I don’t think you will find a well-grounded Catholic charismatic who does not see the Eucharist as the focus of his/her life and faith. Are people who pray the Rosary, the Litany to the Sacred Heart, the Divine Office or the Divine Mercy chaplet looking for more when they have everything in the True Presence? I have heard many stories of protestants being brought into the Catholic church because they decided to try praying the rosary or praying to Mary and, lo and behold, that “Catholic invention of repetitive prayer” led them to the fullness of faith in our church. They discovered the Real Presence later, but the rosary was the foot in the door for them. Does that make their conversion invalid or not-as-good as if their conversion was a direct result of an encounter with the Lord in the Real Presence?
From my youth, I can remember priests being proud of – and being liked by the congregation for – being able to say the Latin mass in twenty minutes or less – including homily – to get the folks in and out on Sundays. I can remember very arrogant and even mean priests who could spin a good homily and knew their Latin backwards and forwards. I remember the large percent – I would guess at least 25% – of people in our parish who used to pray the rosary during the Latin mass, rather than following along with the Latin-English missals, even though the priests would often remind them to put the rosaries away during mass.
The point I am trying to make is that there are abuses or errors in every aspect of church worship because the worshippers are humans. Sometimes we’re proud of ourselves when we obviously shouldn’t be, sometimes we’re distracted when we should focus on the Real Presence of our Lord, sometimes we even pray well, aided by the graces of the Holy Spirit.
True charismatic worship is not self-centered, it is Christ-centered. My experience with the charismatic renewal has been Christ-centered, but I have seen some things that look like “forced” expressions of charismatic piety. I’ve also seen people in the non-charismatic parishes to which I’ve belonged that look like they’re putting on a show for others. But who’s to know their hearts? There are some Marian groups which I find too “far out” on the conservative side, but I trust that their hearts are in pursuit of our Lord.
I apologize for rambling. It’s 12:30 and I am tired. But God bless you and everyone else on this board.
Dan
Oh, that is ironic you mention praying the Rosary. I lost my son in a car accident 3 years ago. It was a very dark time for me and, often, still is. I found another mother online who had just lost her son too. She had been raised Protestant. As she and her husband drove to where her son had passed, she started praying the Rosary. (She had been interested in the Catholic church for a long time). Her husband asked her to pray it out loud as they drove. She said a peace, like she had never felt, came over her, making her ready to face what was to come. She turned to the church, the Rosary, and our Mother Mary often. She and her husband decided to take classes. I do keep in touch with her, now and then. I am going to write her today, in fact, to see how she is doing. Sorry for rambling on so.
I lost my way after my son died. I was angry at God, the world, everyone…for just going on and living. I would get angry if it were a sunny day. I felt the world should be grieving with me. My former boss, Ed, left his job and went into the seminary. He was 49 at this time. We stayed in touch and even got together for lunch now and then. He was very instrumental in helping me find my way back. He gave me his rosary that he took to seminary with him. He was my best friend. A year and a half after I lost my son, I lost Ed too. It was very sudden and unexpected. He had a blood clot in his lung. I was devastated but this time I remembered his comforting words to me and I held tight to my faith. I talk to, both my son and Ed, frequently and tell them to look out for each other.
You are correct; if one is truly in faith and one feels speaking in tongues is lifting them higher, than my love goes with them. As you said, it is those who ‘try to hard’ when they are NOT feeling the Holy Spirit who speak in tongues anyway and it means nothing.
I may have to check out an Eastern Rite church. Would all my sacraments be accepted there? ie: Baptism, marriage, even though I am a widow. Also, do they youth get confirmed?
Thank you for reminding me that we, as humans, err, not the Lord. I apologize to anyone I may have offended who are Charismatic. We all love the Lord; we all have different ways of praising Him. As long as our prayers are heart-felt, He knows we love Him.
Thank you for saying so well what I wanted to say.