Woman Injured While 'Resting in the Spirit'

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GEddie said:
All I know is, when I was the “subject” in a service of this type, the person doing the “praying” was leaning hard into me, as though to cause me to fall back. Then when I didn’t let my body fall back, they said I was resisting the Spirit.

I know some will vehemently disagree, and that is fine. But there is nothing natural about the human body toppling over like a tree, as I have seen, and nothing at all in the faith concerning falling down or going unconscious;** these “services” need a good theological examination**, IMNAAHO.
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They do. When I’ve seen them on TV, they look really OTT and as if the people are being pushed. However, if they feel the need to push them over, why do something which you don’t believe in?

Everyone should have a green scapular- no falling over required. In fact, the only way I know that I’m cured is that I wake up every morning after a full-night’s sleep 😃
 
GEddie said:
All I know is, when I was the “subject” in a service of this type, the person doing the “praying” was leaning hard into me, as though to cause me to fall back. Then when I didn’t let my body fall back, they said I was resisting the Spirit.

I know some will vehemently disagree, and that is fine. But there is nothing natural about the human body toppling over like a tree, as I have seen, and nothing at all in the faith concerning falling down or going unconscious; these “services” need a good theological examination, IMNAAHO.
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I would say that the reason you and I have different viewpoints here is that our experiences have been different. If I’d gone to a service where the person doing the praying was leaning hard into me and then publicly judging me when I didn’t fall as they appeared to have wished me to, I also would have literally considered that person “pushy.”

Not all healing ministries are created equal. You have to be able to know and trust that the people behind them are in union with the Catholic Church, and not operating from a basis of pride, personal ego, the cult of personality, etc.

Again, at the healing services I’ve attended, falling down was not mandatory. People were respected, attentiveness was shown to the gravely ill. Prayer was the important thing, and Sr. Monica stressed the importance of Jesus Christ as the Divine Physician and the Mass and Sacraments as the source and greatest forms of healing. She would make a point of specially thanking the priest after Mass and having us pray for the priest.

I would agree with you that some of these “services” you and I would do well to be leery of.
 
was her falling over an Act of God? If, so, she has no grounds to sue. Who exactly was John’s catcher? Rev 1.

frankly, I find is to be just plain funny.
 
Barbkw said:
Where does it say that people will automatically fall over backward upon believing they have been healed by the Holy Spirit?

What a nut :hypno:

Does she fall over backwards upon receiving a flu shot?

Over backward swallowing cough medicine?
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I suggest your a little out of your element unless you’ve been attending a few of these ‘healing masses’ and know about the ‘charismatic movement’ within the church.

I have been a catcher at some of these and felt a bit overwhelmed at catching some of these people…they are heavy, I’m male 6 feet , 170lbs… I sometimes wonder
whether the Holy Spirit would cause some people to fall if I was not there on time to catch them. Other issues include people making themselves tipsy so that a small touch to the head pushes them over and the Spirit is not really responsible. Another issue is the priest trying to tip people over.
Last time the priest was pushing on me trying to tip me over and I am working at keeping my balance unless the Holy Spirit takes it away from me.

I am part of a prayer group that organizes these Charismatic Healing Masses, I think I will be bringing this issue to the group leader. Nobody needs these injuries or lawsuits.
 
**"Pray for the conversion of this ignorant & greedy woman!

Anyone who sues over “resting in the spirit” is just another money hungry Judas!

Thank God Jesus doesn’t sue each one of us for being liars!!!**"

As somebody who has been involved in the Charismatic Renewal for 10 1/2 years, I am deeply saddened by this. I have not only been a catcher, not only rested in the spirit - too many times to count - I have prayed over many people who have rested in the Spirit.

I do not know if the woman was greedy or ignorant or what happened. She claims that protocols were not being followed: and if so, I am not surprised. People fall and fall hard. From what I can tell, if this is true, she is right in suing if she is injured, because charismatics need to be very careful about this - and I think the Church is going to have to do so discerning regarding the experience of resting in the Spirit, which I have many questions about.

I know anti-charismatics are going to make hay with this. And I guess they should.

I think what you are saying, calling her a “Judas” without knowing the facts, is wrong. There should be a protocol to avoid this. And it should be followed.

One thing to prevent this from happening again is good training and preparation of everyone involved - as well as common sense. Doing something that causes a person to fall backward off a stage - whether or not “resting in the Spirit” is a valid spiritual experience - is quite simply stupid. Saying stuff like “God will protect us” is nice and pious, but in reality, God gave us an intellect to think things through. And I think that the Magisterium of the Church is going to eventually need to do some discernment regarding aspects of the Charismatic Renewal.

Admittedly, I am a reluctant charismatic, personally. The charismatic renewal is a vehicle which has done amazing things in my life. I know a lot of people touched and changed for the better in the renewal. I also know of people who have been spiritually hurt. Charismatics don’t have a monopoly on the Person of the Holy Ghost, nor on either His sanctifying or charismatic gifts. And many charismatics need to spiritually grow up. I have a love for the Extraordinary Form of the Eucharist, and only am in the renewal because I feel this is where God wants me - for now.

I think we need to pray for the woman, the Archdiocese, and the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Ad-hominem attacks won’t solve this problem. In fact, they make us as charismatics look spiritually immature. *We share a responsibility *in the sense that we are together as a lay movement.

God bless,
Peter Rowe
 
Thyme said:
What do you all think of these miracle healing services? Do you think people push people over, or they fall over because they feel they should?
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As somebody who has prayed over individuals who rested in the Spirit, and who has been pushed, and a been a “catcher,” I don’t think you can quantify what causes people to fall. There are people who seem to me to have a genuine gift, and people fall without pushing. I have prayed over people who “rested” without being touched. I have prayed over people who don’t fall over, but who essentially have the same thing as those who fall over happen to them, I have prayed over people who rest sitting down. In the Archdiocese I am in (San Antonio) the practice of pushing people down is frowned upon by the Charismatic leadership - we are admonished to never do it.

Even when people do rest without being pushed, I think sometimes there may be an element of suggestion to it. I do not have the theological or psychological training to make a determination of the cause of people resting. I do know people who have had amazing experiences resting in the Spirit. I know people who have been pushed over. I don’t think every single thing in the Charismatic Renewal is the work of the Holy Spirit, but I also do not like individuals rejecting everything charismatic because of some abuses.

God bless,
Peter Rowe
 
Thyme said:
What do you all think of these miracle healing services? Do you think people push people over, or they fall over because they feel they should?
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I’ve been to them and discernment tells me that most times people get caught up in their own emotions, rather than anything the Spirit is doing.

C’mon, folks…do you really believe that a true fruit of the Spirit could cause bodily harm?
 
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