Spiritual gifts

[nas_matko]

Who can assess a person who is claiming to have spiritual gift - let’s say gift to distinguish spirits, or prophecy or any other of them?

By asses I mean who can for sure say that this gift is truly form God and not from the devil?

To my knowledge only bishop has this authority but I may be mistaken.

Is there any official church document dealing with this?

Thanks for your answers.

 

[InLight247]

If you read 1 Corinthians 14, especially verses 26 -32, it may help.

In 1 Corinthians 14:29, it says

“Let no more than two or three prophets speak, and **let the rest judge **the worth of what they say.”

Usually in a prayer meeting, if one gives a prophesy, another will receive similar message to confirm it. Paul says let the rest judge.The rest means all who participate. Keep in mind prophesy is for building up.

“The prophet, on the other hand, speak to men for their up building, their encouragement, their consolation.” (1 Corinthians 14:3)

That is a good guideline for discernment.

In **1 Corinthians 14:32 **it says,

“The spirits of the prophets are under the prophets’ control.”

In other words, when the prophet receives a message from God, it is up to the prophet to say it or not say it, and how to say it.

Hope this helps.

 

[Joysong]

I cannot remember anyone saying to me, “I have the gift of . . .” Very unusual, I would think. What we might observe is God manifesting any one of a number of spiritual gifts through a person in whom He indwells, and the person is always subject to the leading of the Holy Spirit as to when and how to use the gift. The person may not have the “habit” of a particular gift, but could use any one of them at a particular time appointed by God.

When someone frequently and regularly exercises a particular charism, the believing community would therefore acknowledge that this person has the habit of the gift, which God bestows upon them for helping others in His name. You may have heard in your own country of Ireland about Sister Briege McKenna who is well known in the Catholic community for the gift of healing.

One of the tests is the purity of the vessel in whom God has bestowed the gift. We would naturally expect to observe the character of Jesus in their life. One would also need to see the proof in the pudding, yes? Their words/actions should be accompanied by fulfillment, encouragement, healing, inner witness of the Spirit in the heart of the listener, and the judgment of the spiritual community, as InLight pointed out.

 

[nas_matko]

When someone frequently and regularly exercises a particular charism, the believing community would therefore acknowledge that this person has the habit of the gift, which God bestows upon them

So basically you are saying that community of faithfull is enough to acknowledge that particular gift is from God or not? No need for teaching authority of Church?

 

[mercygate]

I am in contact with a person who “knows” things before they happen and “knows” things about people that he could not possibly know except by something “out there.” This person is fully orthodox in his faith, deeply charitable in his relations with the people about whom he receives these ‘messages’ and he consults with a spiritual director about how to handle such knowledge.

Discernment of spirits is not limited to the authority of the Bishop, it is to be greatly desired in a spiritual director. When a person begins to value his “gifts” above the Magisterium or the counsel of a good spiritual director, then you get nervous about where this stuff is coming from.

 

[Joysong]

So basically you are saying that community of faithfull is enough to acknowledge that particular gift is from God or not? No need for teaching authority of Church?

Not for ordinary charismata such as the prophetic word manifested as encouragement and uplifting of another. If the Lord gives a prophecy based on a future condition or fulfillment, then yes. It would need to be brought to the Church for authentication before making it public.

In Briege’s case, and in so many of the saints’ lives that I read, those who had such gifts were always obedient to God’s representatives. If obedience were missing, I would be suspect of them. Briege was given permission to hold major public retreats and conferences for priests, so we can put our faith in the fact that her gift was approved by those in ecclesial authority.

One thing to watch out for is the Lone Ranger spirituality. I cannot remember any incidence of grave importance that the seer goes it alone. When it comes from God, He almost always works in those to whom the person confides the ‘message’ and causes them to believe His work. I’m presently reading the Diary of St. Faustina, where God repeatedly tells her to trust that He will give light to those in authority over her, and urges her to continue speaking on God’s behalf.

As for her writings in general, all I can say is WOW! If a person is generally proficient in discerning the Spirit’s affirmation on what he reads, whether it is scripture or devotional writings of this nature, this still requires one’s being able understand whether the words are also meant for oneself, or if they were just nice words to write for ‘whomever.’

The beauty I am finding in this book really confirms some other similar words that I read from other saints, and when you think about it, isn’t it true that they generally all say the same truths?

 

[InLight247]

I’m presently reading the Diary of St. Faustina, where God repeatedly tells her to trust that He will give light to those in authority over her, and urges her to continue speaking on God’s behalf.

As for her writings in general, all I can say is WOW! If a person is generally proficient in discerning the Spirit’s affirmation on what he reads, whether it is scripture or devotional writings of this nature, this still requires one’s being able understand whether the words are also meant for oneself, or if they were just nice words to write for ‘whomever.’

The beauty I am finding in this book really confirms some other similar words that I read from other saints, and when you think about it, isn’t it true that they generally all say the same truths?

YES!

 

[nas_matko]

Discernment of spirits is not limited to the authority of the Bishop, it is to be greatly desired in a spiritual director.

Whom do you mean by spiritual director? By which authority is the spiritual director discerning spirits?

 

[mercygate]

Whom do you mean by spiritual director? By which authority is the spiritual director discerning spirits?

What’s the real question?

Have you never encountered the term “spiritual director?”

Generally an SD is a person with a couple of grey hairs, someone who has spent many years in prayer, who has experienced the ups and downs of a deep prayer life and maybe has had some experience of spiritual gifts that betoken direct supernatural influence. Spiritual directors are usually (but not always) Priests or Religious. They are people who are sensitive and careful about spiritual matters.

