Your Experience with "Baptism in the Holy Spirit"

[po18guy]

I received the (small b) baptism in the Holy Spirit within the context of a “Life in the Spirit” seminar at our parish some years back. Our priest at that time was a charismatic, who believes that all that is good and holy on earth occurs via the action of the Holy Spirit (true). He also believes that each of us received a gift, or gifts (charisms) at our sacramental Baptism and Confirmation. As stated, it is not a Sacrament, but rather, a prayer experience. It is similar in concept to an epiclesis (a calling down), but is intended to release the use of the charisms that we already possess.

I had been reluctant to attend, but was urged to by my wife. When the time came for our Priest to lay hands on us, I made the decision to be docile to the Holy Spirit, asking Him to do with me as He willed. I stopped caring about how I appeared to those around me. Two men from the parish stood by as Father laid hands on my head and prayed over me. Suddenly, an intense experience of spiritual, and then corporal peace came over me. Total relaxation. Naturally, gravity took over when my muscles relaxed and the two men caught me and laid me on the floor.

I lay on the floor for quite some time, with various sensations running through me. As I recall, my breathing was irregular. It was an intense experience. Yet, what began to happen after this experience was even more intense. I noticed that I had lost my fear of speaking of my faith. I was drawn to the Holy Eucharist - both at mass, and outside of mass at adoration. My prayer life was profoundly deepened. I experienced what could be termed as miracles during prayer before our lLord in the Blessed Sacrament. I began evangelizing. There has been no looking back.

Yet, each experience will be different, according to what the Lord intends for each of us. A caution: for some reason, this experience is controversial. It is especially controversial among those who have no experience with it. I may be off-base here, but I believe that some spirit motivates them to oppose it, while I believe that others are simply fearful of it. I strongly urge you to listen only to those who have actual experience, as seemingly everyone pipes up with their opinion. Listen to the voices of experience, and speak to those in the movement - but the best information is received from Charismatic Priests themselves.

This experience is intended to help you realize your full spiritual potential. It draws you into humble submission to the Holy Spirit, and adds, rather than detracts, from your faith life. Does it need to be monitored by the Church? Even the mass is monitored for abuses, so, yes (CCC801). As our Lord said, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). Examine the fruits of what you have received. If it draws you deeper into your relationship with God; if it causes you to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus, then it is genuine. If it causes you to seek the experience solely for the sake of the experience, it is your ego leading you. Test the spirits, as John advises us in 1 John 4:1.

Here is the most important aspect of this, as I see it: at our Baptism and Confirmation, we receive, by the Holy Spirit, a gift or gifts. Those gifts are to be used for the building up of the Church (CCC951). Compare the use of these gifts to the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30). When we are called to judgment, we will give account of what we did with the gifts which God freely gave us. We do not want to answer back that we were afraid to use it.

Charisms are spoken of in catechism sections 688, 799-801, 951, 1503, and 2003.

And, no, I have never spoken a single word in a “tongue.”

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I’ve been gifted with rebirth in the spirit and am currently in the process of enjoying life immensely as a result.

I’ve had a few major helps along the way; like a prophecy about me at a large charismatic conference in Wichita in 1994, going to a non-Catholic church and given after the service the “gift of tongues” once in 2000. And I’ve been anointed with oil by Catholic priest. Yes, and I’ve been confirmed, but how about transformed?

I am not impressed by a claim of being born of the spirit unless it’s accompanied by a renewal of heart and mind by the Divine Therapist, aka the Holy Spirit. When that happens, we know everything else was just in commemoration for it. And it shows. It’s like getting a certificate of participation. You can be confirmed but if you don’t renounce your “self” (think “false self” or “ego”) the way Jesus says you must, you’re not going to be truly spirit-renewed.

Alan

 

[ltwin]

I grew up in a Pentecostal church so all of this is just normal for me. I had a born again experience when I was about 10 years old. A few years later I was baptized with the Holy Spirit at the same altar where I gave my heart to Jesus.

It happened during a Sunday night service. It was an extremely intense encounter with God. I was surrounded by my mom, dad, and my aunt, and my grandfather who were praying for me and encouraging me along the way. So not only was it a very personal experience it was also an important event for my family.

I think about now, and it felt like infinity was being smushed altogether into my finite existence. It was not a scary thing, but it was very humbling as I felt so close to God at that moment and yet I was aware of how far I had fallen short of his glory. I was crying alot and shaking. The whole time I was just talking to God and pouring out my heart to him. I told him how much I loved him and how I longed to fulfill his will for my life whatever it may be. Someone whispered in my ear to lift up my head and start to praise God. Just say whatever came out of my mouth. So that is what I did. I just began to speak what was in my heart and then I began to speak in words that I didnt know or understand.

