Quotes
What does the Church, the Pope, and other church
leaders
have to say about Catholic Charismatic Renewal
and Baptism in the Holy Spirit?
"Thanks to the Charismatic
Movement, a multitude of Christians, men and women, young people and adults have
rediscovered Pentecost as a living reality in their daily lives. I hope that the
spirituality of Pentecost will spread in the Church as a renewed
incentive to prayer, holiness, communion and proclamation."
At the First Vespers of Pentecost,
a Homily
given by Pope John Paul II, Saturday, 29 May 2004
"For this reason, I also say to you: 'Open yourselves with docility to the gifts
of the Holy Spirit! Receive with gratitude and obedience the charisms that the
Spirit does not cease to offer! Do not forget that all charisms are given for
the common good, that is, for the benefit of the whole Church!' "
Pope John Paul II
("Insegnamenti," XXI, 1 [1998], p. 1122).
What is Baptism in the Holy Spirit?
"It is an experience of the person of the Holy Spirit bringing alive in new ways
to the graces we have already received through our baptism. And it’s the Holy
Spirit coming and bringing new gifts in our lives."
Charles Whitehead, National Director of Catholic
Charismatic Renewal, England
"Baptism in the Spirit is
not a human invention; it is a divine invention. It is a renewal of
baptism and of the whole of Christian life, of all the sacraments.”
Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher
to the Papal Household,
interview given
September 2003
"Charismatic Renewal
is a work of the Holy Spirit responding to the spiritual needs of our time.
It is a sign in the life of the Church of the continuing relevance of the
‘outpouring of the Holy Spirit’ on the baptized, which gives life and direction
to the Church in the accomplishment of its mission in the world."
Bishop Paul Josef
Cordes, in his book Call to Holiness.
"Fuller life in the Holy Spirit, the Spirit’s charismatic anointing,
endows the church with a full range of gifts. Gifts of adoration,
praise and prayer deepen the contemplative dimension of Christian
faith. Gifts of service animate a life of Christian holiness
committed to justice. All the charisms bring a new docility to the
Spirit, an expectant faith in God’s saving intervention in human
affairs, an enhanced zeal for the gospel, and a respect for
authority in the church."
Fanning the Flame document,
p. 12
"Your
contribution to the life of the Church, through your faithful witness to the
presence and action of the Holy Spirit has helped many people to rediscover in
their own lives the beauty and grace given to them at Baptism, the gateway to
life in the Spirit (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1213). It has
helped them know the power of the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit conferred
at Confirmation (cf. Ibid. 1302). I join you in praising the Most Holy
Trinity for the work of the Spirit who continues to draw people more fully into
the life of Christ and to render their bonds with the Church more perfect (cf.
Lumen Gentium, 11)"
Message to Charismatic Communities and Fellowships
given by Pope John Paul II, Nov. 10, 2002.
"The Catholic
Charismatic Renewal has helped many Christians to rediscover the
presence and power of the Holy Spirit ...and this rediscovery has
awakened in them a faith in Christ filled with joy.”
Pope John Paul II, Address to Charismatic Renewal Leaders, 1998
"[Charismatic Renewal] is not a spirituality
as such. The movements have a spirituality and emphasize a
particular aspect, for example, charity. First of all, Charismatic
Renewal does not have a founder. No one thinks of attributing a
founder to Charismatic Renewal because it is something that started
in many places in different ways. And it does not have a
spirituality; it is Christian life lived in the Spirit."
Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher
to the Papal Household, September 2003
"The Church is called to
"evangelize, sanctify and renew the face of the earth."
Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People, 2
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