The spiritual gifts experienced in Charismatic prayer groups are Scriptural, as St. Paul eneumerates in 1 Cor. Chapters 12 and 14. In chapter 12 he states that it is the Spirit who gives gifts, (1 Cor 12:1-3 and 4-11) and reminds them that this is for the good (edifying) of the Body of Christ in the body of the chapter. From verse 27 onward that there is a hierarchy and order to the administration and use of gifts in the Church, and that not all member of the Church have the same gifts. In Chapter 13 we have the famous discourse on Love, which is to be the source and guide in living the faith and in which all gifts must operate by God’s grace. Then in verse 1 Cor. 14, verse 1 Paul encourages the Corinthian Church to “pursue love and strive for the spritual gifts…”. In verse 21 - 29 he discusses “tongues”, noting that outsiders will think individuals “out of their mind” whom they hear speaking in tongues without interpretation, and therefore exhorts the Church to do everything “properly and in order”. He states further “do not forbid speaking in tongues” in verse 39. When one steps back and views more fully Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, however, several things become apparent. He has been exhorting this Church at length prior to this discussion on the proper use and application of these spiritual gifts for their immaturity (in chapter 3 verse 1 and 2) and states that he must speak to them “not as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh and infants in Christ”. There are incidences of spiritual pride (1 Cor. chapters 1 and 2), serious immorality in their midst (1 Cor. chapter 5 verse 1), and other imbalances in regard to their attitude toward eating meat that was sacrificed to idols (ch. 9). What is most telling in regard to this immorality and imbalance is enumerated by St. Paul in chapters 10 and 11 a failure in the manner in which they receive the Holy Eucharist, to discern the body of Christ (the True Presence; and sacrilege in their manner of receiving the Holy Eucharist, the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ including failure to properly examine themselves first (through Holy Confession) (1 Cor 11:27-30), which has had fatal consequences among the members of the Corinthian Church, who have “eaten and drunk” judgement upon themselves in so doing, (verse 29) resulting even in illness and death by some (verse 30).
I have had much personal experience with some Charismatic Catholics, and there is much that is good and beautiful in their enthusiasm for Christ. However, I also observed a great deal of spiritual pride, immaturity and emphasis of the operation of these lesser gifts (St. Paul speaks of “speaking in tongues” as the “least” of the gifts In 1 Cor. 12 verse 30 Paul’s words convey that not everyone has all the gifts. Though the prayer group I attended insisted that everyone should speak in tongues as a sign that they have received “the baptism of the Holy Spirit”, St. Paul contradicts this with his questions; “do all work miracles? Do all posses gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues?”. I will not here debate the use of the term “baptism in the Holy Spirit” other than to say that in Ephesians 4:5 he states there is “ONE Baptism”. (By water and the spirit which is cleary stated elsewhere in Scripture). God’s Holy Spirit fills and comes upon us in many ways and times (through prayer, during receipt of the Sacraments), but this does not replace our original Baptism nor convey “salvation” as many Charismatics I have witness state. The highest form of union with the Holy Spirit is decidedly and emphatically experienced by proper receipt and disposition of the Sacraments including Baptism, Reconciliation, Mass and the Holy Eucharist. Yet I repeatedly heard the emphasis being placed on lesser gifts such as prophesy, visions, tongues, and being “slain in the Spirit”. At least in the Charismatic groups I have witnessed personally, there was a mis-focus toward seeking spiritual consolations which the Saints (John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, for example) warn us against. The devil can imitate these experiences easily, as many of the Saints will attest to who had false apparations of Mary, Jesus, or their Spiritual Directors (St. Padre Pio and St. Dominic for example). I personally witnessed many false “words of knowlege” given to individuals that later proved false, and which at times were even contrary to Church Teaching (such as one woman who told another woman that her son who had died (and who was separated from the Church and had not been to Confession or received the Last Rites) was in Heaven, not Purgatory, and she didn’t need therefore to pray for his soul.) This is why a solid Spiritual Director to oversee Charismatic groups would be helpful for discernment and for keeping the focus on the receipt of the Holy Sacraments for the deepest possible communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
