Overlap between Charismatic Christians and Traditional Devotions

[David_B]

I have come across an interesting phenomenon. I’ve met people that would identify themselves as Charismatic Catholics but seem to hold onto very Traditional devotions, such as the St. Louis de Montfort Consecration to Mary (complete w/chains), stations of the cross, Rosary, Eucharistic Adoration, etc. Many that I’ve encountered with a more Traditional bent seem to drift more towards where the Church was in the 50s and early 60s, much less emphasis on devotions.

Has anyone else noticed this as well?

God Bless.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I’ve seen this also and I am not suprised. The charismatic movement began in the Catholic church. And not just the recent phenomena, but going back centuries.

Many Saints were known to go into ectasies, speak to angels, have visions and interlocutions, etc. We don’t consider those things “charismatic” now because of the changed definition of that to mean the praise band, hands in the air, type worship we hear about at evangelical protestant services.

But the modern charismatics in the Catholic church were going back to how those charismatic Saints experienced God. They saw the practices of “being slain in the spirit” (not what they called it, but what it is known as now) and similar things as right in line with many, many traditional Catholic pious practices such as the Consecration to Jesus through Mary, devotion to the Sacred Heart, novenas, adoration, and the like.

If you read the lives of Saints such as St. Louis de Montfort, St Teresa of Avila, and many others you will see that they and their followers practiced many “charismatic” worship styles (inside and outside of Mass) and they frequently experienced what charismatics now call being slain in the spirit or similar. For example, I believe it was Louis de Monfort who was so moved during the consecration that he would freeze up and the altar servers at his Masses would simply close up the chapel and leave him there in ectasy.

 

[MisterCorduroy]

My parish, Christ the King in Ann Arbor, is “officially” charismatic. Sure we have spontaneous worship (including speaking in tongues) during liturgically appropriate times during Mass, but we also sing the Agnus Dei in Latin, and most parishioners take Communion on the tongue (many kneeling).

In addition to our Friday Charismatic Prayer Meeting we have a large group of 3rd order Carmelites, Ignatian prayer group, and have a dozen young ladies entering the religious life. Our Perpetual Adoration Chapel is usually crowded. There’s even talk of starting a group for people who want to pray the Rosary in Latin. Many of us pray the Divine Office.

The stereotype that charismatics want to modernize the Church to be more Protestant is simply not true. Charismatics like myself and those I know are some of the most Orthodox Catholics around.

All the wonderful devotions given to us by Mother Church were inspired by the Holy Spirit, so of course renewal of the Church directed by the Holy Spirit would lead to a revival of “traditional” piety.

 

[JRKH]

I too am not surprised by this.
charismatic Catholics are bound to be highly devoted Catholics and there are many wonderful devotions that have developed over the centuries.
So why shouldn’t someone drawn to the Charismatic movement also be drawn to the beautiful devotions of the Church?
Why reinvent the Wheel?

Peace
James

 

[Joyful_1]

My parish, Christ the King in Ann Arbor, is “officially” charismatic. Sure we have spontaneous worship (including speaking in tongues) during liturgically appropriate times during Mass, but we also sing the Agnus Dei in Latin, and most parishioners take Communion on the tongue (many kneeling).

In addition to our Friday Charismatic Prayer Meeting we have a large group of 3rd order Carmelites, Ignatian prayer group, and have a dozen young ladies entering the religious life. Our Perpetual Adoration Chapel is usually crowded. There’s even talk of starting a group for people who want to pray the Rosary in Latin. Many of us pray the Divine Office.

The stereotype that charismatics want to modernize the Church to be more Protestant is simply not true. Charismatics like myself and those I know are some of the most Orthodox Catholics around.

All the wonderful devotions given to us by Mother Church were inspired by the Holy Spirit, so of course renewal of the Church directed by the Holy Spirit would lead to a revival of “traditional” piety.

This is a beautiful post and I’m so happy for you that you have such a wonderful parish!

I’m also Charismatic and I love Latin and traditional Catholic things. In fact, I’m considering wearing a headcovering to mass and I already do in private prayer. Being Charismatic does not make you a liberal. It makes you more alive and gives you a joy in the faith you have been given. At least, that’s what it does for me.

