QUESTIONS TO THE ICCRS DOCTRINAL COMMISSION  THIS QUESTION WAS PUBLISHED ON THE ICCRS LEADERSHIP FORMATION MARCH – APRIL 2010

Is Baptism in the Spirit for everyone?
To answer this question, let us first look at what is meant by baptism in the Spirit. As generally understood in the Charismatic Renewal, baptism in the Spirit refers to a life-transforming experience of the reality and presence of the risen Lord Jesus and of the Holy Spirit and his gifts. It is not a sacrament itself but a coming to life of the fundamental graces of the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. It enables the power and efficacy of these sacraments to come to fruition in a new way, resulting in a new empowerment for service and evangelization. Many in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal are convinced that this grace is for every member of the Church. Others are hesitant before such a claim, pointing out that the CCR is only one of many new ecclesial movements in the Church, each having its own distinct charisms. In fact, important truths are expressed in both of these positions. On the one hand, baptism in the Spirit is indeed a grace meant for every baptized Christian. One of the strongest affirmations of the universality of this gift was made by Pope Benedict XVI in his Regina Caeli address on Pentecost Sunday, 2008, when he said, “Today I would like to extend this invitation to everyone: Let us rediscover, dear brothers and sisters, the beauty of being baptized in the Holy Spirit; let us be aware again of our baptism and our confirmation, sources of grace that are always present. Let us ask the Virgin Mary to obtain a renewed Pentecost for the Church again today, a Pentecost that will spread in everyone the joy of living and witnessing to the Gospel” (emphasis added). The Holy Father explained that the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost was “the crowning moment of Jesus’ whole mission,” the gift that he died and rose to give us. On another occasion, the pope stated that “Christ’s entire mission is summed up in this: to baptize us in the Holy Spirit, to free us from the slavery of death and ‘to open heaven to us’.”1 Certainly it cannot be assumed that Pope Benedict was using the biblical phrase “baptize in the Holy Spirit” in exactly the same way as the Charismatic Renewal uses it today. Yet clearly he is calling for a renewal of the graces of baptism and confirmation in a way that is directly linked to the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. Moreover, he is well aware of the use of this term in the Renewal for the grace that has transformed the lives of so many millions of Christians. Thus the CCR is in one sense the bearer of a grace that belongs to the whole Church and is meant for the renewal of the whole Church. At the same time, however, it must be recognized that the CCR is also a specific movement in the Church with its own distinctive spirituality, structures, forms of prayer, and patterns of Christian life. The CCR was raised up by God to treasure and foster the grace of baptism in the Spirit in a particular way, but it is not the only way of responding to this grace. In his apostolic letter Christifideles Laici, Pope John Paul II exhorted the faithful to esteem the various charisms expressed in different ecclesial movements: “All of us, Pastors and lay faithful, have the duty to promote and nourish stronger bonds and mutual esteem, cordiality and collaboration among the various forms of lay associations. Only in this way can the richness of the gifts and charisms that the Lord offers us bear their fruitful contribution in building the common house” (31). This twofold reality also applies to particular charisms that are exercised in the Renewal. For example, are prophecy and healing for the whole Church? In the sense that these are basic endowments of the Church, the answer is yes; they belonged to the ministry of Jesus and were part of what he passed on to the Church through the Twelve (see Mt 10:7-8; Mk 16:15-18; 1Cor 14:1). However, the particular forms that these gifts take in various times and settings cannot be made mandatory for any person or group. The forms for the exercise of these gifts found in the CCR are particular expressions that should not be seen as the norm for everyone. 1 Benedict XVI, Angelus Address, January 13, 2008. Sometimes leaders in CCR state that our goal should be to disappear into the Church, as the whole Church becomes renewed. This is a worthy aim, but at the same time it must be kept in mind that the goal of renewing the Church will not be fully realized until Christ comes in glory! As a movement within the Church, the CCR is called to live out the grace of baptism in the Spirit with a particular intensity so that we can be a continual leaven within the whole body of Christ as it moves through history.

Imeandikwa Na: IFM Fellowship Saa: 2:59 PM Katika:

QUESTIONS TO THE ICCRS DOCTRINAL COMMISSION  THIS QUESTION WAS PUBLISHED ON THE ICCRS LEADERSHIP BULLETIN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2014

