Charismatic movement in Catholicism

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I was reading online about the “Catholic Charismatic Movement”. It was a rather short article. Does anyone know of what the movement is, how many people within the Church are in it, What all countries are involved, how long has it been going on, ect? Thanks and God bless.
 
When I lived in Jackson TN I was involved with the Renewal in Memphis. Website → catholicstuff.org/

I imagine your question will draw a lot of comments for and against the Renewal Movement. I say check it out in your local area and go from there based upon your own experiences. 🙂
 
I myself don’t even know if to post my own questions here: this is an issue that is very sensitive and seems very opinion-based.
I would suggest looking at the adresses by John Paul II (such as vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/1998/may/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19980530_riflessioni_en.html ) and in the Experts sections in EWTN, they have a great article about it.
Also, they have a radio broadcast by Fr Benedict Groash…el…?, it is the series “getting God’s help”, and in it he speaks about the Renewal.

God bless
 
If you are interested in the real deal on the Catholic Charismatic Renewal from the people who have been involved from the beginning, who are and have remained orthodox and ecclesial in their charismatic ministry, check out the Catholic Charismatic Conference at Franciscan University of Steubenville OH this summer
franciscanconferences.com/conferences/confdetails.asp?ConferenceID=86

the testimony of Fr Scanlan on how his decision as college president to trust in the Holy Spirit resulted in a turn around and transformation for the university, is worth the price of admission
 
The Charismatic movement within the Church has been around since the beginning of our faith! Something to remember is that the priest who preaches to the Pope every Sunday is a Charismatic priest (Fr. Cantalamessa). He has preached to both JPII and Benedict. So if you’re looking for validity of the movement, it is definitely there. Look back through the history of our faith and you’ll see from the apostles to the mystics, the Charismatic movement has been very alive.
 
Montie_Claunch said:
I was reading online about the “Catholic Charismatic Movement”. It was a rather short article. Does anyone know of what the movement is, how many people within the Church are in it, What all countries are involved, how long has it been going on, ect? Thanks and God bless.
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Here is a note that was posted on the cinchar list about a recent conference, it might give you an idea…

Last weekend, some of us attended the Amazing Grace Conference in Detroit,MI in the USA, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Duquesne Weekend. In addition to Patti Mansfield and Dave Mangan who were on the original
weekend, Fr. Cantalamessa, Fr. Tom Forrest, Bishop Sam Jacobs, Aggie Neck, etc. all gave inspiring talks. It was a very inspiring conference with a lot of young people there as well. Almost 3,000 people attended which was the capacity of the ballroom where we met. Recordings are available at
www.resurrectiontapes.com.

What most impressed me was the combination of intellect, spiritual depth and humility/humor in Fr. Cantalamessa. He is quite the teacher. The worship was very upbeat, done by Bill Richert. Fr. McAlear also was inspiring. Ralph Martin was in top shape as was Jim Murphy. There was a touching moment when the young people honored the ‘pioneers’ of the Renewal for bringing the Holy Spirit to them. The older
folks also were heartened to see so many young people responding to the Spirit. An exciting call for young people to consider a vocation to priesthood, deaconate or religious life was met with dozens of young people coming forward. The conference gave hope to many who attended.

In the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, we are having a special Mass of thanksgiving this coming Sunday, March 4. Archbishop Flynn has invited all those involved or interested in the Renewal to join him for this special Mass. The Archdiocesan paper, The Catholic Spirit, featured the Renewal prominently in the most recent issue with pictures and several articles. The local Renewal Office took out a full page ad to invite people to the Mass and prayer groups, ministries and covenant communities took out ads
commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Renewal. It was a wonderful issue and we are hoping for a great turnout for Sunday’s mass…

If anyone is interested in this list it is Cinchar@yahoogroups.com to subscribe
 
Back in 1976, when the Charismatic Movement was rather new in my area if the United States, I became involved. I attended the Life in the Spirit seminars and other events in my area. Fr. Ralph Diorio, had just began his healing ministry in my town, where I attended on occasion and even saw a miracle that to this day has me awed.

I was surprised when a priest friend of mine said, “if you grow spiritually, you will eventually grow out of the Charismatic movement.” I was shocked by what he said. How could I grow out of it, when I was flying so high spiritually and feeling such so much love for God? However, he was right. In time, that high went away and I desired something deeper. The dynamics of the prayer meetings were distracting from prayer, and I desired quiet prayer more than vocal prayer. When I finally made a retreat at a monastery and got a taste of contemplative prayer, the Charismatic movement was over for me.

