Charismatic Renewal: 'a current of grace'
Monday, September 15, 2014
Msgr. James F. Fetscher
A parishioner recently called my attention to excerpts of a talk Pope Francis gave in June at the 37th National Convocation of the Charismatic Renewal. Almost 53,000 people came from 55 countries, so it was a broad group of folk. I’ve read it a half dozen times and each time something new hits me. Here’s part of it.
“You were born of the will of the Spirit as ‘a current of grace in the Church and for the Church.’ This is your definition: a current of grace…
ANNUAL CONVENTION THIS WEEKEND
The archdiocese’s annual Catholic Charismatic Conference (for English speakers) will take place this weekend, Sept. 19, 20 and 21, at the Bonaventure Resort and Spa, 250 Racquet Club Road, Weston.
The conference will begin Friday at 7 p.m. and conclude Sunday at noon. Registration is $45/person at the door. Teens attend for free. The conference is open to anyone seeking a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and baptism in the Holy Spirit. It will feature praise and worship with live music, Spirit-filled teachings, and individual prayer.
For more information, go to www.miamiccr.com; call 954-961-1856; or email [email protected].
The archdiocese’s annual Catholic Charismatic Conference (for English speakers) will take place this weekend, Sept. 19, 20 and 21, at the Bonaventure Resort and Spa, 250 Racquet Club Road, Weston.
For more information, go to www.miamiccr.com; call 954-961-1856; or email [email protected].
“You have received the great gift of diversity of charisms, diversity that leads to the harmony of the Holy Spirit, to the service of the Church…
“Charismatic Renewal is a great force at the service of the proclamation of the Gospel, in the joy of the Holy Spirit…
“I have been asked to tell the Renewal what the Pope expects from you. The first thing is conversion to the love of Jesus, which changes life and makes of the Christian a witness of the love of God. The Church expects this witness of Christian life, and the Holy Spirit helps us to live the coherence of the Gospel for our holiness.
“I expect from you that you share with all in the Church the grace of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (an expression that is read in the Acts of the Apostles).
“I expect that you give witness of spiritual ecumenism with all those brothers and sisters of other churches and Christian communities who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
“(I expect) that you remain united in the love that the Lord Jesus asks of us for all men, and in prayer to the Holy Spirit to come to this unity, necessary for evangelization in the name of Jesus.
“Remember that ‘the Charismatic Renewal is by its very nature ecumenical… The Catholic renewal rejoices over what the Holy Spirit is accomplishing in the other churches.’ (1 Malines 5, 3)
“Be close to the poor, the needy, to touch in their flesh the flesh of Jesus. Be close, please! …
“Brothers and sisters, remember: adore the Lord God; this is the foundation! To adore God. Seek sanctity in the new life of the Holy Spirit…”
Many years ago, when the Charismatic Renewal was getting off the ground, I remember a comment that Cardinal Leo Suenens made. He said, as a movement, the Charismatic Renewal might pass away, but that if it did it would be because its principles became part of the mainstream life of the Church.
I think that has happened in many ways, and the comments of Pope Francis bear that out.
One benefit of hanging around as long as some of us have is seeing the growth and change within our Church and remembering with gladness people like St. John XXIII and Cardinal Suenens and their work, now bearing fruit in Pope Francis’ own reflections.
Read the quote again if you have made it this far. It’s worth it.
“Charismatic Renewal is a great force at the service of the proclamation of the Gospel, in the joy of the Holy Spirit…
“I have been asked to tell the Renewal what the Pope expects from you. The first thing is conversion to the love of Jesus, which changes life and makes of the Christian a witness of the love of God. The Church expects this witness of Christian life, and the Holy Spirit helps us to live the coherence of the Gospel for our holiness.
“I expect from you that you share with all in the Church the grace of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (an expression that is read in the Acts of the Apostles).
“I expect that you give witness of spiritual ecumenism with all those brothers and sisters of other churches and Christian communities who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
“(I expect) that you remain united in the love that the Lord Jesus asks of us for all men, and in prayer to the Holy Spirit to come to this unity, necessary for evangelization in the name of Jesus.
“Remember that ‘the Charismatic Renewal is by its very nature ecumenical… The Catholic renewal rejoices over what the Holy Spirit is accomplishing in the other churches.’ (1 Malines 5, 3)
“Be close to the poor, the needy, to touch in their flesh the flesh of Jesus. Be close, please! …
“Brothers and sisters, remember: adore the Lord God; this is the foundation! To adore God. Seek sanctity in the new life of the Holy Spirit…”
Many years ago, when the Charismatic Renewal was getting off the ground, I remember a comment that Cardinal Leo Suenens made. He said, as a movement, the Charismatic Renewal might pass away, but that if it did it would be because its principles became part of the mainstream life of the Church.
I think that has happened in many ways, and the comments of Pope Francis bear that out.
One benefit of hanging around as long as some of us have is seeing the growth and change within our Church and remembering with gladness people like St. John XXIII and Cardinal Suenens and their work, now bearing fruit in Pope Francis’ own reflections.
Read the quote again if you have made it this far. It’s worth it.
This blog is adapted from Msgr. Fetscher's weekly Twilight Twitches to his parishioners at St. Sebastian Church in Fort Lauderdale.
Comments from readers
He doesn't forward personal notes to the office any more. Don't you feel blessed?
Sal