 Is it possible to do a life in the Spirit seminar or retreat in one single day? In the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, the spiritual preparation that leads to the prayer for an outpouring or baptism in the Holy Spirit is called “Life in the Spirit Seminars” or “Seven weeks Seminar”, referring as such to the seven weeks of prayer and expectancy Jesus’ apostles and women - among whom Mary, lived from the Ascension until Pentecost. On the fifthtieth day, the Holy Spirit fell on them and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages as the Spirit gave them power to express themselves. (Ac 2, 4) The baptism in the Holy Spirit opens to the fullness of the Spirit, charisma and practice of those charisma, all given to serve the Body of Christ and work out the mission to evangelize as true and faithful witnesses of the redeemed Christ. At the end of the Second Vatican Council, the twenty-five students and teachers who took part on midFebruary in a retreat at the Duquesne University in the USA, had prepared themselves by praying daily to the Holy Spirit as well as studying the four last chapters of the Acts of Apostles. At the end of this week-end, they experienced in a tremendous way a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit as an answer to their deep prayer to God to deepen the grace of their baptism and their confirmation. There was the official birth of the CCR. Life in the Spirit Seminars lead all those who have been baptized but not evangelized to a personal encounter with Christ and to a new openness to the Holy Spirit. It is not only a matter of listening and receiving talks, but of living a deep conversion path, breaking with a sinner’s life, obtaining inner healing or liberation. Obviously the baptism in the Holy Spirit, such as it is being experienced at the end of one of these Seminars, may be given by God in his all powerfulness without one having explicitly followed a Life in the Spirit Seminar, for example on the occasion of a renewing of vows of consecrated life or even on the occasion of the Sacrament of Confirmation if its preparation stressed on the same themes as the Seminars. “The coming of the Holy Spirit does not depend on us. God pours out his Spirit when he wills.” The seven week Seminars develop the following themes: 1. God our Father is Love and he loves personally; 2. Jesus is your Savior; 3. Jesus is your Lord; 4. Become a disciple of Jesus, healed by his forgiveness, freed from all links and evil possession; 5. You will receive the Holy Spirit and you will be witnesses of the redeemed Christ. We have to discover anew the Father’s love, Jesus’ salvation and Lordship; to get ready to become Jesus disciple and witness in the Christian Community. It is only after this formation and conversion experience that comes the prayer for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. We cannot do all that in one single day. Nevertheless, it is possible, and we have experienced it many times in our prayer groups, to do the whole formation in only two weeks. In this case, after a personal interview with each participant and an introduction to the Seminars (2 days), the talks could take place over ten days and be concluded with the prayer for an outpouring and a sending out to mission (3 days). The 4th Seminar on the 6th day is vital because it speaks of forgiveness steps to take, inner healing and liberation. A true retreat to get ready for the baptism in the Holy Spirit cannot happen in only one day. If this outpouring is not well prepared, often times we see outpourings which will not bear the expected fruit, fruit of holiness, of a change in life, nor shall it bring authentic charisma to serve the Body of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Imeandikwa Na: IFM Fellowship Saa: 2:55 PM Katika:

UMEWAHI KUJIFUNZA JAMBO KUTOKA KWA BR PAUL LORD'SWILL? Annamaria Nzamba anatushirikisha mambo mazito hapa juu ya kuhubiri injili.... ~ IFM CCR

Kutoka kwenye somo la jumapili hii iliyopita aliyofundisha bro. Lordswill Paul niliguswa Sana. Conflict within a man. Unatamani kufanya hiki lakini kuna kitu kingine kinakuzuia na ndani yako unapambana... Akasema kuna watu hapa wangejua kama maisha yako hivi, yako mambo ambayo yalifanyika huko nyuma, wasingeyafanya kabisa....!

Haleluya! Tumsifu Yesu Kristu!
Ni kutokana na maneno hayo mimi nimesikia mzigo sana kushare haya machache... Namsihi Mungu aachilie pumzi Yake katika neno hili ili likawe hai kwa mtu fulani. Ili likabadilishe maisha ya mtu fulani.

Naongelea uaminifu. Wapendwa kutokuwa muaminifu kunachafua sana hali ya mtu. Usipokuwa muaminifu ni rahisi kutenda dhambi. Na dhambi ni mbaya kuliko unavyoweza kujua. Ni mbaya mno. Dhambi inakuchafua
Dhambi ina inakurudisha nyuma
Dhambi ina leta mapooza kiroho
Dhambi inakuondolea kibali
Dhambi inakukosesha baraka
Dhambi inakutenga na Mungu
Dhambi inaleta umauti
Dhambi ni kifo!

Ndugu yangu unafanya nini unapokuwa sirini? U muaminifu? Kama Mungu akiamua kuweka TV na kuonesha maisha yako yooote walau kwa mwezi huu tu, tangu unapoamka hadi unapoenda kulala kwa siku zote mwezi huu, utakuwa na ujasiri wa kiruhusu hilo?

Ningeweza kukuonesha athari za kukosa kwako uaminifu ningeshika akili yako na fikra na kila kitu mpaka uelewe. Maana athari zake ni kubwa mno ni nyingi mno. Unajua utakuwa wapi baada ya miaka mitano kwa mfano? Unajua mbele yako iko changamoto gani mpendwa? Sasa kwa nini usiweke hazina ya uaminifu sasa ili ije ikufae wakati wa dhiki yako? You need to be serious my dear. Ufalme wa Mungu unatawaliwa na wenye nguvu, walio serious na maisha, sio wazushi wazushi, sio waongo au wezi au wenye Mizaha sio wanafiki wala wazinzi sio wambea wala wapenda rushwa BALI wenye nguvu katika kulitafari neno la Mungu na kuliishi bila woga bila unafiki.