All that being said. It is a good way of prayer and spiritually conducive for people who are meant to be there. God spoke to me through the Charismatic movement and led me to a deeper prayer level of prayer and I thank God for this.

If the Charismatic prayer life is where God has you, or is leading you, praise God!

Jim
 
Jim,

Just curious about something you posted…I don’t quite follow how contemplative prayer isn’t a part of the Charismatic movement. The charismatic movement isn’t all about speaking in tongues and praise and worship. It is more than that. The Fathers of the Church were a part of the Charismatic movement but yet, people seem to forget that. They spent much time in deep prayer with Our Lord, yet were outwardly worshipping through their charisms. I never quite understood why the two need to be separated. I see them as something incorporated. Yes, as in any relationship, you can’t always be on a “high.” But just like every relationship has desert times, so do they also come back flowing alive with Living Waters! Anyway, just a thought that came to me after reading your post.
 
dmarieb said:
Jim,

Just curious about something you posted…I don’t quite follow how contemplative prayer isn’t a part of the Charismatic movement. The charismatic movement isn’t all about speaking in tongues and praise and worship.
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Diane,
when I was involved, 1976-79ish, it was all about speaking in tongues, praise, worship and especially healing. Back then, there was nothing about mental prayer, or Lectio Divina. I learned about those things outside of the Charismatic movement. Many of the members of the Charismatic groups that I went to, attended Bible studies at non-Catholic denominations. Some eventually left the Catholic church to join these denominations, especially the Assembly of God, which was hot and new in my area. Remember, the movement was new and many priest didn’t know how to handle it. Some fought against it, other’s ignored it, and a few got involved. Hunger for knowledge of Scripture is what drove many to the fundamentalist religions, unfortunately.

Like I said earlier, Charismatic Prayer has it’s place and can be conducive towards growing in the Spirit.

Perhaps you could share your experience, and give me insight onto how it has changed?

Yours In Christ
Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Perhaps you could share your experience, and give me insight onto how it has changed?
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Well, it is hard for me to say how it’s changed since I wasn’t born until 1975. So I only know what it’s been since I’ve been involved. 😉 Growing up, my father was not part of the Charismatic movement and my mother was very involved. Well, I should really say my father lacked much spiritual depth, regardless. 😦 Anyway, my mother taught and witnessed to all of us children to spend time in quiet prayer and how to outwardly praise God. There is so much she brought to my faith that this post wouldn’t do it justice. But my mother would actually say the opposite - that the more you grow in your faith, the more you’re called to the Charismatic movement. And for me, that sure seems true!

Each year, a Charismatic Women’s Ministry group in my area puts on a retreat. Last year it was specifically on contemplative prayer. So yes, this is most definitely incorporated into the Charismatic movement! As well, this year, the retreat was on Sober Intoxication in the Spirit. Generally, it was about staying focused on the cross while being moved by the Holy Spirit, otherwise, your charism is all based on selfish motives. It was very wonderful. As well, the book this retreat was based on was written by Fr. Cantalamessa, who is the priest who preaches to the Pope at mass every Sunday. (yes, both JPII and Benedict.) I wouldn’t discredit his faith in the least simply b/c he’s a Charismatic priest. He is highly qualified and has much depth in his faith. So saying that someone will grow out of the Charismatic movement seems a little judgemental to me. Maybe I am just not fully understanding the conversation, though. Just because the Charismatic movement isn’t great for one person shouldn’t mean they have the right to put it down, IMO. And as I said before, the apostles were the first charismatics, speaking in tongues, healing, worship, etc. But they spent much time in quiet prayer with God. Both are to be part of our faith.

To say one should exist without the other is like saying that all the scripture reading you need is what you get from mass each Sunday. Of course, you are expected to spend time in scripture reflection on your own. I view this as very similar to prayer meetings within the Charismatic movement. I hope I explained what I was trying to say without being rude in any way. That was not my intention in the least. Peace be with you!
 
Montie,
If you do a search in this forum you will find many threads on the subject. I think every part of the renewal has been debated here.🙂
 
Thank you for sharing Diane!

As far as the statement, “if you grow, you will grow out of the Charismatic Movement,” keep in mind that this was said to me by a priest, in the context of the early days of the Charismatic movement. Apparently, the movement has grown since then, Praise God!

Also, you are correct in stating that the Charismatic movement may not be for everyone.

In fact, this is true of all styles of prayer. A book that I read years ago, “Who You Are is How You Pray,” spoke about how different personality types are drawn towards different forms of prayer.

