This goes to the point I made last evening that when some people experience these “charismatic experiences” they absolutely NEED catechesis as to give direction to these people to properly understand what’s going on in their lives. We understand that we do not spiritually mature “instantly” but rather is a lifelong process of growth. People with charismatic experiences is like a young teenager who gets his first rush of hormones and experiences “adult feelings” but has no means and no experience as to understand what is going on in his inner self and body. He need a more mature person there to help him sensitively understand his experiences. IMO - people ALWAYS need direction to understand how the Holy Spirit is working in their lives.
How many times have we heard of Catholics who were baptized and are now perhaps a young adult and the Holy Spirit begins to draw that person to a greater devotion to God. I’ve heard of just too many Catholics who will then begin to dig into the Bible only to have their Protestant friends to the catechesis and “guide them” in their Bible study. They get guided right out of the Church. Yes, the Holy Spirit is working - but there is a great need for TRUE teaching and direction. These people do NOT, for some reason, really try to find Catholic answers to their problem – maybe it’s like the young teen who thinks he’s ALL ALONE in experiencing what every young adult has experienced but he’s afraid to ask questions as to look “weird or stupid”.
What I’m saying is that ALL CHRISTIANS need help when the Holy Spirit it working in their lives. This is definitely not a time when a Christian should try to figure things out for themselves. When we do that - we run into problems; sometimes big problems.
Therefore, IMO - Charismatics don’t need judged – they need encouraged and helped. I’m not saying that people in this thread are doing that because it’s been the opposite. But in other threads there has definitely been a negative connotation given to the Charismatic movement. But, in like manner I think all Christians need to have their antennae up for helping those to whom the Holy Spirit may be moving to give them the support and encouragement to get the professional help they need. I think it is just one more way we can help keep our members Catholic.
MonFrere
I don’t think that Charismatics are any bit more immature then the average Catholic.Having done, adult catechesis,adult faith formation, RCIA,Adult Bible Study and Catholics Come Home program I think I’ve got more insight then the average person.The absence of knowledge by a vast number of people is beyond belief.to say your average Charismatic is spiritually immature or needs to grow spiritually is to blind oneself to the absence of catechesis and spiritually maturity in the majority of rank and file catholics.
My husband and I came later into the movement-only about eight years. What once was very silly and goofy to me became a spiritual’ leg up’.What once sounded like gibberish to me ,began to sound like music."Resting " in the Spirit was a surprise that literally knocked me off my feet! Tongues-I have never spoken -and have felt no compulsion to do. Other gifts have been given to me- or I should say more like they were “unleashed”. These gifts are our right though our sacraments-but we need to uncover and use them
Some say we are addicted to an adreline rush and emotional highs. like many movements,stereotypes are the things people believe. There are many stereotypes- and maybe some were partially true in the past. but i’ve never see any abuses.Much less abuses then I’ve seen with some ultra traditionalsit. But for some reason the don’t get the bad press, even if the deny the current and previous popes.
Some are afraid of the lack of intellectualism that they see in the renewal. Again I see a lot of anti- intellectualism on this site-it’s not limited to one movement
When you feel the Holy Spirit in your lives it is a intense feeling. But it doesn’t start and stop with that one feeling. I was told that what I experienced was “only the beginning”. and that one had to grow in the spirituality and sustain it by being fed. Fed with the Eucharist, with the Word of God,with the Sacraments,with devotions.One is not to sit on one’s laurels.
I think to many people set there eyes on what they see as exotic or unusual…Hands raised or speaking in tongues.That is really a tiny bit of what an Charismatic experiences.That’s the stuff you see at "praise and Worship’ get togethers. That is simply not what we do on a weekly basis. We do sing and praise but we also read scripture and meditate (silent prayer) for long periods of time. We ask if anyone needs prayer for any reason.And we pray, quietly with them
…We just had a Healing Mass last week.We pray in our Chapel with the Eucharist exposed and pray quietly knowing that the greatest healer is in the Monstrance and that we are nothing but acting as the Lord’s hands and feet.Lots of times we do nothing but listen to them and hold their hands and reassure them of God’s Love and saving Grace…
That is my experience and my insights of the Renewal.
We are no more or less spiritually immature or wanting of Grace then any other Catholic.
I’m a lifelong Catholic. I’ve encountered it very infrequently, and not always in the most positive light. I wouldn’t describe it as mainstream Catholicism, that’s for sure. 
