HI, I have posted before on this and I have to say I have never attended a church that was charismatic or mass that was charismatic I attended a weekly prayer meeting where no one was forced to pray in tongues and not everyone did, I did not. It was a prayer meeting and actually when reading the bible I have found scripture that pretty much describes what we did in our weekly meeting.
Corinthians 14;16-40
Otherwise, if you pronounce a blessing (with) the spirit, how shall one who holds the place of the uninstructed say the “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
17
For you may be giving thanks very well, but the other is not built up.
18
I give thanks to God that I speak in tongues more than any of you,
19
but in the church I would rather speak five words with my mind, so as to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20
7 Brothers, stop being childish in your thinking. In respect to evil be like infants, but in your thinking be mature.
21
It is written in the law: “By people speaking strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”
22
Thus, tongues are a sign not for those who believe but for unbelievers, whereas prophecy is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
23
8 So if the whole church meets in one place and everyone speaks in tongues, and then uninstructed people or unbelievers should come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
24
But if everyone is prophesying, and an unbeliever or uninstructed person should come in, he will be convinced by everyone and judged by everyone,
25
and the secrets of his heart will be disclosed, and so he will fall down and worship God, declaring, “God is really in your midst.”
26
9 So what is to be done, brothers? When you assemble, one has a psalm, another an instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything should be done for building up.
27
If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be two or at most three, and each in turn, and one should interpret.
28
But if there is no interpreter, the person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God.
29
Two or three prophets should speak, and the others discern.
30
But if a revelation is given to another person sitting there, the first one should be silent.
31
For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged.
32
Indeed, the spirits of prophets are under the prophets’ control,
33
since he is not the God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the holy ones, 10
34
women should keep silent in the churches, for they are not allowed to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says.
35
But if they want to learn anything, they should ask their husbands at home. For it is improper for a woman to speak in the church.
36
Did the word of God go forth from you? Or has it come to you alone?
37
If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or a spiritual person, he should recognize that what I am writing to you is a commandment of the Lord.
38
If anyone does not acknowledge this, he is not acknowledged.
39
So, (my) brothers, strive eagerly to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues,
:shrug:I am really not sure what to say about women speaking in the church because we do this now as far as woman being able to read during mass.
There is so much in the bible on speaking in tongues,(if that is your concern with charismatics) I understand everyone’s worries as for the church and people being led astray by false teaching, but I have to say We ARE given in the bible weapons and armor to know the truth. God tells us test the spirits 1 John 4. I think we should be cautious of any movement especially the kind of church your friend had an experience with, was this even a catholic church? What she experienced was not right at all. We had people in our group tell of bad experiences in different groups they had attended that were not good, so they did not go back. As for the prayer group I went to it was fruitful and full of Gods love. I from my own experience would say go to your church ask your priest if there is a charismatic group you are thinking about joining. If it is a fruitful group the parish would know. This particular group I went to had I two priests and one man in seminary come out of it. It has been a group for at least 7 years from what I understand. I am defending this because I believe as with anything there is good and bad that is why we always be close to our Lord Jesus through sacraments, prayer, and reading scripture. In this way we know right from wrong and good from bad. But not all charismatic Catholics are bad just as not all Catholic priests are bad (from what I read from non-believers or those who have fallen away they blame all priests for the sex-abuse) We have to look at each experience and each group individually don’t knock the whole movement from what I understand they brought back to life a few churches in my home state (RI) when it began in the late 60’s early 70’s. Some of the same people who went to my meeting were at the meetings back in the 70’s when my mom went and they are devout Catholics who attend daily mass and live every day for the Lord.
How can it be a grace from God and not a demonic possession? It depends on who is leading the group I would say, it depends on whether the group is in accord with God, truly and honestly there to build up His church. Or it could be led by those who are self seeking and not in accord with God and the church. That’s what I feel
just my opinion.
SORRY SO LONG!!!
kidding
Let’s just say that I would be willing to bet that this IS NOT what the Catholic Chuch has in mind when it speaks of the Charismatic movement.