Confirmation, 'Baptism of the Holy Spirit' confusion

[po18guy]

In my humble opinion, I would use the* Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition* to learn about the Catholic Sacrament of Baptism instead of Acts. If you have the Catechism, check out the “Index of Citations” starting on page 689. Acts of the Apostles starts on page 708. The way to check Catholic teaching is to start with the Scripture passage and look it up in the “Index of Citations”. Then go to the paragraph where the passage is used in some way. One thing to remember is that not every verse in Scripture automatically becomes a Catholic doctrine.

If you will be patient with me, give me the chapter/verse of Acts which you are dealing with and I will demonstrate the above instructions.

Absolutely! Acts 10 is merely an example to indicate that things don’t always go as we expect them to. But, the catechism is an amazing resource that is far too little used.

 

[SecretaryMonday]

In my humble opinion, I would use the* Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition* to learn about the Catholic Sacrament of Baptism instead of Acts. If you have the Catechism, check out the “Index of Citations” starting on page 689. Acts of the Apostles starts on page 708. The way to check Catholic teaching is to start with the Scripture passage and look it up in the “Index of Citations”. Then go to the paragraph where the passage is used in some way. One thing to remember is that not every verse in Scripture automatically becomes a Catholic doctrine.

If you will be patient with me, give me the chapter/verse of Acts which you are dealing with and I will demonstrate the above instructions.

Sorry, for some reason the Catechism does not occur to me often enough. Mine is also a Second Edition but does not seem to have the Index of Citations. I am reading a bit in it now about the Holy Spirit (when in doubt, read the instructions?).

 

[grannymh]

Sorry, for some reason the Catechism does not occur to me often enough. Mine is also a Second Edition but does not seem to have the Index of Citations. I am reading a bit in it now about the Holy Spirit (when in doubt, read the instructions?).

Interesting? Someone has mentioned that there is a shorter version of the Catechism, but I do not know anything about it.

Does your book have ISBN 1-57455-109-4? Bottom of the page facing “Contents”. There may be a different ISBN number for the paperback catechism. However, the contents of both books should be the same.

At the end of the “Contents” – page 689 is listed for “Index of Citations” and page 753 is listed for “Index” which is the normal one.

Note: I can still use my Catechism to find its paragraphs which relate to particular verses in Acts, etc.

 

[SecretaryMonday]

Interesting? Someone has mentioned that there is a shorter version of the Catechism, but I do not know anything about it.

Does your book have ISBN 1-57455-109-4? Bottom of the page facing “Contents”. There may be a different ISBN number for the paperback catechism. However, the contents of both books should be the same.

At the end of the “Contents” – page 689 is listed for “Index of Citations” and page 753 is listed for “Index” which is the normal one.

Note: I can still use my Catechism to find its paragraphs which relate to particular verses in Acts, etc.

My Catechism is ISBN 0-385-50819-0 and skips from Article 4 and its “In Brief” to the Subject Index, no Citations in between. But I looked on the USCCB website and found them, and there were several references for Acts 8:14-17. Recommended paragraphs were 2121 (Simony), 1226 (Baptism), 1315 (Confirmation), 1288 (imposition of hands), 699 (the hand as a symbol of Holy Spirit).

 

[DebChris]

As a Catholic, you have the received the Holy Spirit through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is more rightly called a release of the Holy Spirit. It is when we open our hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to work more fully in our lives. We open the gifts, the charisms, that we have received through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. We unwrap our gifts and begin to use them.
Through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, we experience in our lives a deeper commitment to prayer and service. Often discussion of this subject disintegrates with a focus on the charisms themselves.
Baptism and Confirmation are Sacraments of initiation. They are the beginning of your walk with Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you on your way, and to be open to whatever gifts He may have for you.

 

[po18guy]

As a Catholic, you have the received the Holy Spirit through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is more rightly called a release of the Holy Spirit. It is when we open our hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to work more fully in our lives. We open the gifts, the charisms, that we have received through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. We unwrap our gifts and begin to use them.
Through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, we experience in our lives a deeper commitment to prayer and service. Often discussion of this subject disintegrates with a focus on the charisms themselves.
Baptism and Confirmation are Sacraments of initiation. They are the beginning of your walk with Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you on your way, and to be open to whatever gifts He may have for you.

