Charismatic church

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Dovekin said:
It is a joy to see the Spirit move people wherever they are.
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Yep. God seems to work with those who are willing, even if they aren’t in full communion. I often wondered how all the protestant churches could disagree with each other, but all have mighty men of God supposedly led by him. Why wouldn’t he lead them all in the same direction? Why wouldn’t he lead them to the Catholic Church? I guess that’s another topic tho. 😉
 
The spirit-driven Westboro Baptist Church is so wonderful to behold! Unified in their beliefs and not afraid to suffer or what they believe.

Is that a good example?

How did this thread get so derailed so quickly?
 
Do you believe the Westboro Church is spirit driven?

One of the problems in the Pentecostal churches is the fractious divisiins that come when someone, usually a preacher, becomes overly single minded on some issue or another. It becomes all they care about, though it may not be accepted by others. These people often leave their church and found a new one.

The Catholic Charismatic movement is not entirely free from that dynamic, though leaving the Church has bigger consequences. Single mindedness, on almost any topic, is not from the Spirit who brings love, joy, peace, longsuffering, etc.

In what way do you think the discussion has departed from the original poster’s question?
 
In the 80s my parents were part of charismatic prayer group. There were no charismatic Masses offered near us. When I got to college at the Franciscan Univ of Steubenville in the late 80s it was quite big there and a lot of kids came from families that were part of formal charismatic communities. People and families had to be admitted into the community and there were many rules they lived by. Marriages were arranged and one girl I dated jokingly told me we had to get married since we went on a second date.
 
dconklin said:
a lot of kids came from families that were part of formal charismatic communities. People and families had to be admitted into the community and there were many rules they lived by.
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I think these types of “communities” - although the ones I’ve heard about in my hometown parish did not go so far as to control people’s marriages, to my knowledge - kind of gave the charismatic community a bad name in many areas.

My idea of a charismatic group is one that allows people to come to the charismatic Masses, prayer meetings, and whatever other functions they have, on a voluntary basis, without any sort of acceptance procedure or making a “lay movement” out of it. “Lay movements” in general were popular during the 70s and 80s and I find a lot of them disturbing due to the control structures they impose on the participants.
 
I’ve never been to a charismatic Mass, but I feel drawn to it from what I’ve read and heard. I think because all the miracles, spiritual dreams, and a vision that I’ve had over the last ten years that Im drawn to it. I do attend weekly prayer meetings but feel isolated in a way, they are great and very righteuos men but I feel different because my experiences. They seem to be on cruise control while I struggle yet receive so much from our Lord. To be honest, not sure where I fit in, if any where.
 
Charismatic churches require intense emotion over a long time, that is hard to do.
" The consensus of the group seems to be that the Renewal congregations burned out because it’s hard to maintain that level of spiritual intensity over time. If you’re formed in a charismatic culture that requires manifestations of the Spirit as a sign of God’s presence, it seems to me that you run the risk of having to amp up the emotionalism more and more, to get the same emotional jolt."

Whatever Happened To The Charismatic Renewal? | The American Conservative
Please ignore calling the source biased, as if the logic is sound it shall be held.

My personal testimony also matches this statement following a stretch of listening to large volumes of worship music.
Therefore, Charismatic Catholic churches only work as random retreats or activities that are held a few times a year for emotion.
 
Where does one find a charismatic service? Do I call my diocese office? If so, aren’t they like calling McDonalds asking where I can find a Burger
King? On a side note which office or church employee title at the diocese level is your go to person for information?
 
Try searching on “Charismatic Catholic Renewal” and your diocese name. A lot of the CCR groups have their own website.

You can also search on stuff like “Charismatic healing Mass” and your diocese or city name.
 
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ontheway1 said:
Does anyone here have experience with Catholic charismatic communities?
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I used to attend and part of a charismatic prayer group. But then I had to move and stay a bit far from the location. I stopped attended the group. I started pray in tounge during that time I was in the group. I still speak in tounge until now, whenever I pray, just anytime in everyday life. I suppose I have not cease from being charismatic despite I have not attended any of the prayer meeting or part of any community or attended any charismatic mass for years now.
 
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What exactly does “speaking in tongue” mean.? Is it speaking in a different languages, such as Tagalog, Urdu, or something else?
 
Yes, of course many saints had many of the charismatic gifts during their lifetime.

Some had healing gifts, and other gifts such as word of wisdom and word of knowledge for the direction of others.
 
HumbleIOughtToBe said:
[details=“Charismatic churches require intense emotion over a long time, that is hard to do.”]
Therefore, Charismatic Catholic churches only work as random retreats or activities that are held a few times a year for emotion.
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Not as I see it. Emotion has little or nothing to do with it. Do some show emotion? Sure, but “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain” It is about the charisms of the Holy Spirit. That may produce emotion, but it is not emotion.

The preacher of the Papal household, Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, is a charismatic Franciscan.

Once again I must ask: Does anyone - anyone at all - who casts a jaundiced eye at the Charismatic Renewal, have any actual, heartfelt experience with it?
 
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Yes I do. At a week end conference… I heard loud music saw people rolling and moaning and a friend with a look of bliss. I was the only one completely perplexed as far as I know. I was perplexed by the emotions shown in the Mass we celebrated on the final day. The speakers in tongues / healers ignored me that day. This was a Catholic celebration with the Blessed Sacrament adored on two occasions. Some friends have now become associated with ‘Catholic’ alpha. A work colleague became Pentecostal after his parents joined the catholic charismatic movement.
 
I had a wonderful experience with charismatic groups who were very friendly and I become a Catholic as part of a charismatic group. I think the Church absolutely needs these groups and they often do a great job of evangelizing and bring people back to the mass, adoration and more traditional devotions.

On the other hand, I did feel that there wasn’t too much emphasis on personal prayer and silence, which I think are essential to spiritual growth. I also had to learn much about the Catholic faith myself. There were many help groups which I think are fantastic - to help overcome addictions, for instance. My only complaint was lack of silence and personal prayer, but that’s just me.

I think some are called to be part of charismatic movements, others to be part of more traditional communities, including those who attend mass in the EF. I am a new catholic so I don’t want these labels so I’m currently not part of either but I do say the LOTH with one charismatic song in place of the hymn and occasionally attend the EF mass.
 
I could never tolerate speaking in tongues but I appreciate that the Spirit works in mysterious ways.
It has no place in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass however and even the Charismatic parish I went strongly warned its parishioners to refrain from speaking in tongues during the mass. I would see it as a horrible behavior and certainly not inspired by God and coming from the Evil One (if it happens during the Mass).
 
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Ah, but you are looking left and right, possibly entertaining reasons to disbelieve. Could it just be that what you interpret as emotion is the expression of joy? Aren’t we supposed to be joyful? Should they not appear as fools for Christ as Saint Paul did?

Rather, look up to the perfection of God. Investigate the charisms and the movement dedicated to them at an intellectual level. You may not possess the gifts that others have. Their needs are different from yours. I have realized my charisms and they are quiet - almost unnoticeable at times. Still, I know what they are and seek to use them for the edification of the Church.

What I have traditionally and consistently seen here at CAF is a superficial judgment based upon very limited involvement or engagement.
 
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Someone just asked if anyone casting a jaundiced eye at charismatic renewal had real heartfelt experience of it. I have. I also think the church has survived 1,980 or so years without it and it has a Pentecostal background so why are Catholics engaging…because it “feels” good
 
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