For instance, extroverted persons like myself, are drawn towards quiet meditation. Ironic, but true.

Introverted people are often drawn towards Charismatic and Pentecostal type prayer, where there is lots of action and dynamics. Again, ironic but true.

The bottom line however, is that no one form is better than the other, because if you force one person into a form that he is not suited or ready for, they’ll get frustrated and merely give it up. Let God lead you to the style of prayer that is best for you.

In Christ
Jim
 
The thing that is very present to ‘mature charismatics’ is the desire and hunger for adoration of the Eucharist, close & strict adherence to the teaching authority and majesterium of the Church, as well as great devotion to Blessed Mother and St. Joseph.

So, it is not that you necessarily ‘outgrow’ but you mature. The gifts are not done away with, but they are developed/refined, one hears the Lord in a clearer manner and is able to move with the Holy Spirit. Prayer is more contempletive. To me it is the norm, rather than the oddity.
 
is “speaking in tongues” anywhere in the Catechism?
What is the Church’s position on this?
Thanks,
Lisa7
 
from the Catholic Encyclopedia on the gift of tongues beginning at Pentecost.

I am not familiar with anything in the CCC about gift of tongues. But I did quick google search and found this:
The information we have gathered leads us to several important conclusions about tongues-speaking. Although the New Testament does not specify that the gift of tongues would no longer be manifested in the Church before the return of Christ, it severely warns against any illicit elevation of tongues over the other gifts, and warns, in no uncertain terms, that a mass proliferation of tongues in the church is a sign of sin and unbelief. The unbelief is not of a nature that denies God or Christianity, but one that creates a pseudo-faith. Although when used legitimately, tongues remains a gift of God, nevertheless, history shows that legitimate tongues-speaking is a rare occurrence. It is a gift given to very selective people in very selective instances. Conversely, in the modern movement, tongues-speaking is advertised with a very high-profile of acceptability and accessibility. Underneath this profile, however, there is an almost total disregard for the biblical directives regarding tongues speaking, which in itself suggests an illicit origin. The preponderance of research shows that modern glossolalia is a self-generated and learned experience, showing all the signs of a classic psychologically induced phenomenon which relies solely on the vast pool of information already stored in the linguistic background of its recipient. Coupling this with the fact that tongues speech is common in many pagan religions, cults and heretical groups, which produce tongues in unique states of hyper-arousal and mental dissociation, it must be concluded that most of modern tongues is far removed from the legitimate gift described in the New Testament.
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There is, however, one dimension about modern tongues which is closely akin to the tongues of biblical times. As the church of Corinth found itself in the midst of a mass proliferation of tongues, Paul characterized it as a sign to unbelievers of God’s ensuing judgment. So, too, a proliferation of tongues in modern times is a sign of God’s ensuing judgment. Indeed, the presence of tongues on a mass scale would be one of the signs God is permitting to occur in order to show the world its desperate spiritual condition. It is a sign that judgment looms ahead, even as God judged apostate Israel by the babbling tongues of the Assyrian and Babylonian invaders. **As God complained to Jeremiah that the prophets in those days were speaking from their own mind yet declaring their words were from the Lord , so too, many today have done the same. **For this God’s judgment will indeed be severe.
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“Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Hearken not to the words of the prophets that prophesy to you, and deceive you: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:16)
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(bolding mine)
Catholic Apologetics International

From all the research I have done in the past, it seems to have credibility, but not always legitimacy in modern times.
The Franciscan monks were known to speak in tongues as well as St. Theresa of Avila. I know that doesn’t really answer your question. Sorry!
 
Montie_Claunch said:
I was reading online about the “Catholic Charismatic Movement”. It was a rather short article. Does anyone know of what the movement is, how many people within the Church are in it, What all countries are involved, how long has it been going on, ect? Thanks and God bless.
Click to expand...
The term Charismatic is misleading. Charismatic Renewal does not refer to the renewal of certain charisms. It is the renewal of the whole Christian life through the working of the Holy Spirit. The Church itself is Charismatic and we were meant to live a life with the full presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal has been around for 40 years. Today it is estimated that there are 125 million Catholic Charismatics in 235 countries. It is by far one of the largest renewal movements in the Church.

Official Website: iccrs.org/English.htm

ICCRS (International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services), with recognition of the Vatican by the Pontifical Council for the Laity on 14 September 1993, has its office in Rome and operates as an information and communication centre serving the Catholic Charismatic Renewal worldwide as well as also being the link between the Renewal and the Vatican.