Itafika wakati utakutana na changamoto kubwa katika ndugu zako, labda unakuta kuna ugomvi mkubwa kwa ndugu wa ukoo ambao unakuathiri hata wewe, saa ngapi utaweza kupigania ushindi ndugu yangu na hali wewe hukujali wokovu wako?
Labda watoto wako watakuja kukamatwa na kitu cha ajabu sana huko mbele na wewe pamoja Na miaka yote hiyo ya kumtumikia Mungu huna nguvu hata kidogo kuweza kuwasaidia wanao na hapo labda unaishi vijijini huko. Kisa, wakati wa kukua kiroho wewe ulipuuza hukuzingatia ukakosa uaminifu....
Sikia Nikwambie, kuna malengo yako unayoyatamani hapo mbeleni labda kuwa muimbaji mkubwa, kuwa kiongozi wa taifa au kuwa na familia bora au vyovyote upendavyo.... Nakusihi Sana zingatia uaminifu ili uweze kuyafikia hayo malengo yako, acha dhambi, maisha sio rahisi kiasi hiko.... Jitahidi Sana, sio tu wewe kumuamini Mungu, hakikisha na yeye Mungu anakuamini.
Yahitajika uaminifu. Kazini wahi, chapa kazi. Tumika. Nyumbani pia, kwenye familia yako kuwa muaminifu Hata kama hakuna anayekuona, darasani acha kudesa. Fellowship wahi, fika usitege. Hudhuria pia kwenye huduma acha excuses wahi, uparticipate fully. Fungu lakumi pia toa. Yaani timiza wajibu wako kila mahali shetani asipate cha kukuhukumu akaiba taji na ushindi wako...

Panda mbegu nzuri sasa uje uvune nazo mazuri baadae. Huu ni wakati wa kujiongezea nguvu katika Bwana, huu ni wakati wa kukua kiroho , huu ni wakati wa kupambana kuifikia taji yako. Usipitwe na kasi hii. Kuwa muaminifu na utamuona Bwana.

Ni kweli Mungu anasamehe, lakini hata akikusamehe kuna mahali hutofika! Muulize mfalme Daudi ambaye alifanyika najisi kwa dhambi aliyoitenda... Hakuweza tena kumjengea Mungu hekalu... Na Ukizingatia Daudi is termed as a man after God's heart..... sembuse mimi na wewe...? Tuache dhambi! Tuwe waaminifu ili tusije kujuta baadae.
Ninajua ninachokiongea. Ninajua. Ndio maana ninawiwa juu yako.
Ooh neno hili na lipate kibali kwako.
Amen

Imeandikwa Na: IFM Fellowship Saa: 2:41 PM Katika:

UNA NINI CHA KUTUFUNZA KUHUSU SILVER JUBILEE YA DR ALEX LENGEJU? Soma ushuhuda mzito wa Annamaria Nzamba hapa!!!

Jana nilikuwa na wakati mgumu sana wa kufanya maamuzi kuhusu kuhudhuria jubilee ya Mr and Mrs Alex Victor Lengeju ama la... Ishu ilikuwa ndani yangu nasikia sana kwenda kuwapasupport kutokana na namna ambavyo waliwahi kujitoa sana kwetu, yaani sana na sio kwamba tuliwaomba, hapana ni wao tu walijitoa. Lakini sasa naendaje wakati sina hata mtu wa kubaki na hawa watoto.... Ndani yangu nilikuwa napambana nini nifanye... Mpaka mwisho nikaamua niende itakavyo kuwa ndio hivyo hivyo.... My children won't die kwa changamoto ya siku moja...
Unajua ningeamua kubaki hakuna ambae hasingenielewa katika hali ile, ila msukumo wa kwenda ulikuwa mwingi tena mkubwa, miaka 25 ya ndoa? Nani hasiyetamani upako Kama huo...? So nikabeba wanangu, nikaenda..

Labda nifupishe tu kwa kusema kwamba, mpaka nimeamua kuandika hapa, kipo cha ziada nilikutana nacho..
Ule wasi wasi wa kuhusu itakuwaje, Mungu aliniletea wasaidizi toka mbinguni wenye upendo wa ajabu sana yaani mlinibariki wapendwa jamani mweh... Alianza dada Jacque Siara akamchukua Archangel, mara kaka Epimack Mbeteni akambeba Annointing mara Chrispin Chalyaakasaidia kukaa na Annointing rafiki yake, Leah Kibode mpenda watoto akampokea mara Sway Gabriel Perfect akamchukua Archangel akacheza nae kwaito, bila hata kukataliwa... Sijakaa sana da Tumaini Mfujege naye akamchukua Annointing mara tena kaka Epimack tena Leah, Perfect akajaribu kumchukua Aki this time akakataliwa, sijui ulimfinya mwanangu?
Kaka Michael na Aneth Meela mke wako mlikuja mkanitia moyo...
Haikutosha, wakati wa kwenda kuchukua chakula nikiwa na watoto kwenye foleni nikashtukia Regina huyu hapa, kawaomba radhi waliokuwa kwenye mstari , "samahanini sijawaruka, nataka kumsaidia watoto huyu dada" mweh jamani Regina!!! Na hali yako wala hukujali jamani... Mmh hadi natokwa machozi, Avit Temu nifikishie salamu. Mwanangu akapakuliwa akabebewa chakula mpaka kwenye kiti , tunaanza kula bado wakatokea watu wakaniwahi usimpe chakula mtoto kina pilipili Sana. Nakumbuka Tumaini ulikuja toka mezani kwako mpaka kwetu ukaulizia mtoto Kala nini ili tu kumlinda na ile pilipili....
Huu upendo wenu sina namna ya kuulipa ... Nimeguswa sana sio kichekesho nimeamua kuandika, na wala sio kwamba sina cha kufanya, kuna kitu kikubwa Mungu ananifundisha kupitia kwetu, Namsihi Mungu anikumbushe kupenda wengine, na kujitoa sadaka kwa wengine kama mlivyojitoa kwangu....
Sijui mliona nini labda au sijui mlisukumwa na nini labda, what ever the reason or no reason.... I pray to God that He will shower his abundant blessing upon you maishani mwenu... Mungu awabarikini na anipe kuukumbuka upendo huu.
Sijawasahau na wengine wengi kule fellowship ambao hamchaacha kuwa msaada.... Nawakumbuka wote... Kuna waliomkuta Anno anaumwa wakamuwekea mikono wakamuombea, I bless you all.
Hakika through this fellowship ninaonja kuishi kwa kumegeana mkate kama mitume...

