A Still, Small Voice: A Practical Guide on Reported Revelations

by Benedict J. Groeschel

Father Groeschel, the highly respected author, psychologist, spiritual director and leader of renewal in the religious life, has written a brief but comprehensive practical guide for all those interested in private revelations, the reports of visions and other extraordinary religious phenomena that are so widespread in these times. Because of the intense interest in extraordinary religious experience that ranges from Medjugorje to the New Age, Groeschel's book is an urgently needed resource that gives practical norms to everyone on how to evaluate these claims. Drawing on spiritual classics and Church documents not readily available, he summarizes the Church's perennial wisdom on this topic. He also offers an alternative to unusual and extraordinary ways of knowing the things of God, which is a normal everyday opportunity open to all called "religious experience"--the action of grace operating in the context of a human life that can become a powerful source of virtue and holiness. Father Groeschel skillfully directs the reader to the humbler and safer path which discerns God's presence in prayer, Scripture, the sacraments and love of neighbor. The great example of this path to holiness is St. Therese of Lisieux who, though having very few extraordinary experiences, was filled with a profound awareness of God's presence and said, "To ecstasy, I prefer the monotony of sacrifice."

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Theology, Nonfiction

175 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1993

About the author

Benedict Joseph Groeschel, C.F.R. (July 23, 1933 – October 3, 2014) was an American Franciscan friar, Catholic priest, retreat master, author, psychologist, activist and television host. He hosted the television talk program Sunday Night Prime broadcast on the Eternal Word Television Network as well as several serial religious specials. He founded the Office for Spiritual Development for the Catholic Archdiocese of New York. He was Associate Director of the Trinity Retreat House for clergy and executive director of St. Francis House. He was professor of pastoral psychology at St. Joseph's Seminary in New York and an adjunct professor at the Institute for Psychological Sciences in Arlington, Virginia. He was one of the founders of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and among his close friends were Mother Teresa, Mother Angelica and Alice von Hildebrand.

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my notes/outline from when I read this years back, rather than a review per se.

“paramystical phenomena”

I Clergy are rarely the ones who report or want to talk about revelations because they don’t want to appear credulous or superstitious. It’s better to err on the side of skepticism because the worst that can happen is that one “may have to make some apologies to the Virgin Mary—but then we have it on the best authority that she is very benevolent and understanding.”

Some denominations owe their existence to individuals claiming private revelation.

II Rules for evaluating private revelations have been formulated over the centuries by Popes and spiritual directors.
1: Keep perspective. “The consistent and authentic pursuit of a holy life leading to a loving union with God is the essential element of true religion.”
“Do you want to know the certain and direct revelation of God? Pick up a Bible and read it!”
(One may then legitimately ask: Why do we have private revelations at all? The obvious reply is: “Ask God.”)

III Rule 2 No private revelation comes directly from God and therefore none can be assumed to be inerrantly true.

IV Rule 3 Private revelation is personal and meant to be applied to the recipient’s life or needs in a careful and doctrinally faithful manner.

V Discussion of how the Church investigates reported revelations.
Eg between 1931-1950 22 Marian apparitions were seriously studied and only 2 were deemed authentic.

VI Individuals’ perceptions are unavoidable distorted by their personal experiences, personality, emotions, preconceptions, and education.

VII Even a devout or sincere person may unconsciously distort or fabricate religious experience to meet their unconscious hopes or expectations.
The idea of revelation appeals to people angry with their churches, to those scared and wanting the reassurance of direct communication from God, and to magical thinkers.

VIII If you hear of a private revelation, remain calm and learn as much as you can. Don’t be stampeded into making a quick decision about whether believe that it was authentic or not, or panicking that the person is insane (or possessed).

IX Guidelines for Spiritual Directors. The author says to skip this if you aren’t directing anyone, so I only glanced over it. Here are the general guidelines:
-be well-informed
-Be patient and gentle
-be objective
-display no admiration even if you think the revelations may be authentic

X If you think you are receiving a revelation, be cautious about assuming it is authentic, or even if it is, that you are understanding it correctly. And don’t be conceited about it.

