San Francisco Archdiocese Catholic Charismatic Renewal

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

"The Baptism in the Spirit is not a sacrament, but it is related to several sacraments. The Baptism in the Spirit makes real and in a way renews Christian initiation... The Baptism in the Spirit's effectiveness in reactivating baptism consists in this: finally man contributes his part –– namely, he makes a choice of faith, prepared in repentance, that allows the work of God to set itself free and to emanate all its strength. It is as if the plug is pulled and the light is switched on. The gift of God is finally "untied" and the Spirit is allowed to flow like a fragrance in the Christian life."

by: Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFMCap – See Full Article Here

Proclaiming the Lordship and
Love of Jesus Christ!

Serving Charismatic Catholics in the counties of
San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin.

Reflection: February 5, 2012

TO BE A WITNESS

by Catherine Doherty

Slowly, slowly, quietly, like a tide coming in, we Christians are beginning to pray. Across America and Canada people find time to enter into solitude, fasting and prayer, to be able to confront Christ.

For this confrontation is needed if we are going to change the social, political world that is swiftly rolling to the brink of disaster.

We must meet God! This is quite evident if we really want to meet men. Meeting man individually and collectively in love based on the teachings of the Gospel of Christ, is the only fundamentally unifying force in this world. And it is we, the Christians, who must let this force loose, by witnessing to it.

To be a witness does not consist in engaging in propaganda leading to conversions, or stirring people up to adopt means of hatred and violence against one another. It simply means to live in such a way that one's life would not make sense if God did not exist.

This is the time. This is the hour when every Christian must reflect God. Be the icon of Christ... and see in every human being the reflection of Christ.

We must live the Gospel. In order to do so, we must pray for faith, which is the cradle of charity and hope! We must pray and ask God to make us realize that he, the Triune God, lives within us, and that in him we can begin to make violence against the only person a Christian can make violence against — himself. For it is said that “heaven is taken by violence." (Matt 11:12)

To love God with one's whole heart and to love one's neighbour as we love ourselves, means also to love ourselves the way God wants us to. To follow his words – "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you love one another as I have loved you," means we must straighten the paths of the Lord in ourselves so that He can come through. Then all men will know him through us.

To love our enemies is to approach everyone with deep tenderness, compassion, and understanding (which are the fruits of love). This includes the human Church from the Pope down. It also means that we do not break “structures,” we restore them to their original and precedent purity.

This is the time and the hour to "lay down your life for your brethren."

This is the time to realize the mystery of God touching – enveloping, loving – the mystery of man; and to understand that in this mystery, which is the mystery of love, lies the answer to all our problems.

The understanding will be also mystical – mysterious – and it will come to us through prayer, for the Holy Spirit speaks to us constantly. So often we do not listen to him. Listening to him is praying. Let us begin.

Adapted from Restoration, September 1972

Catherine Doherty (1896-1985), born in Russia, was foundress of Madonna House and a prolific writer and teacher. Her passionate zeal impelled her to pass on her faith in God, and she is now being considered for sainthood by the Catholic Church.

"You Will Receive Power"

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes down on you; then you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, yes, even to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

"Today, millions of Catholics in more than 115 countries are involved in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. What accounts for this dramatic growth? Those involved in the Renewal say that God has touched them in some profound way, releasing the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

The goal of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is to serve the mission of the Church by enabling people to live a renewed and Christian life in the power of the Holy Spirit. Every Christian is called to be charismatic – that is, to be equipped with gifts of service for the good of the Church. (1Cor.12)

In the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Catholics speak of being "baptized in the Holy Spirit." This statement does not change the Catholic teaching about the Sacrament of Baptism. It simply means that the power of the Spirit received in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation often awaits a fuller "release" in the lives of many Christians."

Click here to view a video about the History of the Charismatic Renewal in the Catholic Church.

Miracle Prayer

Catholic Bible Search

"A new online Catholic Bible search engine, which enables people to find specific Scripture passages using keywords, has been launched. The program has been developed by Catholic.net with the support of the US Bishops' Conference. It is believed to be the first complete Catholic Bible translation made available for keyword search."