Charismatic Catholics?

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From Blaise’s article above: "While holding hands during the Our Father is very much a novelty in the millenarian history of Catholic liturgy, the “orantes” posture…is as old as Christianity, is depicted in the catacombs, **has always been preserved in the Eastern rites and was not reserved to the priest until after several centuries in the Latin rite **— and even then not everywhere. “The controversy regarding the use of the “orantes” posture for the Our Father appears to be confined to the English-speaking world. In many other places, it is … accepted as an optional gesture which any member of the community is free to perform if so inclined … ZE03120221”

How interesting! The orantes position was initially for everyone, and to this day in various places (Italy, for example) the laity are allowed to use the Orans (aka orantes) posture during the Our Father. This allowance came at the Bishops request:

"In some countries, Italy, for example, the Holy See has granted the bishops’ request to allow anyone who wishes to adopt this posture during the Our Father. Usually about a third to one-half of the assembled faithful choose to do so. "

Apparently the rubric of the Mass is not as fixed as some here would like to think, and it is certainly the case that no one’s respect for the Mass should be called into question over something so insignificant - unless, of course, you are prepared to call into question the Holy See and the Bishop of Italy as not having the proper respect for the Mass. :rolleyes:
I thought I had a fairly good grip on all of this: the orantes posture by the laity was out because it threatens unity and was not in the rubric, while holding hands was out for now because it was not in the rubric. Now I must admit that Im a little confused:
The above article was written in 2003. Do the condemnations provided in the links by Dominique and Carl obviate or override any of this?
 
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is not about the position of our hands. The position of our hands is due to an inward renewal that is sometimes released during times of praise and worship.

It is not an evidence of the renewal, it is not a requirement of the renewal, but it does happen when Charismatics gather toghether.

Jesus got under the skin of the Pharisees and Sadduccees because He caught them playing religion. Perhaps Charismatics get under the skin of some for the same reason, I’m just saying…

When someone yells at me using capital, colored letters I have to wonder “do they protest too much?”. When one stands behind legalities so angrily I wonder if the heart of worship has been lost? Will we hear, “Crucify” once again? Will we be burned at the stake for even daring to ask if we can worship like the early charismatic church?

It seems that anything that angers a so-called traditionalist is met with cries of heresy and Protestantism. Well, the mass is about to change again this year and from all indications a fight is coming. Why? It seems to me that we are eventually headed back to Latin in the name of unity and tradition. Jesus spoke at the Last Supper in Aramaic. If we want to get technical, the mass should be in Aramaic according to that logic.

Is that the point? Technical worship? As an altar boy when Latin was the liturgy I was terrified of making a mistake for fear of punishment! Talk about corporal mortification if you got it wrong! Looking back, it seems I was worshipping a church liturgy rotely without feeling or knowledge or love and out of fear. Upon becoming Charismatic I found the heart of worship. I found the One who desires my worship and to whom I freely give my worship. I don’t need a rote program to follow to make sure I get my points but I am free to express my love within the mass no matter if it is not perfect. Remember the cry rooms? There was hell to pay if any noise was made at the wrong time. Suffer the little children, and their parents too, had a different meaning then compared to when Jesus spoke it.

Before the Renewal I felt that I was worshipping according to the law, with the resulting sin and death, and now I worship according to the Spirit where there is life and liberty. If this is not your experience but you find comfort in detailed instructions you must conform to precisely or the benefit is not there - go in peace.

Most Charismatics do just fine in the mass. No abnormal behavior exhibited. Some of us would like it if we could express what we are feeling on the inside. Like the saints who were persecuted during their lives for their abnormal behavior, we Charismatics will walk on knowing that we are not abnormal or heretics but lovers of Jesus looking for our expression. They are venerated now but were scolded, at best, during their lives. We may have to walk a little further being scolded to be like them but we know we have found the heart of worship.
 
Having gone about as far as this topic seems to be able to charitably go, this thread is now closed.
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