Once I started I couldn’t stop. The words just kept coming out of me. The Bible talks about out of our bellies will flow rivers of living water. That is what it felt like. It came from the gut and flowed out like living water.

I still pray and sing in tongues on a daily bases. I was never the same after that night.

 

[Neil_Anthony]

I grew up in a Pentecostal church so all of this is just normal for me. I had a born again experience when I was about 10 years old. A few years later I was baptized with the Holy Spirit at the same altar where I gave my heart to Jesus.

It happened during a Sunday night service. It was an extremely intense encounter with God. I was surrounded by my mom, dad, and my aunt, and my grandfather who were praying for me and encouraging me along the way. So not only was it a very personal experience it was also an important event for my family.

I think about now, and it felt like infinity was being smushed altogether into my finite existence. It was not a scary thing, but it was very humbling as I felt so close to God at that moment and yet I was aware of how far I had fallen short of his glory. I was crying alot and shaking. The whole time I was just talking to God and pouring out my heart to him. I told him how much I loved him and how I longed to fulfill his will for my life whatever it may be. Someone whispered in my ear to lift up my head and start to praise God. Just say whatever came out of my mouth. So that is what I did. I just began to speak what was in my heart and then I began to speak in words that I didnt know or understand.

Once I started I couldn’t stop. The words just kept coming out of me. The Bible talks about out of our bellies will flow rivers of living water. That is what it felt like. It came from the gut and flowed out like living water.

I still pray and sing in tongues on a daily bases. I was never the same after that night.

Thanks very much for your testimony!

I get the feeling that some people on here think these things shouldn’t be talked about, that perhaps they have no value or are even something prideful to talk about. But it seems to me that these experiences are what gives us the right to say that we know God exists, and that it allows us to speak about a real encounter with God when we witness to others. Even if, like in my case, the encounter didn’t result in me doing wonderful things for other people, it gave me hope, and why wouldn’t I want to share with others how great our God is who gave me hope when I needed it?

 

[Samson01]

Thanks very much for your testimony!

I get the feeling that some people on here think these things shouldn’t be talked about, that perhaps they have no value or are even something prideful to talk about. But it seems to me that these experiences are what gives us the right to say that we know God exists, and that it allows us to speak about a real encounter with God when we witness to others. Even if, like in my case, the encounter didn’t result in me doing wonderful things for other people, it gave me hope, and why wouldn’t I want to share with others how great our God is who gave me hope when I needed it?

:clapping:

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Thanks very much for your testimony!

I get the feeling that some people on here think these things shouldn’t be talked about, that perhaps they have no value or are even something prideful to talk about. But it seems to me that these experiences are what gives us the right to say that we know God exists, and that it allows us to speak about a real encounter with God when we witness to others. Even if, like in my case, the encounter didn’t result in me doing wonderful things for other people, it gave me hope, and why wouldn’t I want to share with others how great our God is who gave me hope when I needed it?

First, there is the charismatic v non-charismatic viewpoint toward the Holy Spirit.

I’ve had officials running the church tell me please do not talk to them about the Holy Spirit because it’s too scary for them. Mature Catholics. They can relate to Jesus because He was a man, and they can relate to God because they understand being a servant (although Jesus told us we weren’t servants but I digress) but they can’t understand the Holy Spirit because, like the wind, they can only sense its presence. Problem is, we are trained to make decisions about our behavior based on rules and calculations. The Holy Spirit doesn’t need all that because He is attached to the part of us made in the image of God, which is our True Self on which the living law is written and once activated, supercedes and fulfilles the old law all at the same time.

But people look at me like I’m Casper or something when I mention anything about the Holy Spirit except in ritual or “expected” times. You don’t just go around hanging with the Spirit like He was a buddy. Well, that’s pretty much what Jesus told us His whole point of view and since the Holy Spirit IS the Spirit of Jesus Himself, then it behooves us to listen to what that spirit is telling us from our hearts – to at least supplement our intellectual endeavors at discovering truth.

Alan

 

[Luvtosew]

Well I for one believe yous, I would do it if I had a Church nearby , I don’t I checked. I do ask God everyday to strenghten my Holy Spirit and give me a double dose as I need wisdom and comfort, I do believe it works as I feel him in me, its like hes always there.