Origins to Present:

At the end of the 19th century, Blessed Elenaa Guerra founder of the Oblate Sisters of the Holy Spirit in Lucca Italy urged Pope Leo XIII to lead the Church back to the Upper Room. On January 1st, 1901 Pope Leo XIII invoked the Holy Spirit by singing the hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus” in the name of whole Church.

On that very day an outpouring of the Spirit occured when a Methodist pastor Charles Parham and a group of young students gathered in Topeka Kansas in 1900. One of the students Agnes Oznam felt impelled to ask Parnham to lay his hands on her head as was done in the New Testament. The experience was as though “rivers of living water proceeded from my innermost being”.

The movement spread across all denominations and in 1967 “a new spring time” was ushered into the Catholic church through a group of students at Duquesne University (Pittsburg, PA) run by the Holy Ghost Fathers. On Friday 17th February twenty five students gathered with their campus chaplain at the “Ark and Dove” Retreat House. They took Acts Ch 1 - 5 for their study and began their retreat with the hymn to the Holy Spirit “Veni Creator Spiritus”. Two of them prayed over others and it was felt as if tongues of fire engulfed them as they experienced the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

This experience spread from one campus to another across the United States and began to impact parishes and other church institutions. It caught the attention of the Church through Cardinal Leon Joseph Suenens who is credited with opening the doors to St Peters to the CCR. He presented his findings to Pope Paul VI whom he succeeded in convincing to accept and encourage this “new move of the Holy Spirit”. In 1975 a special mass was celebrated at the Papal Altar in St Peter’s followed by a historic special audience where Pope Paul VI called the Charismatic Renewal “a chance for the Church and for the world.”

Cardinal Suenens was entrusted with overseeing the integration of the Catholic Renewal into the Church. He did so by drafting a series of six articles, “the Malinese Documents” which detailed the ideas and personalities to be fostered in the CCR. Pope John XXIII prayed for the renewal of the church, Pope Paul VI welcomed the CCR with open arms and Pope John Paul II kept it at the heart of the Church. Pope John Paul II said, “Thanks to the Charismatic Movement many …, have rediscovered Pentecost as a living and present reality in their daily life.”

Pope Benedict XVI spent the Pentecostal Vigil on 3rd June 2006 at St Peter’s Square with representatives of various Ecclesial movements including the CCR. 400,000 were present at this vigil and a powerful movement was observed during the singing of the hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus”. Patti Gallagher Mansfield, one of the students at the Duquesne experience in 1967 addressed the Holy Father on behalf of the CCR.

ccrno.org/images/PentecostRomePBXVI.Patti.sideview_003.jpg

Much of the initial glow and enthusiasm of the early days has now been replaced by a more sobre understanding of the need to grow in the fruits of the Spirit. The Renewal is more settled and mature, bearing much fruit. Even those faithful who could be called “alumni” of the Renewal are often found to be active in other areas of the Church.

*** Most of this material is from a book called “Spurred By the Spirit” by Cyril John*

More Information: An Interview with Patti Mansfield
 
I have to say, it’s really interesting that the Charismatic movement in the Catholic Church began at Duquesne, and you’d never know that from being on the campus. I honestly had no idea about it until a Charismatic Catholic saw my Duquesne shirt and started talking about it.
 
This discussion brings back many fond memories and a few, not many, uncomfortable ones. While I was not a Catholic when part of the Charismatic movement I can say that my experience parallels many that have been mentioned.

As a United Methodist pastor the UM Charismatic movement was one of the few places that I could find life in the Spirit. It was the best our denomination had to offer in the area of spiritual life. There were so many times of joy and refreshment of prayer and of praise. Our family and various youth groups that I guided attended Charismatic events and it helped them to grow in numbers and enthusiasm. As with all good things in Protestantism is was derivative of something good in Catholicism. In fact, every few years the Catholics and Protestants would have one big joint Charismatic bash some place in the US.

The downside was that there was not a great deal of theological depth. That was alright for a while because I had other outlets for that. But then I started noticing that people who supported abortions and gay marriage were also becoming quite involved with the Charismatic movement. I then had to take seriously two conclusions that had been drawing me for some time.

First, true Spirituality and True Faith had to be integrated. I was not going to find that where I was.

Second, if all things good in Protestantism were derived from Catholicism why not become the real thing and not the imitation?

So, I converted.

For those reasons I say that the Protestant Charismatic movement was the bridge God gave me to the Eastern Catholic Church.

CDL
 
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