Baptism in the Holy Spirit

[Rolypoly]

I tried this baptism in the Holy Spirit but it did not result in any incredible increase in my zeal What went wrong for me? Did I lack faith? I know I have the Holy Spirit from my Sacramental Baptism but I lack zeal and boldness that I thought the baptism in the Holy Spirit would give me. Can I do it again?

 

[Sirach2]

Can you do it again? What? Ask for the Holy Spirit to empower you? Of course - daily, if necessary. We have the beautiful prayer given to us in the Church many years go that even has an indulgence attached to it, “Come, Holy Spirit.” If it pleases God to give you a fresh experience of His anointing, that experience may increase your faith, but really - you may ask always that the Holy Spirit give you a “right judgment” and “ever to rejoice in His consolation!” The consolation part is what some think would accompany the prayer for greater infilling, and when it is not there in the manner that others receive it, they tend to think something is wrong.

Spiritual growth takes place over a lifetime, just as our bodies continuously change cells and grow. First the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. To him who has, more will be given … therefore, we are called to cooperate with what we have already received, yet ask for the Spirit’s help continuously, however He may be pleased to grant it to us.

 

[po18guy]

This sounds wonderful. I wonder why they never told us about this during Catechism class?? Why doesn’t our pastor tell us about this? Why has this been a secret??!!!

How can I participate? If I ask the priest after mass, can he do it then? Do I have to make an appointment? Do I need a sponsor or anything like that?

This is usually a function of what is known as the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. The movement is Church-approved from the top down, and Pope John Paul II was a big supporter of it. What the Renewal hopes to accomplish is to re-ignite the flame of faith in the Church through the release of latent, or locked up charisms within us. The gifts (charisms) that we received at our Sacramental Baptism are often not realized in their fulness, due to our hearts not being prepared, or properly disposed to use them. Saint Paul writes of the gifts in 1 Corinthians 12-14. The error of out times is to view the charisms as somehow being confined to the pages of the bible. Not so.

Usually, this “baptism” occurs in the latter part of a seminar known as “Life in the Spirit” or by a similar name. It is a several week program that uses preaching, scripture and witness testimony to provide a background for the working of the Holy Spirit. Toward the end of the seminar, a Priest or Bishop will lay hands on you in prayer. When you are ready and well disposed for this, what may occur is known as being “slain in the Spirit”, or “resting in the Spirit”. You have probably seen various televangelists do this TV, but this is absolutely real. You need no “shove” to fall backward or collapse - the Holy Spirit simply overtakes you and it becomes automatic. Of course, there are people ready to catch you and allow you to “rest” for as long as you need.

It is not strenuous, but likely will be the most intensely spiritual experience that you have ever received. It is difficult to describe, but it is simply wonderful and can draw you much nearer our Lord than you ever imagined. It is basically a personal Pentecost, and can be experienced in a similar manner as did the Apostles in Acts 2. It is truly sad that it is little known in the Church. There is no guarantee, but to those who are willing to deny themselves, great things can and do happen.

The most frequent “objection” to the entire charismatic movement is a seemingly never ending controversy over speaking in tongues. Many Catholics view this as either odd, or protestant in nature, or simply false. I make note here that those who object most strongly have likely never participated in the seminar. For the record, I have never spoken a single syllable in a tongue, as that is not what the Lord intends for me.

I recommend this to any an all Catholics who want to take the next step in their faith lives. It is an acceleration from the natural world into the realm of the supernatural via the working of the Holy Spirit. You will be changed for the better.

I would suggest either Googling it or contacting your Archdiocese to inquire about it.

 

[MtnDwellar]

I found a Life in the Spirit seminar near enough for me attend. It is limited to young adults, 18-35. Is that typical? What’s up with that?

 

[po18guy]

I tried this baptism in the Holy Spirit but it did not result in any incredible increase in my zeal What went wrong for me? Did I lack faith? I know I have the Holy Spirit from my Sacramental Baptism but I lack zeal and boldness that I thought the baptism in the Holy Spirit would give me. Can I do it again?