Hamjaacha kunibariki. Asanteni nyote kwa upendo wenu.

Imeandikwa Na: IFM Fellowship Saa: 2:32 PM Katika:

HATA UKIWA KWA YESU LAZIMA KUPENDEZA BWANA!!

 Vunja kabati kwa ajili ya Bwana!!!

Na Anamaria Nzamba

Da Tumaini Mfujege somo lako la jumapili iliyopita niliguswa na ule ushuhuda wako hasa pale uliposema, "...baada ya kufunga na kuomba, siku ya kufungua, hali ukijua na ukiamini ulikuwa umefufuka, uliamua kuvaa kifufuko fufuko...." uuuuuuuuuh of coz yes, tena ukatupia kitu cha silver, nguo yako ya kusimamia maids, ukatoka kifufuko... I loved this. ndio maana nimeamua kuandika hapa.

Bwana Yesu nakuhitaji niwezeshe kuandika kwa namna ambayo itakupendeza wewe Zaidi na watu wako kwa ajili ya sifa na utukufu wa jina Lako. Unihurumie eeh Yesu wangu. Ninapenda kukutumikia kwa moyo wangu wote, kwa nguvu zangu zote na kwa uwezo na akili zangu zote. Amen

Kuvaa kifufuko: ukweli kabisa mimi ninaamini katika hili, kama mkristu niliyekombolewa sina budi kuwa na muonekano ambao utanitambulisha katika jamii, kwamba nimefufuliwa, nimekombolewa, Yesu yuko ndani yangu, nami ndani yake, Yesu ananipenda, nami nampenda, ninalindwa, ninamsaada ooh niko na Yesu... etc etc
nikikumbuka hayo yooote, siwezi kuacha kuvunja kabati kila siku iitwayo leo, aliyefufuliwa na Yesu hata kimuonekano tu utamgundua. Anavaa vizuri, anapendeza, na kupendeza haihusiani na gharama kabisa, kuna nguo za kila aina na bei rahisi nzuri ajabu... tupendeze jamani. hebu tuwe tunavunja kabati, maana ukweli kabisa kila siku ni siku mpya na Bwana amejifunua kwetu karibia kila siku. kila mtu anao ushuhuda wa kila siku, sasa kwa nini kama tunafufuliwa kila siku , hatupendezi kila siku...!

Imeandikwa Na: IFM Fellowship Saa: 2:21 PM Katika:

KARIBU SANA NDANI YA FELLOWSHIP YA KARISMATIKI KATOLIKI YA CHUO CHA USIMAMIZI WA FEDHA IFM ~ IFM CCR

KARIBU SANA NDANI YA FELLOWSHIP YA KARISMATIKI KATOLIKI YA CHUO CHA USIMAMIZI WA FEDHA IFM ~ IFM CCR

Imeandikwa Na: IFM Fellowship Saa: 1:49 AM Katika:

KARIBU SANA NDANI YA FELLOWSHIP YA KARISMATIKI KATOLIKI YA CHUO CHA USIMAMIZI WA FEDHA IFM

Kikundi cha sala cha IFM, kilianzishwa tarehe 25/03/2007 chini ya uongozi wa karismatik katoliki jimbo kuu la Dar es salaam.

Madhumuni ya uanzishwaji ni kuamsha imani za wakatoliki na kanisa kwa ujumla ndani ya chuo cha IFM,vyuo vingine pamoja na parokia ya St Joseph.

Kikundi hiki tangu kimeanzishwa mpaka sasa kinakutana kwa ibada parokiani St. Joseph kila jumapili kuanzia saa tisa na nusu hadi saa kumi na moja na nusu (15:30-17:30) jioni.

Lakini pia kwa kila jumapili ya kwanza ya mwezi huwa tunakutana kwa masaa takriban matatu katika ukumbi mojawapo katikati ya jiji ambapo kwa sasa tumekuwa tukitumia sana HIDERY PLAZA POSTA MPYA.

