Question about a blessing

[KimberlyAnn0218]

Hello! As a newly practicing Catholic I am trying to gain “experieince” anywhere I can. Inlcudin classes and listening to speakers, etc. One Of our local churches had a Spanish Exorcist come and speak. He had lots of very practical thoughts on demons, etc. BAsically the faithful just need to be strong in faith and not spend time worrying about demons. Made sense to me

At the end everyone lined up like during communion nad he went along and laid hands on people’s heads and did a blessing to invoke the Holy Spirit. I thought this would b a good thing for me so I stayed. It took a long time and the church was super hot. They had “catchers” stand behind everyone and much more than 1/2 of the people “fell” back. He had spoken baout it before he started and siad it is normal to feel nothing all the way to the falling. He said he does not make people fall, that is beyond him. I am a nurse and this distressed me greatly as I have never seen it and to me watching people “go down” means someone needs to help them. They would just leave them there and eventualy they would get up. When I was waiting up front for my blessing I was very nervous. I did not fall, although I did feel me knees get shakey, but I attribute that to nerves and the heat and someone having their hand on my head.

Is it ok that this disturbed me a little? So very many people were falling back it reminded me of televangelism stuff. hat satrted out as an interesting night has caused me to pause a bit. Thoughts?

 

[fermat]

I’ve never heard of anything like that before.

 

[myangelmarc]

Good morning Kinberly:
Welcome to our great Cathollic Faith !!! What you observed was some people being slain in the Spirit when they fell back and onto the floor. As you stated this did not happen to everyone. This is quite normal. I only wish you had thought of quietly asking someone near you what was going on and they would have happily explained this to you. This very often happens after healing Masses. If there are healing Masses in your area try to attend some so you cand get more first hand knowledge and observations. The first time I was slain in the Spirit I was unaware of everything aroud me and could only see beautiful lights liken to fireworks when they first pop open. When I came to I felt such peace within myself never before experienced. Check around in your area for Life in the Spirit sessions - usually 6 or 7 weeks for about 90 minutes each session and if you can attend . I am so sorry that what was a beautiful beginning of an evening made you uncomfortable at the end.

 

[puzzleannie]

Is it ok that this disturbed me a little? So very many people were falling back it reminded me of televangelism stuff. hat satrted out as an interesting night has caused me to pause a bit. Thoughts?

of course it is okay to be disturbed by something you don’t understand, although it sounds as if the priest made a good explanation of what to expect, but maybe something got lost in translation. He was a charismatic priest, a highly respected and orthodox Catholic form of spirituality, and was indeed praying in the Holy Spirit over each person. The falling, or being slain in the Spirit, or resting in the Spirit is a common effect of that prayer and usually signifies that the individual has accepted docilely the action of the Holy Spirit into their life. of course suggestive or emotional people might also respond in that way, but that does not mean the Holy Spirit is not also at work in them.

Everything that is outside our experience or new to us is not be definition wrong.

forgot to say if you in such a situation, healing Mass, charismatic meeting, and you do not have such a reaction after the blessing, that does not mean you have not received an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, it just means you did not have that specific spiritual reaction.

 

[Fergal]

This practice is something to be very wary of. I don’t see people falling after receiving Holy Communion, nor do I see them fall having received absolution in the Confessional, nor do I see them fall when they get Married or are Ordained or Baptised or receive the Anointing of the Sick etc etc etc…

In fact no Catholic every fell for a blessing pre-Toronto 1994.

It’s a fad. Those who tell you that it is something supernatural have an impressionable mindset.

Have a look at the protestant communities who have tired of it and have notched it up to rolling about the floor shrieking all kinds of nonsense or making animal noises or having fits of uncontrollable laughter.

Stay well away.

 

[puzzleannie]

etc…

In fact no Catholic every fell for a blessing pre-Toronto 1994.

It’s a fad. Those who tell you that it is something supernatural have an impressionable mindset.

.

simply not true
the Catholic Charismatic renewal began in the late 1960s in orthodox Catholic campus ministries and spread to parishes, and is alive and well with the complete support and authorization of all the recent Popes.

 

[Fergal]

I am not talking about the Charismatic Renewal Movement.

I am talking about the counterfeit promotion of the so called ‘Toronto blessing’. Now if the Charismatics have been duped into having a celebration of Autumnal proportions then they need to get real about their Catholicity and steer away from sensationalism. In fact I would suggest that the Holy Father needs to step in.