Certainly. It is not a one-time act, but ultimately becomes a daily re-affirmation of faith and re-commitment to God.

Here are some possibilities that may or may not apply in your situation. The Holy Spirit’s timing is perfect - ours is not. It is possible that you were not completely prepared at the time, or that your gift is one of the quieter gifts, or that it is being released even as we speak. We do not and cannot understand the Lord’s timing. It is also possible for someone to desire the release of the gifts against the will of the Spirit. He cannot be forced, but must be invited into a heart that is as humble as possible. It must a giving of the self back to our Creator - a willingness to offer oneself in service.

Since you are willing, I can suggest only that you re-contact the charismatic movement and participate again. Some spiritual advantage will be received - just what it is remains to be seen. Desire nothing for yourself, but all for God’s glory. It may be occurring right now, for all we know.

 

[po18guy]

I tend to be traditional and not to impressed with the charismatic movement. That being said, I had an intervention on a suicide attempt that was the start of my conversion. Priests’ have called it an “illumination’ , a “purging, then consolation”. It was a very real and powerful intervention by our loving Lord in my life. I was married and confirmed a few weeks later. Saying it was a 'baptism” seems weird, but I know what you are saying. What are we to call it though? I would rather not see a wonderful gift as this be a cause of division and shouldn’t be. Though a consolation as this may have different names, we are on the same page, I hope.

We are on the same page when we do God’s will. The Holy Spirit manifests Himself through an infinite array of means. What occurs is called “baptism”, simply because there is no other term that seems to apply.

But, the Holy Spirit, just as with Jesus, is a sign that will be contradicted - even within the Church. Examine the objections that you hear and you might just find reasons why you should participate in such a spiritual renewal.

 

[po18guy]

I found a Life in the Spirit seminar near enough for me attend. It is limited to young adults, 18-35. Is that typical? What’s up with that?

Never heard of that. Maybe an outgrowth of the “Lifeteen” movement? Keep searching and asking. Someone will know a charismatic Priest’s name. Contact him and he can direct you.

 

[po18guy]

can you only receive it once like Baptism?

The beauty is that you may receive it for the rest of your life. You already possess the Holy Spirit from your Sacramental Baptism. This is a prayer experience that can be repeated as often as needed or desired. This is not an awakening of the Holy Spirit - it is an awakening of us.

If you hear of a “healing mass” (another misnomer, since all masses heal), go there and speak with the Priest who is celebrating. I am certain that he would be delighted to speak with you.

 

[Samson01]

We are on the same page when we do God’s will. The Holy Spirit manifests Himself through an infinite array of means. What occurs is called “baptism”, simply because there is no other term that seems to apply.

But, the Holy Spirit, just as with Jesus, is a sign that will be contradicted - even within the Church. Examine the objections that you hear and you might just find reasons why you should participate in such a spiritual renewal.

I participated and was called a prophet, then a devil a few weeks later by the same person. So I stay away from such flighty spirituality.

 

[po18guy]

And I have experienced the filling and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. It was in April 1979, when I was 13 years old. The day of my Confirmation. That was the day I became a Soldier for Christ, according to my Confirmation prep. I have been charismatic and evangelistic in my faith ever since. While I sojourned away from the truth of the Catholic faith as an evangelical protestant for 20 yrs, I was often able to “receive the Holy Spirit” where well-meaning pentecostals wanted to see me jump and bark in tongues. For 20 yrs I knew that I received that power at my Confirmation, and didn’t need to have an experience to revv it back up.

Clearly, your heart was well-dispoed, not only to receive the Holy Spirit, but to use His gifts. Amen! The rest of us - maybe not so blessed. But, each of us has a gift or gifts that we are intended to use, but may not be using…

I was sealed with the Holy Spirit on that day. Nothing can take away from it, and nothing can or needs to replace the REAL POWER of the grace of the Sacrament.