 Kikundi kilianza na takribani idadi ya watu kumi (10) na imekuwa ikiongezeka kwa kasi siku kwa siku.

karibuni sana tena jumapili hii kwa ajili ya kuendelea na kumsifu , kumwinua MUNGU na kuendelea kujifunza neno lake.

ni pale kanisa la MT YOSEFU katika ukumbi wa wawata ulipo nyuma  ya kanisa mara uingiapo kupitia geti kuu.

kwa mawasiliano zaidi piga namba zifuatazo:

0717 203 772, 0752 507 171, 0656 516 903, 0658 123 232

Imeandikwa Na: IFM Fellowship Saa: 1:39 AM Katika:

SOMO KUHUSU KARISMATIKI KATOLIKI NA HISTORIA YAKE KWA UFUPI

Vipengele vya Somo:

-Utangulizi
-Malengo
-Tunu
-Mafanikio
-Changamoto
-Masuluisho

Charismata, in Greak, maana yake ni Zawadi, 1967 Dukwen University, 1993 ICCRS was instituted
1985 office za Karismaki zilianzishwa

Malengo:
NB Malengo ya Kanisa, ndiyo malengo ya Kanisa Katoliki Luk4:19-19 au Mathayo 28:18-20, Canon Law a210-2011.

1.Kusaidia watu wakue na kuendelea katika mahusiano binafsi na Utatu Mtakatifu: To Encounter with the person of Jesus Christ in your life.

2.Kuwasaidia watu wajue umuhimu wa Roho mtakatifu katika kuwaongoza, Kujue uwezo na kuonja nguvu za Roho mtakatifu

3.Kuwasaidia watu wapokee na kutumia karama za Roho mtakatifu latika kukijenga kanisa

4. Kufanya uinjilishaji kwa nguvu za Roho Mtakatifu. "Twendeni masokoni tuwahubirie, masokoni, mashambani, na kila mahali tuwahubirie watu wote habari njema" Rom10:17
Kuinjilisha walioko ndani ya kanisa, mifumo ya kijamii,

5. Kumshuhudia Yesu kwa maneno na kwa matendo.

6. Kusaidia watu kukua katika utakatifu, utume, ushiriki wa Sakramenti za kanisa, na kudumisha umoja wa kanisa kwa kuhimiza yale yafundishwayo na kanisa. Kuleta uhai katika liturjua

By Ev. Ladislaus T. Mulokozi

Imeandikwa Na: IFM Fellowship Saa: 10:44 PM Katika:

Healing Masses

What is a Healing Mass?

A healing Mass is a normal Mass, with a particular focus on asking God for healing.  For example, the homily or the songs may relate to healing or the activity of the Holy Spirit.  To illustrate, during a healing Mass at St. Mary of Sorrows on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord in 2008, the homily included teaching on Baptism and its relation to the Holy Spirit. During the homily on Pentecost 2008, the priest taught about what happened on Pentecost in the early Church, and how we can experience Pentecost like the early Church. In that homily the priest encouraged us to be open to the Holy Spirit every day, and as an example gave a brief history of the Charismatic Renewal starting when Pope Leo XIII prayed for the Holy Spirit to be poured out at the dawn of the 20th century. The singing at Mass may be lively, for example at St. Mary of Sorrows, the Alleluia before the Gospel is a somewhat longer that at most Masses, and people are encouraged to clap or sing with uplifted hands. Most importantly, the priest encourages us to pray with great faith when receiving Holy Communion. At that moment Jesus, the Healer, is with us in the closest way. During the Eucharist, Jesus comes to us.  He healed people in the Bible with His touch and He can do the same today.

After Mass, there may be a time where people briefly speak about experiences of healing.  There may also be time for individual prayer ministry when those who desire may pray with the priest or others through whom God has healed  people before.  While waiting, people usually sing praise and worship songs. People may also prophesy and pray in tongues.  Some will rest in the Spirit by falling gently to the floor. When one rests in the Spirit, they are experiencing God's love in a powerful, direct way. Catchers accompany the prayer ministry team to catch anyone who might fall.  Resting in the Spirit is not necessary for people to receive healing, and God never forces people to do this, however it does happen and the people who rest do report it being a strong experience of being immersed in God.  This part of the evening is clearly not the Mass, but rather a time of prayer, so the format may vary from one place to another.


A Mass for healing the family tree is offered on the third Monday of the month at 7:30pm at St. Mary of Sorrows.

The Arlington Healing Ministry also holds a monthly Mass followed by individual prayer for healing.

Here are some homilies from healing Masses at St. Mary of Sorrows in Fairfax.

Healing of the Family

It is important to pray not only for ourselves, but for others, especially our family.  Masses are offered for healing of the family.  We can pray for disorders and diseases that follow through generations in families to be healed.
An article about Healing of the Family Tree with insights from Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI).
Another article about why we should pray for the healing of our family.

Imeandikwa Na: IFM Fellowship Saa: 3:45 AM Katika:

WHAT DOES THE CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL SAYS ABOUT PRAISE AND WORSHIP?

Praise and Worship

Praise is a natural response to God.  As we grow closer with God, getting to know and experience Him, ordinary moments can become special occasions for grace.  We can see God's love for us revealed in His creation.  As an example, St. Alphonsus Liguori told of St. Mary Magdalene of Pazzi and how, "when she held any beautiful flower in her hand, was enkindled by the sight of it with love to God; and she would say: 'And God, then, has thought from all eternity of creating this flower for love of me!' Thus did that flower become, as it were, a dart of love, which sweetly wounded her, and united her more and more to her God."

Our personal experience of God's love changes us.  Even our view of the world changes and we can see it filled with God's presence which in turn makes us thankful.  This is the proper attitude of creatures to their loving Creator.  As the priest says during the Mass, "Let us give thanks to the Lord our God," the people respond, "It is right to give Him thanks and praise."  Often charismatic gatherings spend time singing songs of praise.