 

[brb3]

Could someone please explain the difference between baptism in the Holy Spirit and the Sacraments of baptism and confirmation? Is this something “extra” you can do to possibly receive the “gifts of the Holy Spirit”? I thought we already receive the Holy Spirit through regular baptism??

Christians need two transformational events. Christ taught this in the Gospels, and Peter re-stated this @ Pentecost, at the first Sermon he gave, upon the birth of the Church. We must receive water Baptism & spiritual Baptism.

I had Protestant Trinitarian water immersion Baptism @ age 10. I understood what I was doing. I had answered an altar call, but had not ‘publically’ professed Christ … other than walking the aisle and shaking Minister’s hand and telling him I wanted to ‘join the Church & be Baptized’. A month or so later I was Baptized … but nothing dramatic happened. I never felt ‘changed’ inside … and my life never reflected any change. For the next 8 years I had a ‘theorectical’ faith … based on scriptural teachings. If I had been infused with the H.S. … I wasn’t aware of. I had no idea what the H.S. was. I’d ask my church teachers “what is this H.S. all about that I read of in scripture” ? No one could explain the H.S. to me. Some would say “Oh that refers to the special gift the Apostolic Church had received. They spoke in tongues via the spirit, but that stopped a few decades thereafter”. I was led to believe the H.S. was a mystery, and not present to the modern church … as it had been in the first century. So, I and my church friends concentrated on Christ and the Father … we had no answers on the H.S.

At age 18, I had a two Christian disciples drop by my residence, to inquire if I was Christian. They asked me if I knew Christ as my ‘personal’ savior. I was stunned !! My mind was set on edge. The audacity of someone to ask if I ‘personally knew’ Christ !! How was this possible ? I knew of Christ, I knew the historical Christ … but, I had never, ever had a prayer answered. I had never felt Christ had ‘personally’ affected my life in tangible ways. So, I told them what I did know …that I had been baptized, had fully confessed sins, attended church on regular basis … and looked forward to the Second Coming of Christ, believing I would be saved like all the others in my church. They asked if I knew Christ via the Holy Spirit. I had no answer, I hadn’t a clue what they were talking about.

I asked them to come in and I told them what I did know … my theory about God & Christ. It took me all of 3-4 minutes to give my ‘theoretical’ testimony. They knew I was clueless on my understanding of scriptures … and for the next hour they expounded on the scriptures … explaining the Gospel, Justification, Sanctification, and the Holy Spirit. I was convicted of my ignorance and my eyes were openned to the Truth in scriptures. After praying the sinner’s prayer, asking Christ to adopt me into God’s Family, and promising to commit my life to God fully … the 3 of us prayed together and they layed hands on me invoking God’s spirit to enter me. And, BAM !! I was overpowered with the presence of God, and knew the Supernatural Godhead was placing grace within me.

I immediately experienced Christ in a personal way, for first time in my life. I felt completely clean of sin, for first time in my life, I felt the most awesome love I had ever experienced. I felt the friendship of God within me, I desired to praise God and testify to Christ … to my best friends. People who knew me were blown away. I was not the guy they had known the day before. I could now read the scriptures with the aid of the Holy Spirit … and now recognized the Holy Spirit’s presence within scripture. I was on a spiritual high, that overcame all my former problems/fears. I had spiritual strength I’d never known before.

I know Protestants don’t teach/preach Confirmation as a Sacrament … but, I was Confirmed that night !!! Not by the ordinary sacramental means, for I was outside the Catholic Church, but … God annointed me by ‘extraordinary’ means. I’m convinced that the annointing of hands conveyed God’s spirit upon me that night. That’s when I experienced God’s presence ‘infuse’ me. I never spoke in tongues, and probably never will … but, I experienced the Holy Spirit in such a powerful way, that I was SEALED / ILLUMINATED w/o a doubt. I just was filled by gratitude to God, and praised Him with my mind & soul thru words/prayers. I have never, ever, doubted that illumination event since. It was the most remarkable event in my life. Nothing compares to the power and love I felt on that occasion, and it didn’t evaporate. God’s abiding presence lasted for days, weeks, years thereafter. It was beyond any Earthly reality … only God’s supernatural power could of changed me so dramatically.

So, … my Baptism in Water didn’t seal me. God desired to wait 8 more years, and seal/illuminate me on another occasion. Many years later, when I entered the Catholic Church as adult, made Confession, and was Confirmed by Priest … it was very moving experience. But, having been sealed earlier in my life … I didn’t feel the same dramatic grace I had received back at age 18. I suppose, because we can only be Baptised once [in water], and Confirmed once [in the Holy Spirit]. God knows how to convince us of his TRUE PRESENCE !! We receive the FULL blessing He can confer upon us … so as to make us soldiers in the faith, who can testify to his glory. He signs/seals/delivers us into His Church Militant … on our Second Baptism, by Fire !!!