You are truly blessed. We all were sealed in the Holy Spirit at our confirmation, but some of us locked the gifts up within a hardened heart. Some of us got spiritually tired. Some of us became entangled in the affairs of this world. It is to those whom the baptism is directed. It is an awakening - not of the Holy Spirit, but of us.

 

[po18guy]

Thistle does not need to lighten up. I was thinking likewise. “We believe in ONE Baptism for the forgiveness of sins…”

If it is not Baptism, it should not be called Baptism. It makes it sound like a heresy.

I have no experience with Catholic teaching of Baptism of the Holy Spirit and cannot comment. I have heard Pentecostals and other Protestant heretics refer to it.

I am interested in anything that will help me grow in my faith. Please explain further and provide Catechism, Biblical, Canon law, or other Roman Catholic references. Thanks.

This is one of the main objections - that of semantics. Thistle could lighten up a bit, for the following reason: John’s baptism was not of the Holy Spirit, it was not sacramental in nature, yet it is properly called a baptism. No one objects to that! It was an immersion, or a washing. The baptism (small “b”) of the Holy Spirit is not not not a Sacrament, but a prayer experience. It is immersion in the Holy Spirit, if you will. In that limited immersive sense it is a baptism.

The problem comes from man’s inability to properly express an experience in the supernatural realm.

This man called it a baptism. Good enough for me.

 

[po18guy]

I participated and was called a prophet, then a devil a few weeks later by the same person. So I stay away from such flighty spirituality.

I say to stay away from flighty people! What does God say about you? What He thinks is all that matters.

This is why the charismatic process is offered under the auspices of the Church, and why a Priest or Bishop lays hands on. The spirit realm is not a D-I-Y project.

 

[Sirach2]

po18guy:

This is one of the main objections - that of semantics. Thistle could lighten up a bit, for the following reason: John’s baptism was not of the Holy Spirit, it was not sacramental in nature, yet it is properly called a baptism. No one objects to that! It was an immersion, or a washing.

People panic when they have no understanding and think the faith they “know” is being compromised in some way. You’re doing a great job explaining. Here’s another consideration for those who are tottering with this “semantic.”

“And having called his twelve disciples together, he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of diseases, and all manner of infirmities.” (Mt. 10:1)

Whose “power” did Jesus give the apostles? Of course, it had to be the Holy Spirit in order to perform these works. Yet they received another gift of the Holy Spirit after the resurrection. John 20:22. “When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” However, this too, was NOT the outpouring of the Spirit they received at Pentecost.

We see that there were three occasions when the apostles were empowered with the Spirit. And maybe a fourth, if we consider that some were baptized by John the Baptist before receiving any gifts for ministry.

 

[Samson01]

I say to stay away from flighty people! What does God say about you? What He thinks is all that matters.

This is why the charismatic process is offered under the auspices of the Church, and why a Priest or Bishop lays hands on. The spirit realm is not a D-I-Y project.

The wedge just gets bigger.

 

[po18guy]

People panic when they have no understanding and think the faith they “know” is being compromised in some way. We see that there were three occasions when the apostles were empowered with the Spirit. And maybe a fourth, if we consider that some were baptized by John the Baptist before receiving any gifts for ministry.

The controversy should not be that we are gaining the use of the gifts, but that we stopped using them in the first place!

And, lest anyone think that I am heavily involved in the charismatic movement, it has been almost four years since I have participated in such a function. Other than the Life in the Spirit seminar which awakened me, I have attended exactly 1.0 charismatic events.

It is not about the charismatic movement; not about particular gifts; not even about the personal growth in spirituality - it is about doing the will of God and being awed at His power and goodness. Period.

 

[deo_adiuvante]

The beauty is that you may receive it for the rest of your life. You already possess the Holy Spirit from your Sacramental Baptism. This is a prayer experience that can be repeated as often as needed or desired. This is not an awakening of the Holy Spirit - it is an awakening of us.

