Afternoon Session, presented by Fr. Bob Hogan, S.M. and Obie Nicolini of the Incarnate Word Community in Dayton.
Q: How can I get a list of the prayer groups?
A: Fr. Bob Hogan has a list of the prayer groups in the Dayton and northern archdiocese, Dave Noe of Emmanuel has the list for the Cincinnati prayer groups, and Joe Bessler of Mustard Seed has the list for the Northern Kentucky prayer groups. [We plan to include a list of the Cincinnati prayer groups in a future issue of Emmanuel.]
Q: I have been asked to present a program for Confirmation parents but it cannot be explicitly �charismatic.� What should I do?
A (Fr. Bob): First of all, the Holy Spirit works in other ways than just the charismatic renewal. We need to realize this and be humble about it. At the same time, we need to be honest and tell people our own background. We do not have to apologize for being charismatic. The pope has shown his support for the charismatic renewal and the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Office is under the Vatican. We need to keep telling people about the grace of the renewal. We need people to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Not all of those who are baptized in the Holy Spirit need to be in prayer groups, but some need to make this commitment. Some people are called into the charismatic movement, not for the sake of the movement, but so that the baptism in the Holy Spirit can be brought into the heart of the Church. This is one purpose of the charismatic renewal�to bring a deeper understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit to the wider Church.
As for the program for the Confirmation parents, you can put together something from parts of other resources. Ask the question: �What can I say to this particular audience? What will they be able to receive? What must I say to them?� You want to get across some of these fundamental teachings: 1) we all need a power and guidance that is greater than ourselves; 2) we all need to be able to enter into God�s presence in prayer. Praise and worship are important! People need to hear this even if they are uncomfortable with it. We need to help them enter into this life of prayer, into the presence of God in deep worship. This does not mean that we have to promote a particular style of worship (hands in the air, tongues, etc.); 3) we must help them to understand salvation in Christ and then help them make a personal commitment to Jesus. These basic truths are the same for all Christians, not just charismatics. We all need to be open to be empowered and guided by God, or we are just humanists.
Q: The women in our group seem to be more open to the gifts of the Spirit than the men. Is this true in general? What can I do to help the men?
A (Fr. Bob): Women seem to have a more intuitive sense that helps them to be more open to inner inspiration. Sometimes the problem with men is a real lack of openness, and they need to get over that. But even if they are willing, men are more task oriented. They will need more specific teaching and encouragement. Men more than women need to understand what they are supposed to be doing before they will act. Sometimes it is helpful to have small groups of men only. Then they may participate in a way they never would in a mixed group. While it is good for men and women to meet separately, it is also important for married couples to pray and share together. Also, while men need more encouragement to share their inspirations, women need more discernment. They are intuitive to things from many sources and need more to identify what is from God before sharing their inspirations.
(Obie): Men�s nights are a good idea. You have to talk to men differently. You have to appeal to the way they are. You have to call them forth. It is true that women usually respond much easier than men do. But men can respond. Their emotions are just as deep. It�s just that their wall is thicker. You man need to break through that wall, and not so delicately as you would with women. It takes a special gift, a special wisdom to do this. It takes the right person so speak to them. We also need to encourage the men who are exercising the gifts and hold them up as role models to the other men.
(Fr. Bob): To sum up: 1) men need more specific teaching. They need to understand more before they�ll be open to it; 2) men need a more specific calling: �It�s important for you to be open to this.� �We need you as part of this.�
Q: What would cause a prayer group to lack the gifts? How do we correct this?
A (Fr. Bob): The gifts don�t come out of thin air. The prayer group members must have a life of personal prayer and praise. Each member must have regular daily prayer time, read Scripture daily, and ponder the Word of God, taking it in. Then you have a storehouse that the Holy Spirit can draw from during the prayer meeting. You also must be trying to grow in the gift of worship. Worship clears you out enough to be open to what God is saying inside. Then the gifts are manifested when the Holy Spirit pulls something out of your storehouse during the prayer meeting�prophecy, words of wisdom and knowledge, etc. By the way, let�s not emphasize prophecy so much that we neglect the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge. These gifts come out as small teachings. The word of wisdom could be an insight into some aspect of the faith. The word of knowledge could be an insight as to what God is doing in the group right now. You don�t generally speak in the first person as you would when giving prophecy. Prophecy usually encourages or lifts up the group, gets your attention, or sets a direction. It usually doesn�t give a whole teaching. Once again, it is essential to the prayer meeting for people to have prayer and study and reflection as a consistent part of their lives.