There is a lot of misguidance from the teachers of our day that say, private revelation does not have to be considered or taken seriously. This is a grave error at this time in the history of the Church, considering all the prophecies that have been given to us in the last two hundred years and especially in the latter part of the 20th century and up to now. These errors about private revelation have crept into the Church through the subtle influence of Freemasonry but this is not what the Roman Catholic Church teaches.
Private revelations have been given to early Church Fathers, Doctors of the Church; to venerable, blessed, canonized saints, and ordinary saints through visions, locutions, prophecy, dreams and from other major gifts of revelation that come from the Holy Spirit.
Jesus talked to the Apostles just before he was going up to heaven and explained how the Holy Spirit would convey information to us in four ways. Jesus explains the imminent workings of the Holy Spirit, in two chapters from the Gospel of John, clarifying how the Holy Spirit will inform us over the ages.
In John 14:25-26, Jesus tells his Apostles: "This much I have told you, while I was still with you; the Holy Spirit, whom I will send in my name,
1. Will instruct you in everything ...
2. Remind you of all that I have told you."
That is, He will relate everything to us, when we need understanding. This is more information than Jesus gave when he was still on the earth and is more information than what is chronicled in the Bible.
In John 16:12-13, when Jesus was continuing with his last discourse, He said to the Apostles, "I have (so) much to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. When He (Holy Spirit) comes...
3. He will guide you to all truth...
4. Will announce to you the things to come."
This substantiates the urgency to read prophecies for the future from private revelation and is confirmed by Jesus Christ himself in Public Revelation, that is the Bible.
In Amos 3:1, 7 God promises: "You alone have I favoured... Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants, the prophets."
In Isaiah 46:9-12 (New American Bible 1970), God does speak in advance: "I am God, there is no other ... at the beginning, I, foretell the outcome, in advance, things not yet done. I say that my plan shall stand...Yes, I have spoken, I will accomplish it; I have planned it and I will do it. Listen to me you fainthearted, you who seem far from the victory... I am bringing on my Justice, it is not far off..."
God has a Plan! The Holy Spirit has revealed to us many future events in the Bible and will continue to expound on those events not fully described in the Bible. He also reveals unknown future events that are not described in the Bible. How does the Holy Spirit reveal all truths and the things to come? After Jesus ascended to Heaven, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Apostles and many gifts were evident and continue to be poured out to this very day. Recorded in Acts of the Apostles 2: 6-21, Peter reiterates the prophecy of Joel 3:1-4. "Your sons and daughters shall prophesy; your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams." In Ecclesiasticus or Sirach 34:5-6, it says: "Dreams are frivolous and chasing of the wind, unless they are from emissaries, from on High." We can discern if it is from God. Over the centuries, many saints had visions and dreams revealing to them what God wanted to convey. Many people are very ordinary people, not recognized saints, but God gives His revelations just the same.
The nine major gifts of the Holy Spirit, listed by St. Paul in 1-Corinthians 12, are given to ordinary people, giving us revelation of many truths. These gifts are supernatural through the presence or manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit. There are different forms of service but the same Lord. There are different workings but the same God who produces all of them.
But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.
As a body is one, though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also is Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given of the one Spirit.
God's Anointing teaches you (Holy Spirit's presence teaches you)
1-John 2: 27 "As for you, the anointing you received from him, remains in your hearts. This means you have no need for anyone to teach you. Rather, as his anointing teaches you about all things and is true– free from any lie–remain in him as that anointing taught you."