Well said. I truly believe that some folks are either jealous of the manner in which the Holy Spirit manifests Himself in others, or they are fearful that Benny Hinn has crept into Catholicism, or both. Yet, it is the Holy Spirit who knows exactly what each soul needs to be built up, and I will not grieve Him in the choices he makes. I have never spoken a single word in the tongue, but that does not bother me one bit. I have a different charism, just as it is supposed to be.

As well, a substantial percentage of those who are critical of those manifestations have little or no personal experience with them. Fear can hold us back just as fear held the Apostles in the locked upper room until they received the Holy Spirit.

 

[SecretaryMonday]

I mainly wonder about what I ought to do. Is the Baptism/Release of the Holy Spirit something that I should be seeking (or requesting), or is it something that I ought to let alone as God may or may not choose to give it as I grow? I seem to see both suggestions in this thread.

 

[grannymh]

I mainly wonder about what I ought to do. Is the Baptism/Release of the Holy Spirit something that I should be seeking (or requesting), or is it something that I ought to let alone as God may or may not choose to give it as I grow? I seem to see both suggestions in this thread.

My personal suggestion is to find a Catholic “Life in the Spirit” seminar in your area. Usually, these seminars are given by a parish. There is no obligation when attending one. However, you could find answers to your questions.

This link is to a database on the national website for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. You could also ask your parish secretary if she or he knows if a seminar is being given in your area. You could also get the phone number for the Diocesan offices. The operator should be able to direct you to someone with “Seminar” information. In addition, information may be on the Diocesan website or there may be a link to the Renewal.

Since you listed Michigan as your location, this link is to a database of prayer groups by state. Once you get to it, click the city at the far right to find information about the listed prayer group. Detroit has a number of prayer groups, so you would have to check each listing.

Start with this link.
nsc-chariscenter.org/index.asp

On the menu to the left, click “Renewal Database” and follow the instructions. The “group type” is Prayer Groups and, of course, you would use Michigan as your state unless you live on the border and are interested in prayer groups across the line.

It is always a good idea to check back with the Diocese to make sure that the group is still active.

 

[DebChris]

I mainly wonder about what I ought to do. Is the Baptism/Release of the Holy Spirit something that I should be seeking (or requesting), or is it something that I ought to let alone as God may or may not choose to give it as I grow? I seem to see both suggestions in this thread.

You have already received the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Be open to how the God would move in your life.
Start by cultivating a prayer life. As with an exercise program, begin slowly. It might be 15 minutes of reading scripture daily. at the beginning.
This may be seen as a non-answer to your question. The greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and strength. This is possible only because He first loved us. Our love of God is our response to His love. No man wants to loved simply for the gifts he can give. On the hand, would we reject the gifts of someone we love?
Seek to deepen your relationship with God and any gifts that may be released as a result of that relationship.

 

[The_Serpent]

It may sound silly, but I suggest the use of Indulgences. Remove any debt standing in the way from sins, by obtaining Indulgences. Read about the Holy Spirit, and practice some devotions over time. You should expect much from God, if you don’t study God! Listen for the Holy Spirits guidance. We are a very visual society with TV and movies, we shouldn’t expect a light show on demand from God. But, God will move towards you, if you move closer to the Trinity.

svspress.com/on-the-holy-spirit-pp-no-42/

 

[po18guy]

I mainly wonder about what I ought to do. Is the Baptism/Release of the Holy Spirit something that I should be seeking (or requesting), or is it something that I ought to let alone as God may or may not choose to give it as I grow? I seem to see both suggestions in this thread.

In scripture, for example, Saint Paul writes of the charisms that we are given. The catechism teaches that we are to receive our charism with gratitude (CCC 799-801, very brief paragraphs). If you do not know what your charism (or charisms) is, it is a very good idea to endeavor to find out. We are given charisms to be used for the purpose of building up the Church. I would discuss this with your Priest, and think about asking for spiritual direction either from him, or someone that he might suggest. It seems clear that there is an unfulfilled area of your faith life.

 

[markoh]

“Baptism of the Holy Spirit” should not be confused with the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.

