What is Charismatic Spirituality?
Life Powered by the Holy Spirit
A Christian’s life — like the life of Christ — is led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. “Charismatic” means something initiated by the Holy Spirit or someone cooperating with the Holy Spirit. A “charismatic” spirituality is the pentecostal spirituality initiated by the Holy Spirit for all Christians. It is not one spirituality among many; it is the overarching spirituality of the Christian life, of the Catholic Church and of all her members.
It is not optional to Christian maturity. It should be the foundation of spirituality!
The promise of the Father is for every person called to be a disciple of Jesus!
“Then afterward I will pour out my spirit upon all mankind. Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; even upon the servants and the handmaids, in those days, I will pour out my spirit.”
Joel 3: 1-2
“And (behold) I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Luke 24: 49
“While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for ‘the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit.'”
Acts 1: 4–5
“But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1: 8
“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.”
Acts 2: 1-4
“Now when they (crowd) heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, ‘What are we to do, my brothers?’ Peter (said) to them, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.”
Acts 2: 37–39
“As I began to speak, the holy Spirit fell upon them as it had upon us at the beginning, and I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the holy Spirit.’ If then God gave them the same gift he gave to us when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?”
Acts 11: 15–17
“In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 1: 13–14
“Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree,’ that the blessing of Abraham might be extended to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Galatians 3: 13–14
This Spirit-led Spirituality is for All
“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me.”
John 15: 26
“For when we were in the flesh, our sinful passions, awakened by the law, worked in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, dead to what held us captive, so that we may serve in the newness of the spirit and not under the obsolete letter.
Romans 7: 5-6
“Consequently, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”
Romans 8: 13–16
“Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”
Romans 12: 11
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15: 13
“Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, “Jesus be accursed.” And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the holy Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 12: 3
“And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Ephesians 4: 30
“With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones.”
Ephesians 6: 18
“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me.”
John 15: 26
“For when we were in the flesh, our sinful passions, awakened by the law, worked in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, dead to what held us captive, so that we may serve in the newness of the spirit and not under the obsolete letter.
Romans 7: 5-6
“Consequently, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”
Romans 8: 13–16
“Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”
Romans 12: 11
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15: 13
“Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, “Jesus be accursed.” And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the holy Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 12: 3
“And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Ephesians 4: 30
“With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones.”
Ephesians 6: 18
The Apostles assume the Spirit will have a continuing influence on us as He did on Jesus. Recognizing, embracing and cooperating with the role of the Holy Spirit in our Christian life is integral to our life as daughters and sons of the Father in Jesus Christ.
This cooperation with the Spirit requires more than receiving Baptism and Confirmation; we must be attentive to this Divine Person — the Holy Spirit. We develop a humble and receptive reliance on this Person who wants us to be co-responsible with Him. This collaboration with the Holy Spirit is not optional but is inherent in our Christian maturity, no matter what vocation or responsibilities or ministries or offices we may have in the Church. For all eternity the Spirit is at the heart of the Divine Life. If we have a share in that Divine Life, the Spirit must be at the heart of our lives in Christ. A charismatic spirituality is the divinely decreed spirituality for the Church and for every member of the Church.
We Choose to Grow in this Charismatic Spirituality!
A charismatic spirituality is the spirituality of the Church. It is irreplaceable. And the Spirit is renewing this dimension in the Church and in each one of us. Praise God! Led by the Spirit, the Charismatic Renewal is bringing nothing new to the Church but is helping its members appreciate their God-given heritage within the Church. Let’s release the Holy Spirit in our lives!
When a family or parish or diocese embraces this charismatic spirituality, it becomes a life-giving lifestyle for that community. In that lifestyle each member supports others and is supported by others in this charismatic spirituality — for the glory of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.