Have you ever wondered what saints actually experience during their visions and ecstasies?
We have countless artists' interpretations, like Bernini's famous Ecstasy of Saint Teresa sculpture, or Caravaggio's painting, Saint Francis of Assisi in Ecstasy.
All of them show the saints swooning from the impact of their encounter, utterly overcome by God's love and close presence.
But what is an ecstasy, exactly?
And is it something that you or I could ever hope to experience?
Still Don't Know What You're Doing For Lent?
Join us as we learn how to pray like a saint this Lent!
Last year, we worked our way through Introduction to Real Prayer together for Lent. This year, we're diving even deeper into prayer with St. Teresa of Avila's 9 Grades of Prayer!
But we're not stopping on Easter - this will be a 14-week challenge to take FULL advantage of all those Lenten AND Easter graces!
This challenge is only available to Science of Sainthood members - so if you're not already a member, join today!
The short answer to the second question is a resounding "yes"...with some caveats.
While we all can (and should) move into deeper prayer and an incredible intimacy with God, only the Lord himself can make spiritual ecstasies happen.
Our job is to do what we can to move toward him and put ourselves in a position to receive whatever he wants to give us.
In fact, that's what the Science of Sainthood - and our Lenten Prayer Challenge - is all about:
Learning how to ascend that divine ladder, make real spiritual progress, and deepen our prayer lives, so that we are ready for God to grant us the gift of contemplative prayer, and yes, even ecstasies, when he sees fit to do so.
As for what exactly an ecstasy even is?
Watch today's Sainthood Snippet and find out.
God bless,
Matthew
P.S. Don't forget to join this year's Lent/Easter Prayer Challenge!
