(Website Administrator's Note: Theis was taken, word-for-word, from the Diocese of Spokane (Wa.) website. That's right - an official CATHOLIC website. If anything the in the catholic charismatic "renewal" sounds similar to anything in today's Protestant churches, it is. This is proof from Rome's own mouth that the modern-day Charismatic Movement came from the Vatican!)

A new and very important concept came forth as one of the results of the II Vatican Council: that the charisms or gifts of the Holy Spirit should play a more important role in the Christians life; that these gifts should offer much to aid in worship, and in the decisions and evangelization in the Church.

In 1967 a new movement began in Pittsburgh when four students decided to meet and pray together in response to the councils suggestion. From that decision there began to occur some extraordinary things in the Catholic Church. A fire of the Holy Spirit was started and has spread throughout much of the world. This movement was given the name Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

Those who are and have been involved in this renewal are excited for Jesus; for His gospel, for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and for His love, joy and peace which they find and share through Him. In other words, they rejoice because Jesus was raised from the dead and is now the king of the universe. They are convinced that the gospel of Jesus which was preached by Peter and Paul in the ancient cities of Imperial Rome, is just as valid and vibrant today as it was then. The so called "Charismatics" accept the gospel as it is written and as it is taught by the Church today. They hope to experience Jesus as if He were living among us today, forming a community of love through the Holy Spirit.

Does this in some way seem to be a novelty and maybe not so orthodox? Absolutely not. However, it is true that in the beginning many have feared (and some still fear) that the Charismatic Renewal will prove to be against Church authority, divisive or even hostile because of it's origin in Pentecostalism. However, after many years of prudent leadership and dialogue with an open minded hierarchy, the movement has become more and more universally accepted. There always remain those who suspect that it is nothing more than a planned Pentecostal infiltration.

One thing that helped a lot in its acceptance was Cardinal Suenens acceptance and participation in the renewal. Another thing is that the recent Popes have accepted and respect the movement. Now most of the bishops accept and allow the movement to function within their dioceses. There even exists local and national Charismatic Renewal councils which foster and guide the movement.

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal presents no new doctrine. On the contrary, it emphasizes the truths which the Catholic Church teaches as well as maintaining it's ecumenical tendency. If there is anything at all new about the Renewal it is the belief that the CHARISMS OR GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT SHOULD PLAY A MUCH GREATER ROLE IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (1 Cor. 12: 4-11).

The II Vatican Council opened the door to this concept in order to emphasize the fact that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit are not restricted to the time of the apostles, but that they are a continuous reality. Lumen Gentium, the councils document on the Church, states that "these charisms, both the ordinary and extraordinary, because they are necessary to the Church, should be received with thanks and consolation."

Those that are involved in the renovation feel that the Holy Spirit actually manifests itself in the same way as described in the Acts of the Apostles. The Spirit not only comes to us, but it wants us to experience it's presence. As Jesus states in John 14:7: "You know Him because He lives with you and is in you."

For the majority, to participate in the Renewal, is an encounter with the Holy Spirit for the first time, or at least, in a new way. With us since our baptism, the paraclete wants to reveal himself, and waits for our invitation to do so. When Christians pray that they may experience His presence, He very often responds allowing a knowledge of God so strong that it produces a peace and happiness which can't be described, but which produces strong praise and gratitude in the recipient.

This experience is called A FREEING OF THE SPIRIT, THE FULLNESS OF THE SPIRIT, AND SOMETIMES BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT" (Acts 1:5) In the latter case, it does not mean a second baptism. We know that there is only one baptism which cannot be repeated. The results of this experience gives the person a new sense of valor, a desire to share testimony about the glorified Jesus and how He is acting in their life. They receive a new faith in which the Holy Spirit can continue to function in and through, using them as instruments of His spiritual gifts.

The Acts of the Apostles tells us in (2:42-47): The early Christians formed communities so united that all felt as one. So it is with those brothers and sisters who come together in the Spirit. In their weekly meetings, prayer groups offer such an opportunity through spontaneous prayer, songs and hymns, scripture readings and manifestations of the Spirits gifts. These sessions could last for hours, and could include prayers for healing the sick and afflicted.

These prayer groups are functioning all over the world. But what actually takes place at these sessions? It boils down to this: praise of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the primary purpose of the prayer meeting. Prayer meetings may vary with their activities or sequence, but whatever is done should be done in the Spirit. That means that the end should be to honor Jesus Christ, and that all present should get to know Him better and to love Him more.