St. John of the Cross explains that living in close union with God, which is a result of Baptism in the Holy Spirit, "a soul always walks in festivity, inwardly and outwardly, and it frequently bears on its spiritual tongue a new song of great jubilation in God, a song always new, enfolded in a gladness and love arising from the knowledge that the soul has of its happy state."  He also teaches that a life of joy and praise is normative for souls in close union with God, saying, "there is no need to be amazed that the soul so frequently walks amid this joy, jubilance, fruition, and praise of God." (St. John of the Cross, The Living Flame of Love, stanza 2, paragraph 36).

The Second Vatican Council taught, "The holy people of God shares also in Christ's prophetic office; it spreads abroad a living witness to Him, especially by means of a life of faith and charity and by offering to God a sacrifice of praise, the tribute of lips which give praise to His name." - Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, section 12

Praise is Important

Praise during Eucharistic Adoration at a healing service on July 9, 2011 in Washington DC This photo gives an idea of something we do not see with our natural eyes - what it may look like when Jesus fills the church with His glory!

In the Bible, one of the activities going on in Heaven is praising God.  You could say that praising God on earth is not just singing religious songs; it is practice for Heaven.  We can also experience some of Heaven on earth, recalling that Jesus taught us to pray in the Our Father, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."  When we praise God, we can experience joy, peace, love, and even receive healing and freedom.

Teaching of the Church about Praise from the Bible and Catechism

Psalm 9:2-3 - I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will declare all your wondrous deeds. I will delight and rejoice in you; I will sing hymns to your name, Most High.

Catechism Paragraph 2097 - To adore God is to acknowledge, in respect and absolute submission, the "nothingness of the creature" who would not exist but for God. To adore God is to praise and exalt him and to humble oneself, as Mary did in the Magnificat, confessing with gratitude that he has done great things and holy is his name. The worship of the one God sets man free from turning in on himself, from the slavery of sin and the idolatry of the world.

Catechism Paragraph 333 - From the Incarnation to the Ascension, the life of the Word incarnate is surrounded by the adoration and service of angels. When God "brings the firstborn into the world, he says: 'Let all God's angels worship him.'" Their song of praise at the birth of Christ has not ceased resounding in the Church's praise: "Glory to God in the highest!"

Catechism Paragraph 2639 - Praise is the form of prayer which recognizes most immediately that God is God. It lauds God for his own sake and gives him glory, quite beyond what he does, but simply because HE IS. It shares in the blessed happiness of the pure of heart who love God in faith before seeing him in glory. By praise, the Spirit is joined to our spirits to bear witness that we are children of God, testifying to the only Son in whom we are adopted and by whom we glorify the Father. Praise embraces the other forms of prayer and carries them toward him who is its source and goal: the "one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist."

Catechism Paragraph 2649 - Prayer of praise is entirely disinterested and rises to God, lauds him, and gives him glory for his own sake, quite beyond what he has done, but simply because HE IS.

Psalm 134:2 - Lift up your hands toward the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.

Psalm 149Hallelujah! Sing to the LORD a new song, a hymn in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker, the people of Zion rejoice in their king.
Let them praise his name in festive dance, make music with tambourine and lyre.
For the LORD takes delight in his people, honors the poor with victory.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory, cry out for joy at their banquet,
With the praise of God in their mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hands,
To bring retribution on the nations, punishment on the peoples,
To bind their kings with chains, shackle their nobles with irons,
To execute the judgments decreed for them-- such is the glory of all God's faithful. Hallelujah!

Psalm 150
Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy sanctuary; give praise in the mighty dome of heaven.
Give praise for his mighty deeds, praise him for his great majesty.
Give praise with blasts upon the horn, praise him with harp and lyre.
Give praise with tambourines and dance, praise him with flutes and strings.
Give praise with crashing cymbals, praise him with sounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath give praise to the LORD! Hallelujah!

Dome in the Cathedral in Valencia, Spain

1 Timothy 2:1, 8 - I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone ... It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.

Revelation 5: 11-13 - "I looked again and heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless in number, and they cried out in a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing." Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: "To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever."

Tobit 12:6 - The Archangel Raphael said, "Thank God! Give Him the praise and the glory. Before all the living, acknowledge the many good things He has done for you, by blessing and extolling His name in song. Before all men, honor and proclaim God's deeds, and do not be slack in praising him."

Praying with Uplifted Hands

The posture of raising our hands in prayer is called the "orans" posture. Like kneeling and praying with hands folded, this posture of prayer goes back to ancient times and has meaning. The ancient Jews and early Church prayed with uplifted hands.  Priests still use the orans posture during the Mass. Among the laity, especially in private prayer and prayer outside of Mass, over the last hundred years the charismatic renewal has revived this posture to more frequent use among Catholics and other Christian communities.

Christian art, especially icons, shows us to use the orans as a way to imitate Mary. The Church teaches Mary is, "the perfect Orans (pray-er), a figure of the Church ... The prayer of the Church is sustained by the prayer of Mary and united with it in hope." - Catechism paragraph 2679.