XI An Alternative to Ecstasy
The transcendent reality of God is always around us. God makes himself known in many ways.
As “an alternative to unusual and extraordinary ways of knowing the things of God. There is a normal, everyday opportunity open to those who seek God… This is the action of grace operating in the context of a human life. If we allow it, grace will elicit deeply-moving responses and become a powerful source of virtue.”

The author remarks that the poem “Legend Beautiful” by Longfellow, which he learned at age 13, had a profound effect on his life. It is long, so I am adding it under a spoiler fold.

'Hads't thou stayed, I must have fled!'
That is what the Vision said.

In his chamber all alone,
Kneeling on the floor of stone,
Prayed the Monk in deep contrition
For his sins of indecision,
Prayed for greater self-denial
In temptation and in trial;
It was noonday by the dial,
And the Monk was all alone.
Suddenly, as if it lightened,
An unwonted splendor brightened
All within him and without him
In that narrow cell of stone;
And he saw the Blessed Vision
Of our Lord, with light Elysian
Like a vesture wrapped about him,
Like a garment round him thrown.

Not as crucified and slain,
Not in agonies of pain,
Not with bleeding hands and feet,
Did the Monk his Master see;
But as in the village street,
In the house or harvest-field,
Halt and lame and blind he healed,
When he walked in Galilee.

In an attitude imploring,
Hands upon his bosom crossed,
Wondering, worshipping, adoring,
Knelt the Monk in rapture lost.
Lord, he thought, in heaven that reignest,
Who am I, that thus thou deignest
To reveal thyself to me?
Who am I, that from the centre
Of thy glory thou shouldst enter
This poor cell, my guest to be?

Then amid his exaltation,
Loud the convent bell appalling,
From its belfry calling, calling,
Rang through court and corridor
With persistent iteration
He had never heard before.
It was now the appointed hour
When alike in shine or shower,
Winter's cold or summer's heat,
To the convent portals came
All the blind and halt and lame,
All the beggars of the street,
For their daily dole of food
Dealt them by the brotherhood;
And their almoner was he
Who upon his bended knee,
Rapt in silent ecstasy
Of divinest self-surrender,
Saw the Vision and the Splendor.
Deep distress and hesitation
Mingled with his adoration;_
Should he go, or should he stay?
Should he leave the poor to wait
Hungry at the convent gate,
Till the Vision passed away?
Should he slight his radiant guest,
Slight this visitant celestial,
For a crowd of ragged, bestial
Beggars at the convent gate?
Would the Vision there remain?
Would the Vision come again?
Then a voice within his breast
Whispered, audible and clear
As if to the outward ear:
'Do thy duty; that is best;
Leave unto thy Lord the rest!'

Straightway to his feet he started,
And with longing look intent
On the Blessed Vision bent,
Slowly from his cell departed,
Slowly on his errand went.

At the gate the poor were waiting,
Looking through the iron grating,_
With that terror in the eye
That is only seen in those
Who amid their wants and woes
Hear the sound of doors that close,
And of feet that pass them by;
Grown familiar with disfavor,
Grown familiar with the savor
Of the bread by which men die!
But to-day, they knew not why,
Like the gate of Paradise
Seemed the convent sate to rise,
Like a sacrament divine
Seemed to them the bread and wine.
In his heart the Monk was praying,
Thinking of the homeless poor,
What they suffer and endure;
What we see not, what we see;
And the inward voice was saying:
'Whatsoever thing thou doest
To the least of mine and lowest,
That thou doest unto me!'

Unto me! but had the Vision
Come to him in beggar's clothing,
Come a mendicant imploring,
Would he then have knelt adoring,
Or have listened with derision,
And have turned away with loathing.

