Charismatic Renewal and me

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What interests me is the deep relationship charismatics have with the Holy Spirit and the fruit and gifts of the Spirit.

As for the information:
  1. Beyond the Baptism in the Holy Spirit; what’s the other four pillars of CCR?
  2. What is the basic structure of a prayer meeting?
  3. Is CCR basically a Pentecostal church service; done in a way submitting to the Holy Father?
  4. What do I need in order to start a group?
 
As @Roseeurekacross said, the movement happened in the early 60s, alongside Vatican II.
You can say it didn’t as much as you want, but it won’t change history.
 
Michael16 said:
Hello all! I’ve been researching the CCR movement and I’m interested in it. Does anyone here know what the basics of it are and/or have any good online resources that discuss the basics?

Also: I hear that it may have a negative image, even though it has papal approval; with other Catholics. I’m also discerning whether to approach my parish priest about starting up a Charismatic group.

Would anyone like to chime in?
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Are you following the Charismatic spirituality now? It would be easier if you are. You can start with a prayer group in your parish if there is one.

Today the Catholic Charismatic Renewal comes in many forms, groups, movements and Communities in the Church. It can be practically anything. The only thing that makes the difference is their members exercise the charismatic gifts and spirituality or just being renewed in their faith. They are hungry for God and look for a life where their desire for God can be lived out.

So the main thing is the renewal of the self. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are to help building the group to grow in the Lord and to overcome personal weaknesses.

There is no negative image except for those who have misconception of the good things that the Holy Spirit does. Like Jesus said, the tree is known by its fruit. There is no greater gift than love which is above all laws.

When you are renewed in your faith, you love, because God is love.
 
In the late seventies a friend of mine told me about taking a “Life in the Spirit Seminar”. Several friends of mine and myself signed up for one, after attending a wellestablished Catholic Charismatic prayer meeting in the next town. There were about 45 people attending.

It started with praise music and everyone sang from sheets that were handed out. Then there were silent times in between where a short scripture verse was read, and then a bit of silence to reflect on it. Sometimes someone had a prophecy, whereby they felt inspired by the Holy Spirit to to speak a few sentences to the group about the Lord’s love and direction for them.

Sometimes someone had a word of knowledge…being inspired to say something that might be a directive for someone in the group. There was more music and silent times in between. Praise and worship was important in the group.
After the prayer meeting they invited new people to gather around someone who would answer questions about the meeting, and the Life in the Spirit Seminar. (which takes seven weeks, meeting once a week with a small group.)

I’ll try to answer any questions you have Michael.
 
Thank you Dorothy. You answered several questions of mine. What really draws me to the CCR is I have realized just how little attention I’ve paid the the Holy Spirit and I want to rectify that. I also am drawn by the possibility of being empowered by the Holy Spirit; as I’ve been asking the Spirit to infuse me with His power. I’ve had several experiences lately that confirmed for me the presence of the Spirit inside me. Including a moment of great comfort and dispelling the angst of a demonic attack in my life.

So, if I do the CCR thing: Does that make me a weird Catholic? Usually, I’m quiet and contemplative in my spirituality. To be honest: Giving myself over to the Spirit scares me.
 
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That is great that you are praying to the Holy Spirit; let the Lord decide how He is going to gift and use you. Our Lord will most likely not use you in a way that is not consistent with your personality.

I am a quiet, contemplative person, and that is why I was drawn to the Lay Carmelite order. Then a year after that is when I made a Life in the Spirit Seminar. Attending both taught me a lot.

After several years of being a Lay Carmelite I realized that the gifts were manifested there as well, through people who took their prayer lives seriously and wanted to draw closer to the Lord in prayer by studying and learning from the Carmelite Doctors of the Church.

When a prayer group is experienced it does not seem “weird”. When newcomers come to it they may become emotional but attracted to learn more.

I grow more spiritually from attending the Lay Carmelite monthly meetings. I do get to go to a small charismatic group at my parish because I like to be with believers. They can encourage me, and I can encourage them in our spiritual journey. But, for me, it is the monthly meetings with the Lay Carmelite Community that most feeds me spiritually.
 
Thank you Dorothy. I’ve felt a great change after I really began praying to the Spirit. My usual spirituality is heavily Marian with Ignatian overtones. I pray the Rosary and wear a Brown Scapular.
 