Below are examples of the orans in an icon, and in images from the catacombs where the early Church celebrated Mass while hiding during the persecutions of the Roman Empire. Let us learn from their example and through the Communion of Saints, unite with them as they worship God in Heaven. Even despite the danger of being put to death for their faith, the early Christians praised God because they loved God more than life itself. Come, let us adore Him!

A glimpse of Heaven - "A voice coming from the throne said: 'Praise our God, all you his servants, (and) you who revere him, small and great.' Then I heard something like the sound of a great multitude or the sound of rushing water or mighty peals of thunder, as they said: "Alleluia! The Lord has established his reign, (our) God, the almighty. - Revelation 19:5-6

A gift of freedom - Jesus told St. Faustina, "When a soul extols My goodness, Satan trembles before it and flees to the very bottom of hell." - Recorded in St. Faustina's Diary, "Divine Mercy in My Soul," paragraph 378.

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History of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal

The charismatic nature of Christianity has been present since the beginning when the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost.  Then, as now, the Holy Spirit empowers Christians to live as Jesus taught and to share His Good News.  Over the centuries, ordinary Christians had come to think that holiness and the gifts of the Holy Spirit were only for certain people.  As a means of restoring the use of all of God's gifts throughout the entire Church, over the last century God has been renewing lives with the Holy Spirit in what has become known as the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

Biblical Foundation Around the year 33 AD, when Jesus ascended into Heaven, He told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for "the promise of the Father," and that they would be, "baptized in the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:4,5). For the next nine days they prayed together until the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost. The Bible, in chapter two of the Book of Acts, records that when the Holy Spirit came to the early Christians on Pentecost, they received power to lead lives that demonstrated the truth of who Jesus is. They went out and told others about Jesus. As God touched hearts one by one, people decided to join the community of those who followed Jesus. The Church grew from a small and frightened group into the most miraculous and world-changing community in history.

19th Century: A Spark that Lit a Blazing Fire

Early 20th Century: The Pope's Prayer and the Pentecostal Revival among Protestants

Mid-20th Century: Vatican II and the Universal Call to Holiness

The revival of the pentecostal experience continued in the lives of many Protestants for decades. Just as Pope Leo XIII prayed for a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in 1901, Pope John XXIII prayed in 1962 for "a new Pentecost." In preparation for the Second Vatican Council, he prayed for God to, "Renew Your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost. Grant to Your Church that, being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and following the lead of blessed Peter, it may advance the reign of our Divine Savior, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen.”

As more and more people discovered personal renewal and friendship with the Holy Spirit, they gathered in prayer groups and eventually held conferences and gatherings on local, national, and international levels. Charismatic communities developed, helping lay and religious live in the grace of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, and providing a place where vocations, families, ministry, and the ecumenical journey towards unity flourish.  As people grew in their understanding of what God was doing through this great outpouring of personal conversion and Church renewal, people began to speak of it as the "Catholic charismatic renewal."

Today

Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

References

The Holy Spirit has continued to come to individuals who welcome Him throughout history. Although at times over the last 2,000 years the daily experience of Christians has not always shown the same outward display of passionate excitement, to renew and refresh the Church, the Lord continues to send His Holy Spirit. The charismatic renewal has a gift of continually bringing the Church back to its early passion. The Popes have recognized and supported this, encouraging a "culture of Pentecost."

Towards the end of the 19th century, God began to plant the seeds that would grow into the present day charismatic renewal. From 1895 to 1903, Blessed Elena Guerra, foundress of the Oblate Sisters of The Holy Spirit in Italy, wrote 12 confidential letters to Pope Leo XIII, asking him to encourage greater devotion to the Holy Spirit among Catholics.

In 1897, Pope Leo XIII published an encyclical about the Holy Spirit, called Divinium Illud Munus. He also called for the Church to pray the Novena for Pentecost at the beginning of the new century. A novena is a prayer said for nine days, which recalls how the early Christians prayed for the nine days between Christ's Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

On January 1, 1901, Pope Leo XIII prayed to the Holy Spirit. He sang the Veni Creator Spiritus by the Holy Spirit window in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. That same day, in Topeka, Kansas, at the Bethel College and Bible School, the Holy Spirit came upon a group of Protestants who had been praying to receive the Holy Spirit as the early Church did in Acts chapter two. Agnes Ozman prayed in tongues, and people began to welcome the Holy Spirit to work in them as in the early Church with healings, miracles, deliverance, and power to effectively evangelize and help people convert to Jesus Christ. This beginning of the charismatic renewal highlights its ecumenical nature that continues to be experienced over 100 years later. The commonly shared experience of being filled with passion and love for God has been a major way that the charismatic renewal helps bring Catholics and Protestants together to build relationships and learn to recognize many common areas of Christian living.

The historic events at the beginning of the charismatic renewal are significant for unity not only among individual Christians, but also for unity in the entire worldwide Church. As seen in this historic event, the Pope's prayers resulted in an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Protestants. This highlights how through the Pope, God gives a special gift of apostolic covering to all Christians. The Pope is able to minister on an international level in a way that even the most well-travelled evangelists do not experience. While most pastors minister on a local level, the Pope fills a need to minister to the whole Church on a worldwide level.