Thus his conscience put the question,
Full of troublesome suggestion,
As at length, with hurried pace,
Towards his cell he turned his face,
And beheld the convent bright
With a supernatural light,
Like a luminous cloud expanding
Over floor and wall and ceiling.

But he paused with awe-struck feeling
At the threshold of his door,
For the Vision still was standing
As he left it there before,
When the convent bell appalling,
From its belfry calling, calling,
Summoned him to feed the poor.
Through the long hour intervening
It had waited his return,
And he felt his bosom burn,
Comprehending all the meaning,
When the Blessed Vision said,
'Hadst thou stayed, I must have fled!'

“To ecstasy, I prefer the monotony of sacrifice.” –Therese of Lisieux

Here are the other texts mentioned in this book, leaving out the ones that are about specific saints or apparitions:

Sandra Zimdars-Swartz, Encountering Mary
Fr Augustin Poulain, SJ, Graces of Interior Prayer
Karl Rahner, Sacramentum Mundi. NY Herder and Herder 1970.
Pope Benedict XIV on Heroic Virtue, De canon III:liii, no. 15
Jan Bovenmars, Biblical Spirituality of the Heart
St John of the Cross, Ascent of Mount Carmel
Timothy O’Donnell, Heart of the Redeemer
Anthony Bloom, Beginning to Pray
Evelyn Underhill, Mysticism. NY Meridian 1974.
John Paul II, Wonders and Signs
Briege McKenna, Miracles do Happen
Benjamin Wolman, Handbook of Parapsychology.
Thomas Dubay, Fire Within.
Jurgen Moltmann, Experience of God
Helen Schucman, Course in Miracles (she was the author’s psych prof at Columbia, and chapter 7 contains an interesting account of her personal and familial religious complexities; how she described her experiences to Groeschel; also the involvement in her writing of William Thetford, who after his retirement was revealed to be a CIA agent. Sadly Schucman, who had argued that suffering was not real, spent the last two years of her life in psychotic depression.)

[Martin Moleski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I turned to this little book to help me evaluate Heaven is for Real, both the book and the movie.

His second of four rules to aid discernment was an eye-opener: "No private revelation comes directly from God and therefore none can be assumed to be inerrantly true." Groeschel shows through many examples that saints whom we honor as imitators of Christ are not necessarily infallible, despite their mystical graces and holiness of life.

St. Catherine Labouré, who gave the world the miraculous medal, actually predicted the bloody disturbances of the French Commune forty years before they occurred and with the precise date. However, she made several other predictions that were wrong. When confronted with these errors, she simply apologized for getting the facts of the revelation wrong. She obviously did not know what to say, since she had thought she had got the message right. This admission of simply "getting it wrong" on the part of this simple visionary is something one should never forget. (34)

I believe Colton's recovery was a miracle; I believe God spoke to him personally in images and language perfectly accommodated to the understanding of a four-year-old boy; I believe we have a lot to learn about how to express our anger at God without fear; but I don't agree with his father's presentation of the contents of his son's vision or dream as "the truth" (153), without any further qualification. Groeschel advises that "the possibility of distortion, error, or even innocent self-deception needs to be grasped in its entirety" (109). His cautionary tales of the Church's 2000-year experiences with visionaries help to make this understanding possible.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Benedict Groeschel, but this book was pretty much him telling us to read other books if we're interested in private revelation.

One of my favorite moments was when he talked about a very good book that had come out recently called Fire Within

This book helps us keep the perspective that the deposit of faith is complete, religious experiences help us live our faith daily, and revelation is not necessary, but can be a special grace.

[Anne Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I saw the title of this book, I put it in my list of books I wanted to read. But I misunderstood. I was under the impression that this book would have more stories about revelations. Not textbook reading about what revelations are: authentic, questionable, false, or fake. I may be naive, but I have an open mind, and I find reading about revelations to be interesting. So I found the short references of some saints and people who had religious experiences interesting. And I learned that revelations can be different as we all are different. There are the religious revelations of Lourdes and Fatima, but the author’s revelation experience of a prisoner. And how someone experienced God’s presence in the most unlikely of places.
One must also think about people describing their experiences. Two people in the same place can describe something very differently. One can forget certain aspects of an experience or remember things days later. Again, I would have liked to read more about individual religious experiences and revelations but that’s probably another book.

