Western Oregon
Catholic Charismatic Renewal
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is critical to the Church and to each of its members. The Renewal enables us to learn about the Spirit -- our Advocate -- and to accept his leadership in our lives.
We receive the Spiritual Gifts of the Holy Spirit through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. However, we are not always aware of the works of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is one way for us to reinvigorate our awareness of the Holy Spirit and his mission to draw us closer to Jesus and the Church. As we become aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit and the intimate relationship we can have with Jesus, the Spiritual Gifts of the Spirit are showered upon us and Jesus wills.
St. Paul wants all of us to be aware of our personal spiritual gifts. At baptism we begin a special relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit which grows every day.
When Jesus was about to ascend into heaven, he said: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." -- The New American Bible (NABRE), 2011, John 14:16-18
Some may wonder about who is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity. He reigns with Our Father and Jesus Christ. This belief was expressed from the earliest days of the Church in the prayer titled: The Apostles Creed. It professes faith in the Holy Trinity — Father, Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit .… "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, …" -- Apostles Creed>
Pope Francis spoke to this topic in his May 22, 2021 Pentecost message, to an ecumenical audience. He concluded his speech with the following message: “Let us be changed by the Holy Spirit so that we can change the world. God is faithful, He never reneges on His promise."
How do we describe the Catholic Charismatic Renewal? It's a personal experience of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, who brings alive in new ways the graces of our baptism. The Holy Spirit not only sets on fire all that we have already received, but comes again in power to equip us with his gifts for service and mission. There are no special, superior people in the Church called "charismatics" - but there are millions of ordinary men and women whose lives have been renewed "charismatically", in other words by an action of the Holy Spirit.
You and I are "Anointed" by the Holy Spirit when we receive the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. With these sacraments we receive an anointing on our forehead with Sacred Chrism. This is a physical sign that we have received the Holy Spirit. By the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, Christians — the anointed ones — share more fully in the mission of Jesus and in the fullness of the Spirit.
One of the most significant works of the Holy Spirit occurs at every Mass. Did you know that every time you attend Mass, you can see a miracle performed by the Holy Spirit on the altar. It occurs when the Priest places his hands over the bread and wine on the altar and prays an invocation to the Holy Spirit.
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal began in 1967 at a Duquesne University student retreat at the Ark and Dove Retreat Center, Gibsonia, PA. It was during the retreat that the participants had a profound experience of the Holy Spirit and Jesus.
