011: What Happened to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
If you want to subscribe to the Nick Alexander Podcast, click here.
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal has been around since 1967, and yet elements of charismata have been around since the time of Christ; but that said, these coalesced into major movements at the turn of last century.
In this episode, I share the history of the rise, and gradual fall, of this incredible movement. Whether you are Catholic or not, charismatic or not, I believe wholeheartedly that there are lessons here to be learned for all people who wish to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit in their lives, and the greater desire for renewal on a broad scale.
Also, I recommend you check out John Flaherty’s scribd page, where he lists all of the documents he could muster listing some of the history, and some of the abuses, of those in covenant communities. I do not agree with all of his conclusions, but I believe that his is a voice that cannot be ignored.
Further, if you wish to listen to some Pentecost-oriented worship music through the ages, please feel free to check out episode 44 of the Prayer Meeting Podcast.
Lastly, I have major book recommendations. I cannot recommend these books highly enough; they will give you a much fuller perspective on the renewal than I ever could. Note: these are affiliate links.
As by a New Pentecost: The Dramatic Beginning of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal
Days of Fire and Glory: The Rise and Fall of a Charismatic Community
Call to Holiness: Reflections on the Catholic Chrarismatic Renewal
If you have ideas about future podcast episodes, feel free to share them here.
If you want to subscribe to the Nick Alexander Podcast, click here.
I grew up in the Catholic Charismatic renewal; my parents were very much a part of it.
While I have great things to say about Charismatics, there are also some negative things. One is that I did not learn to pray the rosary until I was an adult. I never learned half the memorized prayers that other cradle Catholics did, and it harmed my understanding of Catholicism to do so.
In addition to that, much of my theology as a child was shaped by the music of this culture- sometimes leading me into error and heresy. Henry Belloc wrote that a heresy is taking a good part of the faith to an extreme- and much of the Charismatic/Pentecostal movement, both in Catholicism and in Protestant, fits that definition.
Thank you for your perspective, Theodore.
I do want to reiterate that some Catholic charismatic communities and prayer groups discouraged getting deeper into Catholic-specific practices, like the rosary and Eucharistic adoration, all for the sake of Christian unity. Some, however, encouraged wading into such deeper waters, as they started their groups with a rosary or divine mercy chaplet. It seems your parents hung around those of the first group. That said, I sincerely hope you are currently being nurtured with solid faith.