Any Catholic who falls to the floor for a blessing does do because they want to and becuase they feel they have to not because they have experienced the supernatural.

Again it is a fad and a most dreadful desacralised and desacralising innovation that all would be urged to keep well away from.

 

[seagal]

I am not talking about the Charismatic Renewal Movement.

I am talking about the counterfeit promotion of the so called ‘Toronto blessing’. Now if the Charismatics have been duped into having a celebration of Autumnal proportions then they need to get real about their Catholicity and steer away from sensationalism. In fact I would suggest that the Holy Father needs to step in.

Any Catholic who falls to the floor for a blessing does do because they want to and becuase they feel they have to not because they have experienced the supernatural.

Again it is a fad and a most dreadful desacralised and desacralising innovation that all would be urged to keep well away from.

I would respectfully say you don’t know what you’re talking about and your prejudice is showing.

 

[Fergal]

I would respectfully say you don’t know what you’re talking about and your prejudice is showing.

Prejudice no, predisposition yes and predisposition towards what is right and good is nothing to be ashamed of.

Indeed you are entitled to your opinion but if you support these charlatan fads then at least I know what level your opinion comes in at.

 

[Sarika]

This practice is something to be very wary of. I don’t see people falling after receiving Holy Communion, nor do I see them fall having received absolution in the Confessional, nor do I see them fall when they get Married or are Ordained or Baptised or receive the Anointing of the Sick etc etc etc…
In fact no Catholic every fell for a blessing pre-Toronto 1994.
It’s a fad. Those who tell you that it is something supernatural have an impressionable mindset.

Agreed.

 

[seagal]

Prejudice no, predisposition yes and predisposition towards what is right and good is nothing to be ashamed of.

Indeed you are entitled to your opinion but if you support these charlatan fads then at least I know what level your opinion comes in at.

I have been at healing masses where the priest offered a blessing to the people afterwards. I have witnessed people resting in the Sprit (the term “slain” is no longer used). It was not a violent falling, as you probably saw in protestant healing services on tv. It doesn’t happen after every mass, only when someone has been prayed over for healing, as far as I know. And I have never, ever seen or heard of people at these masses rolling around on the floor making animal noises.

For you to dismiss this out of hand as a fad or superstitious nonsense is very closed-minded and your attitude is very prejudicial. Just because you disapprove doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

 

[Kirk_O]

This practice is something to be very wary of. I don’t see people falling after receiving Holy Communion, nor do I see them fall having received absolution in the Confessional, nor do I see them fall when they get Married or are Ordained or Baptised or receive the Anointing of the Sick etc etc etc…

In fact no Catholic every fell for a blessing pre-Toronto 1994.

It’s a fad. Those who tell you that it is something supernatural have an impressionable mindset.

Have a look at the protestant communities who have tired of it and have notched it up to rolling about the floor shrieking all kinds of nonsense or making animal noises or having fits of uncontrollable laughter.

Stay well away.

You couldn’t be more right. I have witnessed this in the Protestant evangelical world and trust me, it is not of God. It is a form of pride “Look at me, I am more holy than you”.

 

[Fergal]

I have been at healing masses where the priest offered a blessing to the people afterwards. I have witnessed people resting in the Sprit (the term “slain” is no longer used). It was not a violent falling, as you probably saw in protestant healing services on tv. It doesn’t happen after every mass, only when someone has been prayed over for healing, as far as I know. And I have never, ever seen or heard of people at these masses rolling around on the floor making animal noises.

For you to dismiss this out of hand as a fad or superstitious nonsense is very closed-minded and your attitude is very prejudicial. Just because you disapprove doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

Just because you approve doesn’t mean it is real either. It is simply a recent trend acted out by those who have become desensitised to the real beauty of the Catholic mysteries. It is nothing short of desacralised sensationalism. I have also discovered in the past that some Priests who mislead the faithful by promoting this practice, have a deep desire to prove themselves and believe more in the falling down than they do in the power of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

Give me some examples of where this has happened pre Pentecostalism please.

Straight talking is not closed minded nor prejudicial. It is, however, difficult reading for those who practice religion for the feel good factor.