 

[Luvtosew]

How wonderful, in the book of wisdom Solomon talks about the HS.

 

[po18guy]

First, there is the charismatic v non-charismatic viewpoint toward the Holy Spirit.

I’ve had officials running the church tell me please do not talk to them about the Holy Spirit because it’s too scary for them. Mature Catholics. They can relate to Jesus because He was a man, and they can relate to God because they understand being a servant (although Jesus told us we weren’t servants but I digress) but they can’t understand the Holy Spirit because, like the wind, they can only sense its presence. Problem is, we are trained to make decisions about our behavior based on rules and calculations. The Holy Spirit doesn’t need all that because He is attached to the part of us made in the image of God, which is our True Self on which the living law is written and once activated, supercedes and fulfilles the old law all at the same time.

But people look at me like I’m Casper or something when I mention anything about the Holy Spirit except in ritual or “expected” times. You don’t just go around hanging with the Spirit like He was a buddy. Well, that’s pretty much what Jesus told us His whole point of view and since the Holy Spirit IS the Spirit of Jesus Himself, then it behooves us to listen to what that spirit is telling us from our hearts – to at least supplement our intellectual endeavors at discovering truth.

Alan

What some may forget is that the Holy Spirit is the animating force behind all good that is accomplished on this earth. I agree with you that certain Catholics have almost a palpable fear of all things related to the Spirit. Yet, we are temples of the Holy Spirit. Why the fear? Without the Spirit, our faith, our Church, is dead.

 

[Dorothy]

I had an experience which is somewhat like the descriptions of Baptism in the Holy Spirit, as described in this thread. It was not part of a retreat, no one prayed over me and I did not faint or fall backwards or whatever is supposed to happen to you. It was something profound but completely interior. Only one other person realised what was going on. To the rest of the world, I didn’t look or act any different. So I dunno whether that was actual Baptism in the Holy Spirit…

I believe what you just described is a “baptism in the Holy Spirit”, which we can call also an illumination from the Holy Spirit that may be a cause of physical, emotional, and/or spiritual healing, and profoundly affects our relationship with the Lord.

It is not a Sacrament, but a great help of the Holy Spirit. It can happen more than once as we cooperate with the Lord through prayer, practice of virtue, and the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation.

The saints did not have to make a “Life in the Spirit Seminar” as they were already well into their journey to union with Christ, and were already manifesting the charisms of the Holy Spirit. And, thanks to the grace of God, many saints became holy after turning away from a life of sin.

 

[Justicia_et_Pax]

I believe what you just described is a “baptism in the Holy Spirit”, which we can call also an illumination from the Holy Spirit that may be a cause of physical, emotional, and/or spiritual healing, and profoundly affects our relationship with the Lord.

It is not a Sacrament, but a great help of the Holy Spirit. It can happen more than once as we cooperate with the Lord through prayer, practice of virtue, and the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation.

The saints did not have to make a “Life in the Spirit Seminar” as they were already well into their journey to union with Christ, and were already manifesting the charisms of the Holy Spirit. And, thanks to the grace of God, many saints became holy after turning away from a life of sin.

Thanks for replying to my post. I’ve long been struggling to put a name to what happened. I told my confessor about it and some other experiences I’ve had and he talked about me being called to mystical prayer, etc, but didn’t tell me what had happened, as such. Very interested to hear your thoughts: thank you. And a very good point about the saints I am no saint though

 

[Dorothy]

Thanks for replying to my post. I’ve long been struggling to put a name to what happened. I told my confessor about it and some other experiences I’ve had and he talked about me being called to mystical prayer, etc, but didn’t tell me what had happened, as such. Very interested to hear your thoughts: thank you. And a very good point about the saints I am no saint though

Thank you for your response. By the way, we are all called to be saints…the grace is available!

 

[Neil_Anthony]

Christians need two transformational events. Christ taught this in the Gospels, and Peter re-stated this @ Pentecost, at the first Sermon he gave, upon the birth of the Church. We must receive water Baptism & spiritual Baptism.