The Spiritual Director would discern spirits by virtue of his own spiritual gifts, by his knowledge of the person he is advising, and in light of wide experience. Spiritual direction is an ancient form of personal mentoring. Check the biography of any saint and you will find the person who guided, goaded, or checked them in their journey. I think of Margaret Mary Alacoque, whose confessor/director, Father Claude de la Columbiere, played a large role in discerning the authenticity of the revelations she had received concerning devotion to the Sacred Heart.

 

[Joysong]

Just wanted to add a point, Mercygate. “Father” Columbiere is actually SAINT Claude de la Columbiere. Many of our spiritual directors actually became canonized.

 

[mercygate]

Just wanted to add a point, Mercygate. “Father” Columbiere is actually SAINT Claude de la Columbiere. Many of our spiritual directors actually became canonized.

OK. I’m behind the times. When my husband read Margaret Mary’s biography, he commented that dealing with her is what made him a saint. There was a lot of turbulence surrounding the revelations she received.

 

[puzzleannie]

Who can assess a person who is claiming to have spiritual gift - let’s say gift to distinguish spirits, or prophecy or any other of them?

By asses I mean who can for sure say that this gift is truly form God and not from the devil?

To my knowledge only bishop has this authority but I may be mistaken.

Is there any official church document dealing with this?

Thanks for your answers.

such discernment of the Corinthian gifts (prophecy, teaching, administration, knowledge, healing, tongues, interpretation etc) which the Holy Spirit gives to individuals for the purpose of building up the Church, can be discerned only ecclesially, by and within the Church, not reliably by the individual. that does not mean by an individual congregation, but by the local church and ordinary, namely the bishop. He must first approve the charismatic style of worship which most often encourages the more dramatic of the gifts, and exhibition and use of the gifts for the benefit of the Church may be exercised only with his permission and under his guidance or that of good priests whom he appoints to that role. a person who claims or assumes a public ministry in which these gifts are used must be under the direction of the bishop, usually by means of an appointed spiritual director.

 

[Debra_C]

Who can assess a person who is claiming to have spiritual gift - let’s say gift to distinguish spirits, or prophecy or any other of them?

By asses I mean who can for sure say that this gift is truly form God and not from the devil?

To my knowledge only bishop has this authority but I may be mistaken.

Is there any official church document dealing with this?

Thanks for your answers.

It is my understanding that each one of us has the responsibility to conduct such discernment for ourselves. I was taught that all should be compared (in totality) to the Sacred Scriptures, Sacred Tradition, and the teachings of the Magisterium. If any of it conflicts, the whole thing is suspect. Also, prayer is important. I tend to err on the side of caution with such things. Though I may occasionally miss out on some true prophecy, I believe that God has already given us all we really need in the Church and through His grace. If you are personally receiving such gifts and are unsure of their source, you should try first talking with your priest and/or spiritual director. They can assist you in discerning personal matters.

If a devotion or practice starts to become very widespread or catches national or worldwide attention, then the local ordinary (the Bishop) is the first level of authority in the Church hierarchy to deal with it. At the Vatican, such things are often reviewed by the Congregation of Doctrine and Fatih (formerly known as the Inquisition,which Pope Benedict XVI headed up as Cardinal Ratzinger). The final authority, of course, belongs to the Pope. Most often, though, the hierarchy of the Church simply remains watchful and will issue a warning or take action to suppress a movement only if they find in it something dangerous to the faithful. They rarely grant true approval, and unless something is eventually defined as dogma, you are still free to choose whether to believe or not in regard to private revelation.

 

[nas_matko]

such discernment of the Corinthian gifts (prophecy, teaching, administration, knowledge, healing, tongues, interpretation etc) which the Holy Spirit gives to individuals for the purpose of building up the Church, can be discerned only ecclesially, by and within the Church, not reliably by the individual. that does not mean by an individual congregation, but by the local church and ordinary, namely the bishop. He must first approve the charismatic style of worship which most often encourages the more dramatic of the gifts, and exhibition and use of the gifts for the benefit of the Church may be exercised only with his permission and under his guidance or that of good priests whom he appoints to that role. a person who claims or assumes a public ministry in which these gifts are used must be under the direction of the bishop, usually by means of an appointed spiritual director.

Thanks puzzleannie. Can tou pint me out to some church docments dealing with this issue, or at least to some examples fromthe past (or present)?

 

[puzzleannie]

I would refer you to orthodox Catholic priests involved in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal such as Fr. George Montague, Robert DeGrandis, and others you can reference in the many threads on this forum discussing same

 

[DL82]

1 Corinthians 12:3 “Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.”

1 John 4:2 “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,”

If someone is speaking in tongues or prophecying and someone in authority commands them to be quiet in the name of Jesus Christ, they will be quiet. If they are not quiet, the spirit is not from God.

It also means that if somebody prophecies or teaches something contrary to the faith, i.e. contrary to what Jesus teaches, or contrary to the incarnate Body of Christ (in the Church and in the Blessed Sacrament) then that teaching is not from God.

1 Corinthians 12:10 “to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.”

Some interpret this to mean that if someone is given the gift of tongues, there should also be someone else given the gift of interpretation. If an interpretation doesn’t come, then the tongue was not from God.

 

[mercygate]

I would refer you to orthodox Catholic priests involved in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal such as Fr. George Montague, Robert DeGrandis, and others you can reference in the many threads on this forum discussing same

Also Fr. Benedict Groeschel, Fr. John Randall, Bishop Mort Smith of Trenton.