I have been doing the Total Concecration to Mary for two years now(three on Dec 8). I wear a scapular at all times and a crucifix, miraculous medal, and St. Benedict Medal. I’m attending a Catholic College renowned for being Orthodox and devoted and I love the rosary, and the Stations of the Cross, and I go to Eucharistic Adoration for about 2 hours every week. I hate liberal theology. I’m discerning a call to the religious life and any order I join must be habited. The fuller the habit the better and they must also be very spiritual and focused on the road to union with Christ.

The Holy Spirit moves where ever He pleases. He renews all, not just those who want to shed all traditions.

 

[RyanML]

My parish, Christ the King in Ann Arbor, is “officially” charismatic. Sure we have spontaneous worship (including speaking in tongues) during liturgically appropriate times during Mass, but we also sing the Agnus Dei in Latin, and most parishioners take Communion on the tongue (many kneeling).

While not very “charismatic” myself, I do know several Catholics who are, and they are usually the ones praying the rosary and spending the most amount of time in the adoration chapels. So I don’t have a problem with the spirituality in the form which has been approved by Holy Mother Church. But I am curious about one thing. Where exactly, according to the Church, is it appropriate to express the “gift of tongues” during the liturgy?

Thanks and God bless!

 

[RyanML]

I have been doing the Total Concecration to Mary for two years now(three on Dec 8). I wear a scapular at all times and a crucifix, miraculous medal, and St. Benedict Medal. I’m attending a Catholic College renowned for being Orthodox and devoted and I love the rosary, and the Stations of the Cross, and I go to Eucharistic Adoration for about 2 hours every week. I hate liberal theology. I’m discerning a call to the religious life and any order I join must be habited. The fuller the habit the better and they must also be very spiritual and focused on the road to union with Christ.

I wish there had been more charismatics like you at a youth conference I once attended. There was “speaking in tongues” and a lot of hand raising, but there was no sensible Eucharistic devotion, there was absolutely no Marian devotion, and the Masses were more like hour long praise and worship sessions.

God bless you for your faithful witness!

 

[Joyful_1]

While not very “charismatic” myself, I do know several Catholics who are, and they are usually the ones praying the rosary and spending the most amount of time in the adoration chapels. So I don’t have a problem with the spirituality in the form which has been approved by Holy Mother Church. But I am curious about one thing. Where exactly, according to the Church, is it appropriate to express the “gift of tongues” during the liturgy?

Thanks and God bless!

I have never actually been to a Charismatic mass where there was a lot of speaking in tongues. I would say that a good time may be in the time following the gloria or even after communion. I sometimes slip into tongues during the Eucharistic Prayer because I have the urge, but I always do it under my breath so I don’t disturb anyone.

I wish there had been more charismatics like you at a youth conference I once attended. There was “speaking in tongues” and a lot of hand raising, but there was no sensible Eucharistic devotion, there was absolutely no Marian devotion, and the Masses were more like hour long praise and worship sessions.

God bless you for your faithful witness!

Thank you. I’m afraid that there are many people who are Charismatic and try to “force it”. To the point where they don’t even pay attention to other parts of their faith. This is a mistake, just like having a devotion to Mary for herself and not for the sake of her Divine Son would be a mistake. It’s not healthy, nor does it represent the Charismatic Renewal faithfully as it is meant to take place. Renewal Ministries does a good job of representing it well. You may have heard of Ralph Martin who has written a few books on spirituality and done several programs on EWTN. He is a great example of what the Charismatic Renewal is supposed to be lived out. I highly recomend his book on spirituality called The Fulfillment of all Desire. It is very good.

 

[AJV]

I have come across an interesting phenomenon. I’ve met people that would identify themselves as Charismatic Catholics but seem to hold onto very Traditional devotions, such as the St. Louis de Montfort Consecration to Mary (complete w/chains), stations of the cross, Rosary, Eucharistic Adoration, etc. Many that I’ve encountered with a more Traditional bent seem to drift more towards where the Church was in the 50s and early 60s, much less emphasis on devotions.

Has anyone else noticed this as well?

God Bless.

I may have commented on this somewhere else on the forum, but I always noticed, compared with many of things said about charismatic practice here and its progressive nature, that charismatic practice outside the USA in places I was in often tended to go for all the practices you mentioned, and even strong advocacy of kneeling and Communion on the tongue.