Following the 1901 outpouring of the Holy Spirit, in 1906 a revival began on Azusa Street in Los Angeles, California. From here, word spread that people were experiencing God as on the day of Pentecost, and people came from near and far seeking to learn more about it. Pilgrims whose hearts were touched and filled anew with the Holy Spirit, also would experience Pentecost in their own lives, and go forth to share this with others.

One of the main messages that the Second Vatican Council taught was the importance of the "universal call to holiness." Vatican II taught in Lumen Gentiumchapter five that Jesus, "preached holiness of life to each and every one of His disciples of every condition," and that Jesus calls all Christians "to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity." The Council further taught that Jesus gives both the call and the ability to fulfill it because Jesus, "sent the Holy Spirit upon all men that He might move them inwardly to love God with their whole heart and their whole soul, with all their mind and all their strength and that they might love each other as Christ loves them."

Once the universal call to holiness was proclaimed by the Pope and the bishops, it was up to the people to respond to this call, and ask God for grace to fulfill it. Similar to the day of Pentecost, a group Catholic students from Duquesne University gathered for a retreat in 1967.  They did not plan for what God would do during their retreat, but one evening while praying before the Blessed Sacrament, the God simply sent them the unexpected gift of Baptism in the Holy Spirit; that is to say, they experienced a personal outpouring of the Holy Spirit. That event has become known as the Duquesne Weekend.  As the people at that retreat shared their experience and prayed with people, from that day forward just as Pope Leo XIII prayed for, an outpouring like a "new Pentecost" spread throughout the Catholic Church.

As time passed, the Holy Spirit continued to inspire new communities and movements.  These may have diverse expressions of prayer, missions, and use various gifts.  Though the charismatic renewal has similarities with movements, the charismatic renewal is unique in that it is not a structure with a founder, membership records, or a program; although within the Renewal there are groups that do, and there is concrete connection and fidelity to the Church's leadership in Rome and dioceses globally.  Overall, the Renewal is a gift and an invitation available to all.  It invites people to more fully experience the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The charismatic renewal comes to the whole Church with the understanding of Baptism in the Holy Spirit as a grace intended for all, which assists - but does not replace - the movements.  Baptism in the Holy Spirit facilitates personal conversion, and helps people use charisms to their fullest potential.  Thus, the charismatic renewal is a gift to the entire Church.

To help us get to this point of understanding within the charismatic renewal and this point of acceptance by the whole Church, wise and holy leaders everywhere from local parishes to the Vatican gave pastoral assistance and encouragement to those touched by the renewal, and guidance for those who were uncertain about it.  Cardinal Suenens gave pastoral care to the renewal worldwide.  Under his guidance, the renewal grew in its understanding of what the Holy Spirit was doing and where the charismatic experience fit within the context of the universal Church.  Another leader was Cardinal Cordes, to whom the Pope wrote in 2009 about how the Church's leadership helped new communities and the charismatic renewal be welcomed in the heart of the Church.  The Pope wrote, "While in the beginning the organizers and planners in the Church had many reservations in regard to the movements, you immediately sensed the life that burst forth from them — the power of the Holy Spirit that gives new paths and in unpredictable ways keeps the Church young. You recognized the pentecostal character of these movements and you worked passionately so that they would be welcomed by the Church's pastors."

As the Church's pastors grew in understanding the charismatic renewal, and seeing the need of guidance that comes with rapid worldwide growth, in 1978 an office for the Charismatic Renewal was established in the Vatican. Known today as ICCRS, the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services, this office assists in the promotion of a "culture of Pentecost" throughout the Church.

Light entering St. Peter's Basilica in Rome

In 1997, the bishops of the United States issued Grace for the New Springtime, a document on the charismatic renewal. They supported the renewal, encouraging "the whole Church to look into and embrace baptism in the Holy Spirit" as "part of the normal Christian life."

The US bishops connected the renewal with helping people live the universal call to holiness, saying, "the impact of the Charismatic Renewal on the broader Church has been significant. The Renewal has nourished the call of all to holiness as a gift from the Spirit and helped the Church come to a greater awareness and expectancy of the Holy Spirit and the charismatic gifts of the Spirit. The Charismatic Renewal has led the people of God in a revival of the ministry of healing, encouraging them -- laity and clergy alike -- to pray for the sick with faith and expectancy. It has renewed the appreciation for the role of praise in individual and communal prayer and enriched the Church with many gifted musicians, music ministries, and song writers. The Renewal has taught a commitment to the Pope, the Bishops, and to orthodox teaching. Vocations to priesthood, diaconate, and religious life have been fostered. It has called forth the gifts of the laity who are today serving in a variety of ecclesial lay ministries; e.g., in the liturgy, religious education, and youth ministry, and ministries for the transformation of the world."

Today, the renewal has spread to every continent, received the blessing of the Popes, and has refreshed souls in the Holy Spirit and by bringing people to Jesus, giving many a new start at life. People are healed physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It builds unity among Catholics and Protestants. The renewal has been a strong means of evangelization bringing people to experience the power and presence of God in a way that for them is new and deeper than what they previously understood. As the Holy Spirit comes and enables people to live an "abundant life" that Jesus said He would give (John 10:10), people are converted, and with newfound joy and peace, fall in love with Christ and His Church. 

Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of thy faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Your love! 

Pentecost image at church of Trinita dei Monti in Rome

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