C
ClayPots47
Guest
I have no problem pointing out to both of you that you are flat out wrong. Period, puzzleannie pretty much explained it. The Toronto Blessing has nothing, zero, zilch, nada to do with what the OP posted about. That was a Protestant Pentecostal event that is completely different and unrelated to the authentic Catholic Charismatic Renewal. The OP obviously went to a Charismatic event, and following the Mass, the presiding priest had a healing service that involved prayer via the laying on of hands, and in the case of this particular priest, a blessing. Some of the people being prayed over experienced the phenomena of Resting in the Spirit, which is a valid experience very similar to that of the mystical experience of infused contemplation. The difference is that Resting in the Spirit is of a much shorter duration than infused contemplation.Originally Posted by Fergal.
I have seen several posts where you have bashed the Charismatic Renewal, and frankly, I and others are tired of it! Please [edited] accept the fact that the Charismatic Renewal is a valid movement, supported and endorsed by three popes (Paul VI, John Paul II< and Benedict XVI). I’m really sick and tired of all the bashing that goes on in this forum against Charismatics. Did you know that the Papal Household Preacher, appointed by John Paul, and retained by Benedict, is a Charismatic priest? I actually attended an event where he was the speaker, and presided over Mass. Horrors, he led us praying in tongues during the Mass! He prayed over us after, and many Rested in the Spirit! I’m sure you are just horrified at that! And yet Father Cantalamessa was hand-picked by Pope John Paul II to preach at the Vatican, and Benedict retained him in that position when he became pope. The man is a gifted speaker, and gives amazing homilies. The popes are not seeing this as a sham or fad, but a movement that has brought nothing but graces and blessings to the Church. How dare you declare that which the popes endorse and support as being a fad or sham?
Neither you have the right to advise someone to stay away from a movement that is fully supported as Catholic. I would suggest that the OP discern for herself if this spirituality is for her. But not base her decision on the false claims made by many in this forum. It is really disgusting the way supposedly Catholic Christians go about denigrating a movement because of their personal bias against it. The biggest offenders of Charismatic bashing on this forum, seems to be Traditionalists. It is neither a sham, or a fad, but a true renewal of the charisms that the early church experienced. The fact that the Renewal began in 1967 (Two years following Vatican II, in which John XXIII literally flung open a window and prayed for the Holy Spirit to blow new life into the Church, and asked the faithful to pray for a new Pentecost), is no reason enough to be wary of it. The Renewal is just one of the spiritual movements that resulted from this prayer. Unless you are one of those Traditionalist who reject just about anything post Vatican II.
The OP expressed confusion and was clearly uncomfortable, because she was unfamiliar with the experience. She was blessed validly by the presiding priest regardless of whether she Rested in the Spirit or not. That kind of spirituality may not be for her, which is perfectly okay. People are drawn to different spirituality’s and devotions, and no one has to experience all. She indicates that she is not drawn to this kind of prayer experience, and would probably not attend such an event. But it is incorrect to tell her that she should avoid it altogether based on your obvious personal biases. As puzzleannie explained to her correctly what she witnessed, and that it was a valid experience.
Please stop posting false and spurious information about the Charismatic Renewal. There is a thread on the Traditional Catholic forum titled “Traditionalist and Charismatic”, where I posted with the biblical sources and papal sources regarding the validity of the Charismatic movement. I suggest you read it and educate yourselves as the the validity of this movement. One of the posters on that thread identified herself as being both a Traditionalist, and a Charismatic. There are a number of Catholics participating in both movements. Just for once, I’d like to see some exercise of charity. You don’t have to like the Charismatic Renewal, but you don’t get to bash it. The moderators of this forum need to step in and stop the false rhetoric being posted here as well. I am going to direct them to the various threads where the uncharitable and mean-spirited bashing takes place and request that they intervene.
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“Slain in the spirit” is nowhere found in the Word of God.