When you recieved the Spirit?

[Catholic4aReasn]

Anonymous_1:

Im just curious to hear others experience with this topic. Was it at confirmation. Were you born again? What happened since then?

Please share if you would.

I initially received the holy Spirit when I was born again in baptism at 6 weeks old. I again received Him in a special way when I was confirmed as a teenager. The seed was planted but I wasn’t feeding it at all.

I began feeding that seed about 7 years ago, through prayer, scripture reading and study. My relationship with the Lord flourished and I truly changed (evidence of what some refer to as being "born again) so much so that my husband considered leaving me. By God’s grace, though, we are still together.

In February the holy Spirit was rekindled in me at a Life In The Spirit seminar in my church. It wasn’t an emotional experience at all, but I received the gift of tonuges at that time, which was the most immediate answer to pray I’ve ever experienced (it happened while others were praying over me for an outpouring of the holy Spirit…or rekindling…whatever term you’re comfortable with).

My relationship with the Lord hasn’t been all about gushy, euphoric feelings. It’s been about a confidence that I have in Christ’s Lordship in my life and the clear evidence that the Lord is forming me, a little at a time, into the person he created me to be.

 

[Catholic4aReasn]

Dr. Colossus:

I feel very strongly that the Holy Spirit entered my life in an incredible way at Confirmation. Prior to the Sacrament, I barely believed God existed, much less that the Catholic Church was right. My confirmation (or at least the study and preparation leading to it) wasn’t even my choice. My parents made me do it. However, a couple weeks before my confirmation, I had an experience that changed my view and made me want the Sacrament for myself. Very quickly after I was confirmed (not instantaneously, but over the following weeks and months), I became very interested in the Faith. I felt a desire to study Church history and teachings. I began to feel the need to defend the faith when others questioned it, and was surprised to find that I was usually able to do it. It’s been quite a few years now since then, but the Holy Spirit has continued to lead me deeper in the faith.

Wow! That’s awesome!!!

 

[Catholic4aReasn]

Chuck:

I received the Spirit as a teenager during my initial profession of faith and prayer to confess my belief in Jesus as the Son of God, that he paid the price for my sins and I asked God to forgive my sins. It was a power and deliberate event. I too felt the emotion of being forgiven and overwhelmed with the peace and love from God. I have never forgotten or doubted that experience.

Since then, I found the Catholic church 25 years later and have discovered an even deeper sense of the Spirit.

Chuck

Very, very cool!!!

 

[Catholic4aReasn]

Sherlock:

First off, I dislike the term “born again”. It is a term usually used by Evangelical Christians, fundamentalists, etc., and so I associate the term with those groups.

.

While “born again” is most commonly used in Protestant circles it’s actually a Catholic term, being used in scripture by our Lord himself (although some argue that he actually said "born from above).

The Catholic Church teaches that we ARE born again, in baptism, when we die with Christ and rise to newness of life (Romans 6:3-4).

 

[Catholic4aReasn]

Anonymous_1:

And i think born again is the perfect term for that experience and the transformation that has occured as a result of the Lords presense in my life. However the Catholic church does teach that we are ‘born again’ at baptism and recieve the Holy Spirit at confirmation. This clearly didnt happen with me.

Sure it happened. You just didn’t cooperate with the grace that you were given. That’s the same thing I did but I didn’t realize it at the time. Grace requires a response. Feelings are not required as proof that one has received the holy Spirit. He was there whether you felt him or not.

Well i know that the Spirit leads us to all truth, what i dont understand is why doctrine about praying to saints, and Mary, and such, The papacy, purgatory, that my must confess our sins to a priest,etc. i mean alot of teachings of the Catholic church just dont sit right in my heart. but it sits fine in the hearts of other proclaimed Christians.

These are some great questions, all of which can be answered at the Catholic Answers website. If you’d like to discuss any of these topics personally feel free to e-mail me at Catholic4aReason@aol.com. The Church teaches these doctrines because they are true, not because they are popular.

Why dont they stress the importance of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, without it we are not Christians at all. And apparently not all Catholics recieve the Holy Spirit at confirmation. Am i just missing something, or what. Can someone help me out here?Can anyone relate?

All Catholics receive the holy Spirit when they are born again in baptism. All Catholics receive him in a special way in Confirmation that allows them to grow as an adult Christian.

I think there may be much that you don’t know about Catholicism, which is not uncommon, particularly if you were catechized in the 70’s (as I was). If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask, or look on the Catholic Answers website. They have a lot of great, easy to understand information there.

In Christ,
Nancy

 

[Sherlock]

Nancy,

You wrote: "While “born again” is most commonly used in Protestant circles it’s actually a Catholic term, being used in scripture by our Lord himself (although some argue that he actually said “born from above).”

True enough, but you have to admit that the common, Joe-Shmoe understanding of the term is the Protestant understanding: when someone tells me that they’ve been “born again”, chances are I ain’t talkin’ to a fellow mackeral snapper. Hence my dislike of the term, despite its Catholic credentials.

By the way, Nancy, you’re a jewel! I appreciate your clear and concise defense of the Faith.

God Bless…

 

[shannin]

I believe that I received the Holy Spirit at my First Holy Communion at 6 years old. I had a powerful vision that I remember vividly until this very moment.

Blessings,
Shannin

 

[Catholic4aReasn]

Sherlock:

Nancy,

You wrote: "While “born again” is most commonly used in Protestant circles it’s actually a Catholic term, being used in scripture by our Lord himself (although some argue that he actually said “born from above).”

True enough, but you have to admit that the common, Joe-Shmoe understanding of the term is the Protestant understanding: when someone tells me that they’ve been “born again”, chances are I ain’t talkin’ to a fellow mackeral snapper. Hence my dislike of the term, despite its Catholic credentials.

You’re right about that. “Born again” means something entirely different to a Catholic and a Protestant. If a Protestant asks me if I’m born again I always say “yes”, because according to his definition, I am.

By the way, Nancy, you’re a jewel! I appreciate your clear and concise defense of the Faith.

God Bless…/

Boy! That was nice of you to say! Thanks!!

 

[Annunciata]

I was first introduced to the Holy Spirit at 11 years old at my Baptism by emersion in the Baptist Church. Then again at my ‘conditional Baptism’ into the Catholic Church and again an ‘increase’ at my Confirmation. The Spirit has been guiding me and teaching me throughout these many years… I‘ve had many ‘conversion experiences’ (deepening of the Faith). Two stand out the most:

My involvement in the Charismatic Renewal, where I really got to know Him…and I thank Him so very much for those years…

Next, moving on through the years and about 4 years ago I experienced Him in a way I never had… I had an accident that left me somewhat incapacitated and I started to read…and Oh did I read! Books on the history of the Church, Sacraments, apologists, St. José Maria Escriva`, you name it.
I ‘happened’ on an old book on famous apologists, which included the life of St. Paul, Chesterton, St. Augustine and a few others, which I can’t remember just now. It was when I read the life of St. Augustine that I ‘became on fire’ as it were. It was the famous “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee, O Lord” that drew me in since that was what I had written on my husband’s tombstone…(I really know where it came from, I just liked it).

When I came to the part where he finally was won over…it was the Scripture verse from Romans: 13, 13… That did it for me as well… I love You Holy Spirit and I’m lovin’ the Journey! Amen:bowdown2: