The Catholic Charismatic Renewal represents a significant movement within the Church that emphasizes the active and experiential presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. Originating in 1967, the Renewal has been described as a “current of grace” intended for the renewal of the entire Church, not a separate or distinct entity. Key tenets of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal include the belief in the availability of the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit to every believer, a focus on developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the importance of deep emotional experiences in worship, and the active expression of spiritual gifts or charisms. A central experience within this Renewal is often referred to as “baptism in the Holy Spirit,” understood in a Catholic context as a renewal or awakening of the graces already received through sacramental Baptism and Confirmation, leading to a more conscious awareness of God’s power and presence.
Protestant charismatic teachings on the Holy Spirit share some similarities with the Catholic perspective but also have distinct emphases. Protestant charismatic Christianity generally emphasizes the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit and the manifestation of spiritual gifts as a normal part of a believer’s daily life. The concept of “baptism with the Holy Spirit” is also central, often viewed as a distinct experience subsequent to water baptism, through which believers receive spiritual gifts. In Pentecostal traditions, speaking in tongues is often considered the primary evidence of having received this baptism in the Spirit. While the broader charismatic movement within Protestantism has made speaking in tongues less of a prerequisite, there is still a strong emphasis on the manifestation of supernatural gifts such as healing, miracles, and prophecy.
Discerning and adapting relevant charismatic concepts within Catholic theology requires careful consideration to ensure consistency with Catholic doctrine and liturgical practice. The Catholic Church affirms the existence of charisms, or spiritual gifts, as graces of the Holy Spirit given for the building up of the Church and the good of humanity. These gifts, which can be extraordinary or simple, are to be accepted with gratitude and used for the common good. The Catholic understanding of “baptism in the Holy Spirit” emphasizes it as a grace of Pentecostal renewal that revitalizes the graces received at Baptism and Confirmation, rather than a separate sacrament. Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa suggests that the sacraments, while valid, may have their intended fruits blocked until a person actively responds in faith, and the “baptism in the Spirit” can be seen as this conscious opening to the Spirit’s power. It is crucial to remember that all charisms are given for the service of others and the edification of the Church, not for personal merit or sensationalism, and they must always be tested through prayer, Scripture, and the guidance of the Church’s Magisterium. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal, while drawing on shared experiences with Protestant charismatic traditions, ultimately seeks to foster a vibrant life in the Holy Spirit within the established framework of the Catholic Church, respecting its sacraments, doctrines, and authority.
Pierre-Alain Giffard, Director of Pastoral Work
Email: pierre.alain.giffard@gmail.com
Book on parish revitalization and gowth:
- BOOK – Revive and Thrive: Transforming Parishes into Mission Driven Communities provides a blueprint to breathe new life into parish communities and engage in the core principles of evangelization and disciple-making.
Articles on evangelization and parish revitalization:
- Evangelization: A Call to Live the Gospel
- A Self-Assessment Tool for Discerning Your Evangelization Style
- Discerning Your Role in Evangelization and Renewal
- Following Christ: A Blessing or a Burden?
- A Prayer for God’s Miracles in Every Situation
- Visions, Prophecies, and Divine Messages: A Call for Discernment
- Key Takeaways for Evangelization
- Grace and Common Sense
- The Message of Jesus: An Invitation to New Life
- Planting Seeds of Faith and Hope
- Go Forth with Joy: Faith That Inspires
- A Virtuous Circle of Evangelization
- The concept of the “Good News”
- Love as the Heart of Church Life and Mission
- The Spirit of Spiritual Conversation: A Path to Transformation
- Prayer for When We Feel Lost
- How to Share Your Faith with Others
- Love and Time
- Evangelization: Sharing the Joy, Peace, and Hope of Christ
- Priestly Leadership in Evangelization
- Café evangelization at the University of Mary Washington
- Evangelization: A Living Testament of God’s Love
- Living in The Joy of The Gospel
- In The Beginning Was the Word: The Primary Role of Scriptures in Evangelization
- One-Phrase Evangelization
- Asking Each Day for the Grace to Help Someone
- The Parish as an Expression of God’s Love for the World
- If no one speaks, no one will know
- Evangelizing Through Healing: Manifesting God’s Loving Presence
- The Parable of the Wise Landowner
- Extraordinary Signs in Extraordinary Times
- The Evangelizing Message of Medjugorje
- The distinction between proselytism and authentic evangelization
- What God Needs from Us Is Love, Reconciliation, and a Spirit of Forgiveness
- Evangelization: A Collaborative Mission of Love
- Prayer and Service that Finds Favor With God
- The Transformative Power of Love
- The Evangelization Power of Prayer and Love for God
- Everyday Evangelization
- Every Act of Love is Evangelization
- Loving Jesus and Making Him Loved
- Embracing a Lifestyle of Worship and Praise
- A Prayer for Divine Healing and Restoration
- Factors That Have Proven to Attract People to Christ
- Evangelization: Finding Life and Giving Life
- The Eucharist: Source And Summit of All Evangelization
- Practical Steps for Reaching the Unchurched
- Bible Sharing Guide for Small Groups: A Synodal Approach
- Bringing People to Christ by Inspiring Love and Praise for God
- Proclaiming God’s Word: A Sacred Call
- From Decline to Renewal: The Transformation of New Life Church–Farmington
- The Church’s Social Doctrine and Evangelization
- Kindness: A Christian Perspective
- How to Bring Someone to Christ
- The Ultimate Purpose of Human Life – Glorifying God
- From Near-Death to New Life: A Rural Church’s Revitalization Journey
- Evangelization simply: “Taste and see that the LORD is good!” (Psalm 34:8)
- Revitalization of Rural Churches
- Attracting Converts to the Catholic Faith
- Addressing Low Attendance in Churches
- Fostering a Sacred Atmosphere during the Sunday Mass
- Prayer to be baptized in the Holy Spirit
- Jesus is Thirsty for Souls
- Praying And Sharing The Good News With God’s Redemptive Names
- Embracing the Call to Evangelize
- What is Most Pleasing to God? Bringing Souls to Christ
- The Growth of the Church of the Nativity (Fr. Michael White)
- Deliverance Prayer, by Fr. Stephen J. Rossetti (AUDIO – mp3)
- The Growth of Saint Benedict Parish (Fr. James Mallon)
- Five Pillars of the Christian Life
- Encountering Christ: The Path to Transformation
- What does it mean to have a personal relationship with Jesus?
- Unleashing The Evangelization Potential of Your Parish
- The Ultimate Goal of Evangelization
- God’s Longing for Love and our Mission to Make it Known
- A prayer for those whom we wish to encounter Christ
- Memorable Sundays
- Fr. Bedard’s Three-Step Blueprint for Evangelisation
- Guide for The Missionary Transformation of Parishes
- Divine Encounters: A Practical Guide for Small Evangelization Groups
- The Missionary Transformation of Sant’Eustorgio Parish
- Creating Vibrant Faith Communities: Insights from ‘Excellent Catholic Parishes’
- Sharing The Gospel According to People’s Needs And Receptivity
- A Prayer for Inviting Others to Evangelization Meetings and Services
- Welcoming Church Guests and Visitors: Dos and Don’ts
- Various Dimensions of Evangelization
- The True Measure of Success
- Pope Francis on Evangelization
- Revitalizing the Rural Parish for Mission
- Factors Leading to Christian Conversion
- Evangelizing Through Random Acts of Kindness
- Questions To Start Spiritual Conversations
- Three Feet From Gold
- Spreading the Gospel One Act at a Time
- Gather, Witness and Invite
- Prayer to Receive the Spiritual Gifts of The Holy Spirit
- The Language of Evangelization
- Key Factors for Parish Growth According to Rich Birch
- How to defeat Satan?
- Bringing Love, Hope and Healing Through the Gospel
- Love: Our Fundamental Vocation
- Touched by the Master
- A Man, a Dog, and the Ultimate Love
- The essence of evangelization: Loving God and our neighbours
- Loving Our Enemies and Reconciling with Others
- A Powerful Prayer for Healing: You Are The LORD Who Heals Me
- Living a Life of Love: Mother Teresa’s Legacy
- Living a Life of Love: Lessons from the New Testament
- In The Shadows Of Darkness, A Powerful Force Is At Work
- 19 Pastoral Orientations for Parish Renewal and Growth
- The Missionary Renewal of Catechesis
- Characteristics of missionary parishes
- Powerful healing prayer attributed to St. Padre Pio
- We are called to share our faith with others
- Should we seek to grow the Church?
- Find a Need and Fill It – Revealing God’s Heart in the Community
- 15 Habits to Evangelize on a Daily Basis
- The Church’s Mission
- Three Barriers to Building An Invitational Culture In Your Parish
- The Relational Evangelizer
- Doing Church at Home
- The Blind Girl
- A Group of Frogs
- The Elephant Rope
- A Shared Faith is a Growing Faith
- In The Shoes Of The Unchurched
- Parish Evangelizing Cells
- Six Unique Features of Missional Parishes
- Steps Towards Becoming A Missional Parish
- What Is Evangelization, And How Should It Be Carried Out?
- Discussion And Self-Assessment Questions For Parish Evangelization
- A Missional Church Is A Church That Prays
- The Jesus Prayer: A Method To Pray At All Times
- What can help children raised Catholic continue practicing the faith as adults?
- An Example of a Missionary Parish: Phoenix First Assembly of God
- Satan’s Tactics
- Learning to Be a Missionary
- When we cry out to God, he answers
- Presence and Proclamation
- Saving those who are lost
- Saint-Nazaire Parish: The story of a missionary transformation
- Small Groups and Evangelization
- Evangelizing By Inviting People To Receive Jesus As Lord And Saviour
- You Will Receive Power…
- Have You Heard About the Law of Three Hearings and Seven Touches?
- Three Habits of a Fruitful Christian Life
