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What is Anne, a lay apostle’s experience of interior locutions?
Anne states: ”I hear the messages in my soul. I do not hear them with my physical sense of hearing. People often wonder about the difference between an interior locution and the inspirations one receives during deep prayer. I can only speak for myself, but I will say this: for me, it is the difference between listening and speaking. If Jesus is talking, I am listening. It is a passive act in that I am not constructing sentences or putting words together. It is a heavenly event and you understand that you have been touched by Heaven. In my early twenties, when I began to experience locutions, I walked on air for days after each one. There is no mistaking it. You know it is heaven speaking and you know it is heaven communicating with you.”
Definition of Interior Locutions
What is an interior locution? First of all, it is necessary to make clear that it is not something strange or sensational, but a mystical phenomenon present in the life of the Church and described in manuals of spiritual theology. It is not a sensorial communication with Jesus, Our Lady or the saints such as takes place in authentic apparitions. Here one does not see with the eyes, hear with the ears, nor does one touch anything. Nor is it simply a good inspiration, that light which the Holy Spirit normally causes to pour down into the minds and hearts of those who pray and live by faith. In the case of an authentic phenomenon, the interior locution is that gift by which God wishes to make something known and to help someone carry something out as well as the outward clothing of this gift, in terms of human thoughts and words, according to the style and the way of writing of the person who receives the message.
The person becomes an instrument of communication, while still maintaining his full freedom, which is expressed in an act of assent of the Holy Spirit. While receiving the word from the Lord, the person’s intellect remains, as it were, inactive: that is to say, it does not search for thoughts or for a way to express them as, for example, would be the case when one is writing a letter or preparing a demanding discourse. (Taken from the 16th Edition of The Marian Movement of Priests, page xxxv. Used with permission.)
What is a “lay apostle”?
They are men women and children who are trying to work on their own holiness and then bring other souls back to the family of God. We all have a role to play in this renewal and that role is clearly marked out in our vocation.
Our first priority, then, is to embark on a personal path to holiness within our vocation. We must understand that everything we do in a day, we do with and for Jesus Christ. He is in us. He is with us. If we are cleaning our car, washing our dishes, surviving a contentious meeting or caring for a loved one, we do so in unity with Him. He is never apart from us. He wants to speak to us each day, all day. He has a goal and purpose for each task we perform. All of Heaven has an interest in our willing completion of every chore, every service. Jesus is grateful to us for every chore and every service. When we unite each action in our day to Him, He uses each action to restore peace in the world by exchanging our willingness and service for heavenly graces.
Our second priority as lay apostles is to distribute the messages to as many souls as possible. We can do this by sharing the Volumes, books, and booklets with our family, friends, and community.
Why does Anne continue to be anonymous?
Anne works anonymously because Jesus and Mary have instructed her to do so. She is the mother of six children, and Heaven seeks to protect her family from undue publicity. Each detail of the mission is completed in obedience to the Church.
As the Blessed Mother said to Anne on April 16, 2005:
“I want you to retain your private life as a mother and wife. In order for this to be possible, souls must obey my instructions. Anne, you will speak for Jesus and represent this mission. When you are speaking, you are Anne. When you are working for this mission, you are Anne. When you are serving your family at home or away from home, you are a mother and wife and you belong to your family. Souls must be respectful of this because your vocation must be protected. If the situation arose that you were serving this mission and your family was suffering, we would take you from the mission. You have a heavenly duty, Anne, so please advise souls to be respectful. You will bring great graces to others but only through obedience to Heaven. I will help you with each situation but we are serious about this distinction of service. Your family will not suffer. I am personally appealing to each soul to respect this woman’s anonymity.”