[Berni Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow. This is a really popular title. I've read other books by Fr. Groeschel so I was prepared for his very sensible approach. I was still rather impressed by how he cautions people to not believe too readily in every purported apparition. (It's a Catholic thing.) He emphasizes Church teaching without being dogmatic about it. It's just sensible - it doesn't hurt to follow these things but they don't have equal weight with Scripture, and if it directly contradicts, maybe that's a clue that something is wrong. Wait and see is always the wisest approach in these cases.

[Pat Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fr. Groeschel’s ‘A STILL SMALL VOICE’ is a good resource on extraordinary religious phenomena.
Had the privilege to have met Fr. Groeschel and have been to many of his lectures. He was a good priest, humanitarian, speaker and author. Received understanding from this book..... it’s sensible and a good read.

[Connie Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read "A Still, Small Voice," when it was first published over 20 years ago. Several months after the book's publication, some good friends invited me to attend a small conference about private revelation, featuring Fr. Groeschel as the only speaker. The conference, which took place at what used to be Dominican College in New Orleans, was sponsored by the Pauline Family.

Most of the attendees were active in local groups, which promoted phenomena highly popular in the area. Nevertheless, Fr. G was fearless. His warnings about "publicizing" secrets, marketing conferences/media/literature, etc. were highly prophetic.

His calm patience, when listening to an angry mom and her daughter who had attended the talks, was evident the next day. They both chewed him out, while the rest of us watched uncomfortably in line as we waited to talk with him. Ultimately, it was Fr. G's personal witness of kindness to this lady and her daughter, which made a lasting impression on me about his book!

My two children were of a highly impressionable age at the time, and I sincerely wanted to hand on the Faith to them - with all its beauty and fullness. F. G's book really helped. Most recently, it has helped prepare the way for me to more fully appreciate Pope Francis' comments on private revelation in a recent talk and, especially, in "Evangelii Gaudium."

For anyone who wants a thoughtful and well-written guide to a basic understanding on what our Church teaches about private revelation - and why, I highly recommend this book! It may come in very handy again quite soon!

[Jamie Howison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got interested in this matter of "reported revelations" after reading Randall Sullivan's book "The Miracle Detective," in which a largely secular Rolling Stone reporter finds himself quite swept up in the Marian appearances at Medjugorje. Sullivan points to this book by Groeschel as being a sane and solid approach to the question, and I'd have to agree. Measured, thoughtful, theologically informed in the great Catholic tradition, Groeschel is thoughtfully open-minded, yet generally very careful in his approach. His key insight is that "religious experiences" are neither flashy nor rare; they are the stuff that many of us experience in small yet transforming ways, in the day-to-day of life. As for things like Medjugorje? He remains deliberately agnostic, without being dismissive.

There is a bit of a preoccupation with "A Course in Miracles," which was very popular at the time this book was published. This occasionally side-tracks the larger picture Groeschel seeks to paint, particularly when it comes to the entirely unnecessary Addendum. I suppose at the time it seemed very much a necessary addition, but now it actually makes the whole book feel a bit dated and reactionary, which in fact it isn't.

A bit of a specialist read, but enjoyable all the same.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read for anyone who believes in divine revelations, doesn't believe in divine revelations, and anyone in between. Father Groeschel writes in an easy to understand format all about reported revelations and how the average person can discern whether to believe or not. This practical book keeps readers from giving revelations more credit than they deserve. I know I will refer back to this book many times in the future!

[Jackie Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview!

I enjoyed this bok very much. It has helped me to be much more cautious in my journaling with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.