If you hear of a “healing mass” (another misnomer, since all masses heal), go there and speak with the Priest who is celebrating. I am certain that he would be delighted to speak with you.

Thanks!

 

[blackice71]

Thanks again, everyone! Great information!!

 

[Reuben_J]

I found a Life in the Spirit seminar near enough for me attend. It is limited to young adults, 18-35. Is that typical? What’s up with that?

Depend on your parish, a Life in the Spirit Seminar, by that name or any other, may not be frequently organized depending on the group responsible to do it. Sometimes external speaker may be needed making it somewhat difficult. It can be given according to a targeted group and that looks like to be in your case - young working adults. And that’s right; you need to seek out when such event will be held through your local Charismatic group or the Diocesan Service Team.

The seminar can range from a few days to many weeks; the latter is given once a week and culminating probably in the seventh week, a baptism in the Holy Spirit. What is involved here is for the participants to be exposed to the love and salvation plan of God, how man disobeyed and the result of that disobedience that affects a person spiritual life. The participants are being helped to go through their own lives as they are being counseled. Usually at this stage priests will be involved especially to give confession. Then there will be healing session to allow the Holy Spirit to heal the hidden dark moment of their life. Once they are freed and prepared for the infusion of the Holy Spirit to empower them, then praying over of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is given.

One of the important aspects of such seminar is prayer - verbal, non-verbal, praying together and songs that become very much the feature throughout. This helps the participants to be open and humbled themselves to the action of the Holy Spirit. Personal pride is always an obstacle for the Holy Spirit to work in us.

The effect of the prayer of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (assuming that we get over the semantic) is perhaps to trigger our conversion and renewal in our love for God. po18guy did an excellent job in explaining this throughout here; a special appreciation must be to him. In other word, it is just the beginning of a fervent life in humbling ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit. One admittedly experiences a euphoria because it is always good to be healed and to be filled with joy in loving God; that’s why those who are already very holy and spiritual - they do not need this renewal at all.

However the reality of actually living the life of the Gospel and the Church is to come and it will be no means smooth sailing. But we have been awakened to the faith, the Holy Spirit is at work and active in us, been taught how to pray and read the Word, taking part in the Sacraments and the life in the Church, we are now much better equipped than before to face the challenge of moving on.

 

[po18guy]

**An open letter to all who either doubt, or who oppose the “baptism in the Holy Spirit”
**
Please, at least look into it. Google it up. Ask your Priest. Call or email your Archdiocese. Investigate it. Put it to the test. Confirm the Church approval and authority behind it. I beg you not to dismiss or condemn it out of hand.

Not everyone needs it, but for those who do need it, which is perhaps most of us, it is an absoltely thrilling and faith-changing experience. Like salvation, it is not a one-time event, but an on-going conversion and openness to the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It should not be controversial. The scandal is that it remains relatively unknown.

I can personally vouch for miracles during prayer before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament after my awakening to the Spirit’s presence.

All praise and glory to God. Amen.

 

[thistle]

**An open letter to all who either doubt, or who oppose the “baptism in the Holy Spirit”
**
Please, at least look into it. Google it up. Ask your Priest. Call or email your Archdiocese. Investigate it. Put it to the test. Confirm the Church approval and authority behind it. I beg you not to dismiss or condemn it out of hand.

Not everyone needs it, but for those who do need it, which is perhaps most of us, it is an absoltely thrilling and faith-changing experience. Like salvation, it is not a one-time event, but an on-going conversion and openness to the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It should not be controversial. The scandal is that it remains relatively unknown.

I can personally vouch for miracles during prayer before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament after my awakening to the Spirit’s presence.

All praise and glory to God. Amen.

There is only one Baptism and that is done in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
After that there is no other baptism. Saying a second baptism is possible is heresy.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains a summary of ALL Catholic teachings. Please show us all where in the CCC it says there is/can be another baptism after our baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.