What is a charismatic catholic?

[TheRock88]

As one who’s “been there, done that and won’t do so again”, I can add some perspective. Let me assure you that the “charismatic” enjoys absolutely no advantage whatsoever when it comes to grace, spiritual vitality, etc. Why? Because we all have access to the Sacraments. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. He Himself is God; He is not some force or fire that can somehow be tapped into by laying on of hands. He is bestowed by the bishop upon receipt of Confirmation; that’s true for all of us Catholics who have been confirmed.

I ceased my identification as a charismatic because they emphasize way too heavily the supposed importance of “experience”. Of course we thought it was a spiritual “experience” but in reality it was more of an emotional thrill. We were also erroneously urged to “let go” and not engage intellectually with what was happening to us as we “prayed”. Does anyone see THAT booby-trap? It took me a while, too. We are made in the image and likeness of God primarily through intellect and will. Our emotions, being in the realm of passions, are to be subservient to the intellect and will. Thanks to original sin, that order was usurped and has taken on pseudo-spiritual trappings. I saw mention of “resting in the spirit” a while back. There is a prime example of spiriutal danger (perhaps demonically inspired) being mistaken for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not knock people on the floor. When I saw that was a beginning of the blinders coming off my eyes.

Long way of saying that “charismatic” is at best extraneous and unnecessary. We have the Sacraments. We have the Magisterium. What more do we need? In fact, I’d say that a desire for something more than that is a dangerous lust for pseudo-spiritual (in actually, quite sensual) experience.

 

[Morgan2375]

IMHO:

1. Catholics who participates in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal often call themselves charismatic Catholics.
2. A charismatic Catholic can be characterized as a Catholic who’s goal is to live more in the Spirit than in the flesh as Paul says “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2: 20) so as to live as much as they can in the fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4: 13).
3. God re-created, cleansed and sanctified, me through Baptism, healed my soul through reconciliation, made me strong through Confirmation, and sustains me daily with spiritual food at Eucharist.
4. I am first and foremost a child of God who has attended Life In the Spirit Seminars, prayer meetings, Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conferences, etc.
5. Through the New and Everlasting Covenant God wrote His law on my heart making my body a temple of the Holy Spirit. At Confirmation He anointed me in Christ with holy oil and the gifts were sealed within me. I cooperate with God in nurturing these gifts by practicing as much as God’s grace and my will accepts, the 7 virtues: Prudence, Justice,
   Fortitude, temperance, Faith, Hope, Charity.

Please correct me if I’m wrong with examples in scripture or oral tradition but if at baptism I received God’s Law, His Word, the Holy Spirit, and since the giver is greater than the gift, I also received the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

VENI, Sancte Spiritus,
et emitte caelitus
lucis tuae radium.

Come Holy Ghost send down those beams
which sweetly flow in silent streams
from Thy bright throne above.

Veni Creátor Spíritus,
Mentes tuórum vísita:
Imple supérna grátia,
Quæ tu creásti pécora.

Come, O Creator, Spirit blest,
And in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid,
To fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

I believe the Charismatic Renewal is the providential work of God. The Holy Spirit woo’ed Pope Leo XIII to invoke Him over all of Christendom.

The Pope beginning the new year in 1901 invoked the Holy Spirit to pour out His gifts over all disciples of Christ, chanting the Veni Creator Spiritus and dedicating the century to the Holy Spirit who manifested His gifts throughout the Body of Christ including Protestant and Orthodox churches and the Roman Catholic Church.

By the way, Veni Creator Spiritus, sung by Pope Leo XIII is also assigned in the Roman Breviary to Vespers (I and II) and Terce of Pentecost and throughout the octave and also sung at election of popes, the consecration of bishops, the ordination of priests, the dedication of churches, the celebration of synods or councils, the coronation of kings, etc.

My point is that the Charismatic Renewal is not a temporary movement reserved for zealous Christians but rather, it is an act of God whereby His Body, the Church is renewed and united living in the Spirit of God.

We are all called to live “Life in the Spirit” Rom 8:1-17

 

[Morgan2375]

As a Roman Catholic, I personally find this Charismatic movement to be offensive. I know there are Protestant denominations who believe in these things and I think that people who are drawn to these practices ought to join those religions and not try to undermine the Roman Catholic Church by introducing such practices.

Dear child of God, Charismatic Renewal, begun by the Holy Spirit, is 100% Catholic!

Please don’t take this the wrong way but everyone baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is catholic.

As a Roman Catholic myself, I believe I understand your offense by some Roman Catholics. I have seen some Catholics who as you and I both are, are also human. In our humanity we make mistakes like introducing behaviors from some TV evangelists that are not supported by the deposit of faith however, Charismatic Renewal is not about the fleshly, prideful things you may have experienced but rather it’s about Life in the Spirit.

Since each Sacrament of the Holy Catholic Church is a direct, intimate, encounter with Jesus Christ, authentic Charismatic Renewal can not lead anyone away from the sacraments. To do so would be to lead others away from Christ.

Charismatic Renewal must lead us to Jesus Christ, in the sacraments, in each other and in the world around us. Charismatic Renewal is about the Holy Spirit leading the Church to live “Life in the Spirit”.

 

[Morgan2375]

I ceased my identification as a charismatic because they emphasize way too heavily the supposed importance of “experience”. Of course we thought it was a spiritual “experience” but in reality it was more of an emotional thrill. We were also erroneously urged to “let go” and not engage intellectually with what was happening to us as we “prayed”. Does anyone see THAT booby-trap? It took me a while, too. We are made in the image and likeness of God primarily through intellect and will. Our emotions, being in the realm of passions, are to be subservient to the intellect and will. Thanks to original sin, that order was usurped and has taken on pseudo-spiritual trappings. I saw mention of “resting in the spirit” a while back. There is a prime example of spiriutal danger (perhaps demonically inspired) being mistaken for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not knock people on the floor. When I saw that was a beginning of the blinders coming off my eyes.

Long way of saying that “charismatic” is at best extraneous and unnecessary. We have the Sacraments. We have the Magisterium. What more do we need? In fact, I’d say that a desire for something more than that is a dangerous lust for pseudo-spiritual (in actually, quite sensual) experience.

Sister, I understand your frustration with the humanity of the Charismatic Renewal but encourage you not to throw out the baby with the bath water.

I believe the emphasis on “speaking in tongues” over “Encountering Christ or living Life in the Spirit” is a grave injustice and should be stopped.

Please reconsider your opinion that Charismatic Renewal is extraneous and unnecessary. Charismatic Renewal was begun by the Holy Spirit acting through Pope Leo XIII in 1901 with “Veni Creator Spiritus” is 100% Catholic. It’s a gift of the Holy Spirit to renew the Catholic Church to live life in the Spirit. Rom 8:1-17 And it can only be accomplished through the Holy Spirit.

Charismatic Renewal strengthens us to live Sacramental lives and to learn from the teaching authority of the Magisterium. We need God and the Renewal CANNOT lead us to anything other than God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I suggest that if Charismatic Renewal groups lead anyone away from Christ and the Sacraments, they are not authentic.