Words of Encouragement Regarding Catholic Charismatic Renewal

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal in America was first examined by the Catholic Bishops in 1969. In a response prepared by the Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine, they wrote: “Theologically, the movement has legitimate reasons for existence. It has a strong Biblical basis. It would be difficult to inhibit the working of the Spirit which manifested itself so abundantly in the early Church. There are many indications that this participation leads to a better understanding of the role the Christian plays in the Church. Many have experienced progress in their spiritual life. They are attracted to the reading of the Scriptures and a deeper understanding of their faith.”

In October of 1973, the First International Leaders’ Conference was held at Grottaferrata, a suburb of Rome. One hundred and twenty leaders from thirty-four countries were present. Pope Paul VI received thirteen of them in a private conference. He said to them, “The spiritual lives of the faithful, therefore, come under the active pastoral responsibility of each Bishop in his own diocese. … The work of discernment is indispensable; it evolves upon those who are in charge of the Church ‘to whose special competence it belongs, not indeed to extinguish the Spirit, but to test all things and hold fast to what is good’ (Lumen Gentium 12). In this way the common good of the Church, to which the gifts of the Spirit are ordained, makes progress.”

The National Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement in January, 1975, which concluded with words of recommendation and encouragement; “To the members of the renewal, then, to pastors and to all the faithful of Christ, we commend the words of Scripture we take as our own guiding light: ‘Do not stifle the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test everything’ retain what is good. Avoid any semblance of evil’ I Thes. 5:19-22. We encourage those who already belong and we support the positive and desirable directions of the Charismatic Renewal.”

Pope Paul VI stated on May 19, addressing the participants at the 1975 International Conference in Rome, “It (the Charismatic Renewal) ought to rejuvenate the world, give it back a spirituality, a soul, and religious thought, it ought to reopen its closed lips to prayer and open its mouth to song, to joy, to hymns, and to witnessing. It will be very fortuitous for our times, for the faithful, that there should be a generation … who shout out to the world the glory and the greatness of the God of Pentecost.”

Pope John Paul II said to leaders of the renewal in Rome on December 1, 1979, “Through this action, he (the Holy Spirit) comes to the human spirit, and we begin again to live, to find ourselves, our identity, our whole humanity. So I am convinced that this movement is a very important component of this entire renewal of the Church, this spiritual renewal of the Church.”

In May, 1981, at the Fourth International Leaders’ Conference of the Charismatic Renewal in Rome, Pope John Paul II spoke to the leaders. One portion of his message was; “Pope John Paul described the movement for renewal in the Spirit as a ‘chance for the Church and for the world,’ and the six years since that Congress have borne out the hope that inspired his vision. The Church has seen the fruits of your devotion to prayer in a deepened commitment to holiness of life and love for the Word of God. We have noted with particular joy the way in which leaders of the renewal have more and more developed a broadened ecclesial vision, and have made efforts to make this vision increasingly a reality for those who depend on them for guidance. And we have likewise seen the signs of your generosity in sharing God’s gifts with the unfortunate of this world in justice and charity, so that all people may experience the priceless dignity that is theirs in Christ. May this work of love already begun in you be brought to successful completion.”

The National Conference of Catholic Bishops stated, “We especially rejoice in the efforts to foster the pursuit of holiness, to encourage Catholics to a fuller participation in the Mass and sacraments, to develop ministries to serve the parish and local church, to foster ecumenical bonds of unity with other Christians, to participate in evangelization, and to assist the development of this renewal in other countries. While this renewal pursues the Gospel priority of giving first emphasis to the praise, thanks, worship and love of God, we remind all that such love is not complete if it does not reach out to all our neighbors, especially the poor.

“We wish those in the Charismatic Renewal to know that we make our own the view of Yves Congar; ‘the Charismatic Renewal is a grace for the Church.’ We assure those in the Charismatic Renewal of the support they enjoy from the bishops of the United States, and we encourage them in their efforts to renew the life of the Church.”

Pope John Paul II’s message to leaders attending the Fifth International Leaders’ Conference of the Charismatic Renewal in Rome during the first week of May 1984 included the following; “A I said in my Easter message, the Holy Door of the Jubilee Year of the Redemption has now been closed, but we must keep remembering that, at Easter, the door of Christ’s tomb was opened once and for all. He who is the Resurrection and the Life knows nothing of closed doors, for he has conquered sin and death. Yet because of human freedom, many doors do not open to him. And for this reason I ask you and all the members of the Charismatic Renewal to continue to cry aloud to the world with me, ‘Open the doors to the Redeemer!’ … I am particularly pleased that you are concentrating on the sacraments in your reflections. This is of the greatest significance, for all your spiritual striving must be directed to a personal encounter of each individual with the Lord, in the community of the Church, which through the power of the Holy Spirit is herself the great sacrament of salvation.

“Real openness to the Holy Spirit as he vivifies and guides the Church helps you to live in union with the Lord Jesus.

“It is your strength and your special treasure and you are striving to exercise it in different ways. But this gift from God is also fragile treasure and one which you must take special care of. It is for this reason that your international meeting at the center of the Church, at a time so strongly marked by the Jubilee of the Redemption, can be of decisive importance for the whole Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

“Given the incredible support of the Church for the movement of the Spirit in these times, thus we can see that, ‘The Spirit calls each of us and the Church as a whole, after the pattern of Mary and the Apostles in the Upper Room, to accept and embrace the baptism in the Holy Spirit as the power of personal and communal transformation with all the graces and Charisms needed for the up-building of the Church and for our mission in the world. This mission has its origin in the Father reaching through the Son in the Spirit to touch and transform the Church and world to lead them in the Spirit through Christ back to the Father.’ (Fanning the Flame, p. 27)

“Thus, in the spirit of Leon Joseph Cardinal Suenens and our Holy Father John Paul II, we say again, with great thanksgiving and enthusiasm, that in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and in the grace of baptism in the Holy Spirit we wee God’s outpouring of a new Pentecost. This is a blessing for the church and for the world as we near the celebration of our lord’s 200^th birthday and the beginning of the Third Millennium of Christianity” (Grace for the New Springtime ’97).

In May 1998, Pope John Paul II spoke at the International conference for Catholic Charismatic Leaders n Rome. In his words, “The Catholic Charismatic Renewal has helped many Christians to rediscover the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in their lives, in the life of the Church and in the world; and this rediscovery has awakened in them a faith in Christ filled with joy, a great love of the Church and a generous dedication to her evangelizing mission.  …”