about it, him being an ordained member of his Church. All internal signs, and external guidance from my father figure, were to be wary around this man. I didn't feel like his intentions were bad, rather I felt nothing but...emptiness. During the sermon, I looked at the faces of the others in the congregation and could see that they felt his message was true. I could even feel a warmth inside them, but I could only feel vacancy in the moment, which was even stronger afterwards, in my contemplations. I'm a big fan of Jesus, but I struggle in believing the co-opted message of what Man says about him and their claims from him. So to have a man claim to come in the name the Lord, and his mother, is boastful enough. Say nothing about the "holy message" that Mary and Jesus wanted me to hear, was that I'm weird. I already knew that, being an autist lol 4/4
>>42153306Honestly I was waiting for the kool-aid to come out but it never did, nor did any panhandling for money occur. Though I do find it HEAVILY suspect that they wanted to conduct this "rebirth" ritual with my grandmother and I after only one meeting. I don't know what to make of that experience, but I had it, and needed to share it. So thanks for reading. The sermon lasted 3 hours, the backroom prayer probably 30 minutes. I tried to trim down to just the important/interesting bits.What are y'alls thoughts?
>>42153287>What are y'alls thoughts?That Christianity is a dangerous cult. I know Protestants will try and make your story about the dangers of Catholicism but they do lots of weird shit too. I respect that you think Jesus is a cool dude but you gotta get away from his crazy followers.
>>42153604>That Christianity is a dangerous cult.>you gotta get away from his crazy followers.Yeah I can totally understand that. I dig the big man himself but his followers tend to have this certainty that their interpretation is the only way to be, or otherwise can unintentionally (it intentionally depending on the person) be spreading a more dangerous message disguised as a loving one. Thanks for posting ITT anon, I appreciate it! Here's a cute cat picture as thanks
>>42153320Satan came to padre pio as an angel of light
>>42153604Other than some appropriated characters/titles there's nothing christian about the practices described in the OP.
>>42153787Well they don't call him the morning star for nothing >>42154186Yeah, despite the statues of Jesus around the rooms, almost the entire thing was some derivation of Catholic. It felt like a few steps departed from anything properly Christian. Though I myself struggle to understand what " properly, Christian" means
>>42155137>derivation of Catholic. No, not catholic. What OP described was a rather generic spiritualist cult that happened to use the outer trappings of popular religion.
>>42155452Normally I'm against namefagging but I guess it would come in handy while responding to my own threadSo I'm OP who posted >>42155137I said derivation of Catholic as members of the congregation who are present were recognized by my grandma as fellow Catholic Church goers, so I assumed the gathering to be some some variation of Catholic. However, as they also attend this "prophet's" gatherings I don't know if the other practitioners would see themselves as Catholic or as followers of this "prophet" primarily. I would say you're spot on though with it being a generic spiritualist cult, backed up by the weird offer of the ritualistic lifting of the veil after attending only one meeting. One thing I didn't mention in the story was that at the start of the service, they had passed around papers to everyone titled "The Spiritual Army of the Lord." So while some of their prayers and actions were Catholic born/based, they must've been their own subsect entirely
>>42153287.
>>42153287That guy is obviously not a prophet and your poor granny is being led astray