What are those different activities? Naturally prayer is the utmost. There are different forms of prayer. For example PRAISE in recognition and thanksgiving for our many blessings received from God; CONTEMPLATIVE prayer .. quiet prayer; PRAYING IN TONGUES; letting the Spirit take over for us; PRAYER OF PETITION FOR FAVORS AND HEALING.

The music also plays a very important Part at the meetings, and is considered to be a form of prayer. There can also be Scripture readings or pronouncements; the use of the Charismatic Gifts such as PROPHECY and WORDS OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE. TESTIMONIES can be shared to edify the people present; DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS to distinguish the will of the Lord; and finally PERIODS OF SILENCE in order to hear the Lords voice.

Why pray in the first place? Prayer groups have their bases on Jesus's promise: "Where there are two or three united in my name, there I am also" (Matt. 18:20). Where Jesus is, so is the Father who is also our Father. When Jesus, our brother and savior, unites us around Him, it presents us with the opportunity of an encounter with Him and with the Father.

Prayer is the answer to the presence of God. As He is holy, we adore Him; we make known His glory; we offer praise through His Son Jesus Christ Jesus being the great high priest, makes our words His and, as such makes them pleasing to God the Father. Because He is infinite perfection, the unimaginable magnificence far above all human words, we contemplate Him ... we rest united with Him in silence, or praying in tongues. St. Paul says in l Cor. 14:2: " He who speaks in tongues does not speak to men, but to God Himself."

There are many other manifestations of the Holy Spirit. I've only mentioned several just to give some idea why the prayer groups can call themselves "Charismatic". The Spirit makes His presence known when a group believes that these charismatic channels are truly a reality and use them to pray. However, individuals as well as groups, must learn to recognize or discern the voice of the spirit and how to use the spiritual gifts in such a way that faith is strengthened as well as fraternal love.

The Charismatic prayer groups help the faithful to prepare for the experience known as "Baptism in the Spirit", or giving into the Spirit. Some theologians explain this as being powerfully conscious, in a new way, of the graces which are received in the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation; especially the loving resence of the Trinity within us; the peace of Christ, the joy of the Holy Spirit. This experience almost always comes accompanied by the awakening of a Charismatic experience. The gift of tongues is the most common. Sometimes a strong impulse to praise God; a great feeling of joy that abounds; a strong desire to testify to others about Jesus.

Prayer groups usually differ from one place to another in the sense that different elements flow forth one to another and a strict formula of activities may not be necessary.

For example, a hymn can lead a group to a moment of profound silence ... from that silence might come a prayer of praise; then another hymn, then silence again. Then someone may receive a prophetic Word which is manifested to the group with conviction, after which some quiet prayer may come forth expressing thanks to God for the Word; this may be followed by another hymn which corresponds to the message received. What I'm trying to say is that, although prayer meetings may be prepared to a certain extent, they must remain open to the movement of the Holy Spirit who should be allowed to direct the meeting. Incidently, for this reason, those who are designated to direct the prayer meeting should always spend some time in prayer with others before starting the meeting, asking the presence of the Holy Spirit and putting the direction in His hands.

The duration of prayer meetings is variable and could last for several hours and should be realized in an open and free atmosphere where everyone can contribute with their special gifts and with their prayers. A variety of balanced elements, without undue domination by any one individual or aspect, offers almost unlimited participation and avoids monotony.

Thus, praying, reading, using the gifts of the Holy Spirit, sharing in silence with God's people, are some of the things that take place in prayer groups. Far from being magical or mechanical practices, those activities have no meaning if they are not motivated by faith and love.

It's true that one of the motives for participating in prayer groups is to know the joy of the Lord. We ought to put confidence in Jesus and share His love. However, it is necessary that each participant feel accepted, welcomed, and respected by all the rest. Critical, judgmental or argumentative attitudes, are poisonous and diminish the vitality of the whole group, and limit the reception of God's favors.

Thousands and thousands of Christians in all the world are finding in Charismatic prayer groups, a significant way of expressing the Lords praise, and finding God's light and strength, applying the gospels to their everyday lives. They do not consider this to be a substitute for their Sunday parochial liturgies. On the contrary they know that by stimulating their faith, their appreciation of all the ways the Lord is present to us makes for a Christian community of love.

-From The Diocese of Spokane (Wa.) website.