Doctrine of
the Catholic Charismatic Renewal
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is not a single, unified
world wide movement. It does not have a single founder or group of founders as
many other movements do. It has no membership lists. It is a highly diverse
collection of individuals, groups and activities, often quite independent of one
another, in different stages and modes of development and with differing
emphases, that nevertheless share the same fundamental experience and espouse
the same general goals.
This pattern of loose-knit relationships is found at the
diocesan and national levels as well as on the international level. These
relationships are very often characterized by free association, dialogue, and
collaboration rather than by integration into an ordered structure. Leadership
is characterized more by offering service to those who want it rather than by
governance.
The central goals of Catholic Charismatic Renewal, or Catholic Pentecostal
renewal as it is also called, include:
- To foster mature and continuous personal conversion to Jesus Christ, our Lord
and Savior.
- To foster a decisive personal receptivity to the person, presence and the power
of the Holy Spirit.
- These two spiritual graces are often experienced together in what is called in
different parts of the world a baptism in the Holy Spirit, or a release of the
Holy Spirit, or a renewal of the Holy Spirit. They are most often understood as
a personal acceptance of the graces of Christian initiation and as an empowering
for personal Christian service in the Church and in the world.
- To foster the reception and use of the spiritual gifts (charismata) not only in
the charismatic renewal but also in the broader Church. These gifts, ordinary
and extraordinary are abundantly found among laity, religious and clergy. Their
proper understanding and use in harmony with other elements of the church life
is a source of strength for Christians on their journey towards holiness and in
the carrying out of their mission.
- To foster the work of evangelization in the power of the Holy Spirit, including
the evangelization of the unchurched, the re-evangelization of nominal
Christians, the evangelization of culture and social structures. The renewal
especially promotes sharing in the Church's mission by proclaiming the gospel in
word and deed, and by bearing witness to Jesus Christ through personal testimony
and through those works of faith and justice to which each one is called.
- To foster the ongoing growth in holiness through the proper integration of these
charismatic emphases with the full life of the Church. This is accomplished
through participation in a rich sacramental and liturgical life, and
appreciation of the tradition of Catholic prayer and spirituality, and ongoing
formation in Catholic doctrine guided by the Church's magisterium, and
participation in the pastoral plan of the Church.
These goals and the projects that flow from them have marked the Catholic
charismatic renewal in individuals, prayer groups, communities, local, diocesan
and national service teams and ministries."
This text comes from the ICCRS-statutes, see www.iccrs.org
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