 

[Kirk_O]

I have been at healing masses where the priest offered a blessing to the people afterwards. I have witnessed people resting in the Sprit (the term “slain” is no longer used). It was not a violent falling, as you probably saw in protestant healing services on tv. It doesn’t happen after every mass, only when someone has been prayed over for healing, as far as I know. And I have never, ever seen or heard of people at these masses rolling around on the floor making animal noises.

For you to dismiss this out of hand as a fad or superstitious nonsense is very closed-minded and your attitude is very prejudicial. Just because you disapprove doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

You may benefit from this article that came out today. It is about speaking in tongues but also goes into being slain with the spirit. The comments are worth reading.

newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com/2011/06/youre-not-speaking-in-tongues-youre.html

 

[Fergal]

Nice article Kirk O.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Sarika]

simply not true
the Catholic Charismatic renewal began in the late 1960s in orthodox Catholic campus ministries and spread to parishes, and is alive and well with the complete support and authorization of all the recent Popes.

I know a couple that was part of the original group at Duquesne when all of it started - and now they go to the Assembly of God, and have raised their own children in that denomination as well, bereft of the sacraments.

The Popes and most Bishops have no idea what really goes on at these things. The Charismatic renewal is supported only insofar as Catholic teaching on such things is maintained. The Doctor’s of the Church to read in this regard are St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross and St. Therese of Lisieux. You will find that this kind of thing would be abhorrent to them.

 

[zab]

I am not a charismatic. But I knew a priest, now deceased, who had a charismatic gift of healing. He gave a parish mission and after Mass, not during, he invited us all to line up across at the bottom of the steps to the sanctuary and he went down the line blessing each person. The first time he blessed me, I felt something that made me fall back a little but I did not fall to the ground as some people did and stayed lying there. (Fr. Luke said he didn’t know why some people stay laying on the floor either). After I went home, I began having doubts about what I felt. The next day of the mission I went up for the blessing again, but this time I was not going to let gravity make me fall back, so I kept my head bowed down in front of me. When Father came by me, he barely touched my forehead and quickly moved to the next person. But I went flying back with such force. I got the message! But thereafter, on the remaining days of the mission and the few other times that he visited our parish and I received a blessing from him, I never felt such force again. Sometimes he spent extra time with me, but I just didn’t fall quickly. However, I was convinced that he was a holy priest who was faithful to the teachings of the church particularly in a time when so many abuses abounded. I corresponded with him for spiritual direction up until just before he died. (Fr. Luke Zimmer)

 

[seagal]

You may benefit from this article that came out today. It is about speaking in tongues but also goes into being slain with the spirit. The comments are worth reading.

newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com/2011/06/youre-not-speaking-in-tongues-youre.html

Interesting article but the only mention of “slain in the Spirit” is from a commenter who suggested an experiment to test the validity of the claim. FWIW, the Charismatics I know refer to “praying”, not “speaking” in tongues.

 

[TheMc]

This practice is something to be very wary of. I don’t see people falling after receiving Holy Communion, nor do I see them fall having received absolution in the Confessional, nor do I see them fall when they get Married or are Ordained or Baptised or receive the Anointing of the Sick etc etc etc…

In fact no Catholic every fell for a blessing pre-Toronto 1994.

It’s a fad. Those who tell you that it is something supernatural have an impressionable mindset.

Have a look at the protestant communities who have tired of it and have notched it up to rolling about the floor shrieking all kinds of nonsense or making animal noises or having fits of uncontrollable laughter.

Stay well away.

Exactly.

As you said, if someone is going to “rest” in the spirit after a supposedly powerful “praying over,” what does that say about holy communion? It is way more powerful than this “praying over” stuff.

Anyways, it began in the 1960s. That is reason enough to be wary of it.

All I can say is that it’s a sham. Stay away from this Pentecostal stuff. If you are catholic, be catholic. Do something far more powerful than this “praying over someone”:

• get confirmed
• Recieve Holy Communion
• Go to Confession
• get ordained
• pray a novena
• gain an indulgence
• go to Mass, even if you can’t receive communion
• go to adoration
• sing some gregorian chant

 

[KimberlyAnn0218]

Thanks to everyone. This post was apparently and interesting topic! After review I think that this is not something I will ever seek out again. It is fine for others, just not for me. I prefer that wonderful, personal feeling I get from time to time that feels like the Holy Spirit to me :0)

I am glad I went, I was still blessed after all I have a good gut instinct–my gut says a polite “no thank-you” and requests that I continue to pursue a stronger relationship with God by other means

K