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Hi Michael16, I hope you find what you’re looking for. Some will find fault in the charismatic movement, but you can be charismatic without belonging to the charismatic movement. Let the Lord guide you.
While you wait perhaps you’d like to watch what our Catholic adult formation class is watching every week. The “Wild Goose” series is an excellent way to see what the church has to say about the Holy Spirit and to hear from other Catholics. (The ancient Celts called the Holy Spirit, “The Wild Goose”). I invite you watch the 14 short videos. Each one is only about 30 minutes but they are excellent! https://thewildgooseisloose.com/about
 
Michael16 said:
What interests me is the deep relationship charismatics have with the Holy Spirit and the fruit and gifts of the Spirit.

As for the information:
  1. Beyond the Baptism in the Holy Spirit; what’s the other four pillars of CCR?
  2. What is the basic structure of a prayer meeting?
  3. Is CCR basically a Pentecostal church service; done in a way submitting to the Holy Father?
  4. What do I need in order to start a group?
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With regard to this post @Michael16 and the earlier post asking for more information .

I have never heard of these “pillars” .

Each prayer meeting will be different from all others . The Holy Spirit encounters each of us in a personal way .

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is not a Pentecostal Church service with obedience to the Pope . On one of the videos I posted you will hear Pope Francis refer to the CCR as “a current of grace” . I think you are looking at it too much as a structured form or as an institution which it is not . It is part of “a movement of the Holy Spirit” .

What do you need to start a group ? Well you need to let the Holy Spirit in on the act . It helps if interested people have a hunger for God , for the Holy Spirit , wanting something deeper in their spiritual life . But again there are no rules about getting a prayer group started . Pray to the Holy Spirit . Tell the Holy Spirit what you need , and expect with faith the Spirit to answer . Be prepared for mistakes , for fumbling about , but in it all strive to be aware of the promptings of the Spirit , and be ready to submit to those promptings .

There are two links here to Pope John Paul’s addresses relating to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal

http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-p...uments/hf_jp-ii_spe_19980530_riflessioni.html

http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-p...pe_20000424_catholic-charismatic-renewal.html

Another good source for you would be the written and spoken words of Father Raniero Cantalamessa . You will find his material on the internet and in books he has written .

Also do some Googling about Catholic Life in the Spirit Seminars .

May the Lord enlighten you .

I am off to Mass now . I will have you in my mind and heart .

Praised be Jesus Christ !!!
 
I once went to a charismatic group for healing. After they warmed up with a hymn and a prayer or two they laid hands on me and quickly began speaking in tongues. The speaking in tongues was babbling and I was a little nervous. Incidentally when I read about speaking in tongues in the bible I had the impression that they were speaking foreign languages not simply babbling but there you go. After about ten minutes they stopped and that was that. We parted.

I still had my ailment but whilst driving I suddenly had a feeling of love and peace come over me and my life went on pause. Suddenly I stopped at a set of traffic lights and was completely disorientated, I had no idea what road I was on or what direction I was going in at all! It was odd but nice. As the lights changed and I drove on I became aware of where I was and got home safely.

I’d like to say that I was cured…but I wasn’t, tinnitus doesn’t give up that easily! Nevertheless it was an odd but ultimately nice experience but I’d suggest not driving or operating machinery for an hour or so afterwards.
 
Thanks for sharing that!

Healings aren’t always given, but we get something else instead!

I am reminded of a time I went on a silent four-day ladies retreat at a monastery. The only time we spoke was at the first meal together, and the last meal…and also we could ask questions at the several conferences that were given.

A lot of the retreatants had walkers or canes, and the retreat master asked them to come up and be healed just for the retreat time so they could focus better on the content. They did line up, and were able to leave their canes and walkers against the wall, to be taken back up when the retreat was over…
 
I would dearly love to be healed of my tinnitus but I’ll tell you how I came to have it. Sometime ago I prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit. At that time I had very slight tinnitus but nothing that bothered me at all. For several nights I included in my prayers to be filled with the Holy Spirit and I could hear the sound in my ears getting louder. Each night it became louder and louder until it reached a peak and has stayed that way ever since. Very very loud.
I have thought about it and have taken this to be a penance, my cross to bear because I have had prayers answered but not the prayer to rid me of this truly pesky racket in my ears. Any thoughts?
 
That’s extremely generous of you Dorothy, thank you for both things.
Peace be with you.
 
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