Is there such a thing as "Baptism of the Holy Spirit"

[Joysong]

I’m glad to hear from you again, Palmas. Many of us know there is potential for abuse and elitism, not only in the CCR, but also in the movement by traditionalists. The difficulty is in branding all charismatics or all traditionists who possess these traits and lump them all in the category of “weeds.” We have to be careful not to judge the heart or the action of God within another soul, or else we ourselves may sin.

… see no evidence that the Charismatic Renewal Movement has stumbled upon a new and improved way to transmit the Grace of the Holy Spirit. The truth is they have not.

I agree, and I have the feeling that neither do they imply they have stumbled on a new way, which is why the movement is called Catholic Charismatic ‘RENEWAL’ … i.e., renewal of devotion to the Holy Spirit as the source of our sanctification. I believe many entered the movement initially, thinking like Simon Magnus to buy the power, and many of these dropped out. The ones who are the true seeds are still faithfully gathering for prayer and serving the Church quietly in very charitable activities. I was happy to see the movement weed out the glory-seekers.

The idea that an outpouring of grace by the Holy Spirit must be accompanied by physical signs is not supported in Catholic Tradition the Catechism or even definitively in Scripture, yet that appears to be the assertion and view by these posters.

I did not read the entire thread, so I can’t confirm your words, but I have not personally heard anyone say there must be signs, other than Pentecostals. I did go through the LISS about 30 years ago, and none of the leaders suggested this to me. All I was asked to do was to prepare myself to ask the Holy Spirit into my life to help me live more faithfully to Jesus. When others did pray over me, nothing at all happened, not even tongues. But I did not remain in the movement, as God was leading me to the Carmelites.

However, I can witness that the Holy Spirit had already touched me in a powerful way many months prior to even hearing about CCR, so maybe that’s why nothing happened after the seminar. As such, I know that many of God’s faithful ones do experience an outpouring, and it doesn’t always come through this movement. It is simply ONE way of many ways that God has of drawing the soul into deeper communion with the Blessed Trinity. (Jn. 14:21)

You may not have looked at my reference to the thread on the weeds and wheat. I read a statement by Fr. Corapi that puzzled me, so I asked for help from the members. These were his words:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=1588382

I’ll tell you something, I used to contest with these people. I used to debate with them. I used to engage in apologetics with them. I don’t do it anymore and I’m going to tell you something. For the most part, I am more qualified to do it than you are, than most of you. I’ve got a doctorate, I’ve got five degrees in Theology and Philosophy. I know the material, but I don’t do it because it is an exercise in futility and I don’t want to drive myself ‘nuts,’ in plain English, and it doesn’t work. Now, if I have to defend the faith, I’ll do that, but I do not engage in debates with people, especially with people who have lost the faith.

lesfemmes-thetruth.org/poisons.htm

Somehow I think maybe God is speaking to me through the two special inspirations I had yesterday. In sharing the excerpt from St. Teresa’s “Life,” I did not mention the answer Our Lord gave her when she prayed about specific conversations and friendships that were not offending God, and was granted that mystical experience. “I will have thee converse now, not with men, but with angels.”

I feel called to witness our faith to those “angels” who are open and listening, ready to follow a deeper walk with God, and not with the type mentioned with Fr. Corapi. We can become clanging cymbals and actually hinder the work of God, as I humbly recognize I have done in some of my posts on this forum when I attempted to “defend the faith.” My time is going to be much more limited, for I think the corrections above were also for ME.

God bless you and may your walk with Him be abundantly blessed!

Carole