In the early centuries following Pentecost, there were prayers or rituals which accompanied these two Sacraments

. What was known as the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” was a prayer experience for adults. Today, we have the prayer of rejecting Satan and there is the lighted candle.

The following book is a thorough study of “Baptism in the Holy Spirit” and the charisms in the early Church. It includes; Tertullian in his Catholic years, Hilary of Poitiers, Basil, Gregory Nazianzus, Cyril of Jerusalem, John Chrysostom, Philoxenus, John of Apamea, Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Severus of Antioch, and Joseph Hzaazya. They represent Latin, Greek, and Syrian cultures, almost the whole of the Mediterranean seaboard.

[Today, “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” has been renewed by the “Catholic Life in the Spirit Seminars.”

For information, one can check with the parish office or check with the diocesan liaison for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal within the Catholic Church. This liaison is usually under the diocesan vicar for spirituality. A phone call to the diocesan office will provide the information you need.

This link is to a basic information book.
brendancase.com/uploads/Key_to_the_Charismatic_Renewal.pdf

This link is to the official website for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Use the menu on the left.

nsc-chariscenter.org/

If there are questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

hello i guess i was under the impression (from the forum-ask a penecostal) that you were baptised in the holy spirit-- – as i went thru the teaching in 1969 in detroit-- and revisited the teaching again with a mature function in 1999–

i found it amazingly sad that – that it had not progressed-- now it was a whole bunch of old people – trying to inspire – a few belivers -

so viewing this forum-- i have come to see that – there seem to be only a few people who have – actually been functioning in all the gifts – of the spirit–and can give a testimony on how, why, and when-- and what happens–

so do you know of any catholic forums where there is a mature understanding and use-- meaning as being a vessel a temple for the Holy Spirit to manifest thru.

no kidding-- it is really a difficult objective – to find a romans 12;1-3 catholic person

– and as most catholic priests – shy away from this application- their answer is “i don’t hear the Holy spirit like that”

 

[grannymh]

hello i guess i was under the impression (from the forum-ask a penecostal) that you were baptised in the holy spirit-- – as i went thru the teaching in 1969 in detroit-- and revisited the teaching again with a mature function in 1999–

i found it amazingly sad that – that it had not progressed-- now it was a whole bunch of old people – trying to inspire – a few belivers -

so viewing this forum-- i have come to see that – there seem to be only a few people who have – actually been functioning in all the gifts – of the spirit–and can give a testimony on how, why, and when-- and what happens–

so do you know of any catholic forums where there is a mature understanding and use-- meaning as being a vessel a temple for the Holy Spirit to manifest thru.

no kidding-- it is really a difficult objective – to find a romans 12;1-3 catholic person

– and as most catholic priests – shy away from this application- their answer is “i don’t hear the Holy spirit like that”

Yes, I was baptized in the Holy Spirit in the early 1990’s. Currently, there is not a charismatic prayer group in our parish. However, those who were in an early group are still contributing to Catholic life in the parish and in the community. Two of us are leaders in a lay organization which began Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in our town. Others from the original charismatic prayer group or who attended the Life in the Spirit seminar have been faithful adorers. Our good friend has a Catholic gifts/book store and is constantly evangelizing.

Being baptized in the Holy Spirit means a lifelong commitment of loving and obeying Our Lord, Jesus Christ in whatever way He calls us–using our own particular gifts. It means attending the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Sunday and as often during the week as possible. It means receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It means praying the rosary in a group before Mass or individually. It means praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Chaplet. It means volunteering in a food pantry or in an organization like PADS. It means being with grannykids. And, of course, it means praying to God in tongues, if we have that particular gift. Note: prayer to God can be in any language as long as it comes from our heart.

Romans12: 1-8 and 1Corinthians 12: 12-31 are both excellent explanations of the Mystical Body of Christ. As one reads these verses, they are not about a single Catholic person, but rather they mention a variety of persons with their own individual gifts. An individual person is not meant to function in all the gifts. On the other hand, when one has the gift of love, there are many ways to exercise this gift.

I am sorry but I am not familiar with other Catholic Forums. However, there may be a charismatic group here on Catholic Answers Forums.

Help someone!
Please advise about finding info about the different groups here on CAF.