I had Protestant Trinitarian water immersion Baptism @ age 10. I understood what I was doing. I had answered an altar call, but had not ‘publically’ professed Christ … other than walking the aisle and shaking Minister’s hand and telling him I wanted to ‘join the Church & be Baptized’. A month or so later I was Baptized … but nothing dramatic happened. I never felt ‘changed’ inside … and my life never reflected any change. For the next 8 years I had a ‘theorectical’ faith … based on scriptural teachings. If I had been infused with the H.S. … I wasn’t aware of. I had no idea what the H.S. was. I’d ask my church teachers “what is this H.S. all about that I read of in scripture” ? No one could explain the H.S. to me. Some would say “Oh that refers to the special gift the Apostolic Church had received. They spoke in tongues via the spirit, but that stopped a few decades thereafter”. I was led to believe the H.S. was a mystery, and not present to the modern church … as it had been in the first century. So, I and my church friends concentrated on Christ and the Father … we had no answers on the H.S.

At age 18, I had a two Christian disciples drop by my residence, to inquire if I was Christian. They asked me if I knew Christ as my ‘personal’ savior. I was stunned !! My mind was set on edge. The audacity of someone to ask if I ‘personally knew’ Christ !! How was this possible ? I knew of Christ, I knew the historical Christ … but, I had never, ever had a prayer answered. I had never felt Christ had ‘personally’ affected my life in tangible ways. So, I told them what I did know …that I had been baptized, had fully confessed sins, attended church on regular basis … and looked forward to the Second Coming of Christ, believing I would be saved like all the others in my church. They asked if I knew Christ via the Holy Spirit. I had no answer, I hadn’t a clue what they were talking about.

I asked them to come in and I told them what I did know … my theory about God & Christ. It took me all of 3-4 minutes to give my ‘theoretical’ testimony. They knew I was clueless on my understanding of scriptures … and for the next hour they expounded on the scriptures … explaining the Gospel, Justification, Sanctification, and the Holy Spirit. I was convicted of my ignorance and my eyes were openned to the Truth in scriptures. After praying the sinner’s prayer, asking Christ to adopt me into God’s Family, and promising to commit my life to God fully … the 3 of us prayed together and they layed hands on me invoking God’s spirit to enter me. And, BAM !! I was overpowered with the presence of God, and knew the Supernatural Godhead was placing grace within me.

I immediately experienced Christ in a personal way, for first time in my life. I felt completely clean of sin, for first time in my life, I felt the most awesome love I had ever experienced. I felt the friendship of God within me, I desired to praise God and testify to Christ … to my best friends. People who knew me were blown away. I was not the guy they had known the day before. I could now read the scriptures with the aid of the Holy Spirit … and now recognized the Holy Spirit’s presence within scripture. I was on a spiritual high, that overcame all my former problems/fears. I had spiritual strength I’d never known before.

I know Protestants don’t teach/preach Confirmation as a Sacrament … but, I was Confirmed that night !!! Not by the ordinary sacramental means, for I was outside the Catholic Church, but … God annointed me by ‘extraordinary’ means. I’m convinced that the annointing of hands conveyed God’s spirit upon me that night. That’s when I experienced God’s presence ‘infuse’ me. I never spoke in tongues, and probably never will … but, I experienced the Holy Spirit in such a powerful way, that I was SEALED / ILLUMINATED w/o a doubt. I just was filled by gratitude to God, and praised Him with my mind & soul thru words/prayers. I have never, ever, doubted that illumination event since. It was the most remarkable event in my life. Nothing compares to the power and love I felt on that occasion, and it didn’t evaporate. God’s abiding presence lasted for days, weeks, years thereafter. It was beyond any Earthly reality … only God’s supernatural power could of changed me so dramatically.

So, … my Baptism in Water didn’t seal me. God desired to wait 8 more years, and seal/illuminate me on another occasion. Many years later, when I entered the Catholic Church as adult, made Confession, and was Confirmed by Priest … it was very moving experience. But, having been sealed earlier in my life … I didn’t feel the same dramatic grace I had received back at age 18. I suppose, because we can only be Baptised once [in water], and Confirmed once [in the Holy Spirit]. God knows how to convince us of his TRUE PRESENCE !! We receive the FULL blessing He can confer upon us … so as to make us soldiers in the faith, who can testify to his glory. He signs/seals/delivers us into His Church Militant … on our Second Baptism, by Fire !!!

Thank you for your testimony! I enjoyed reading it. That must have been wonderful. Praise God!

 

[SonCatcher]

Christians need two transformational events. Christ taught this in the Gospels, and Peter re-stated this @ Pentecost, at the first Sermon he gave, upon the birth of the Church. We must receive water Baptism & spiritual Baptism…