Today, there are so many groups or communities claiming that the Holy Spirit is working with and in them. All of them claim that they receive the same baptism of the Holy Spirit as do the Apostles of the Lord JC on the day of Pentecost. They supported this claim by what they said miraculous events and manifestations of spirit not previously experienced when they have not yet the baptism. Some of these manifestations are prophesy, healing, speaking in tongues, slain in the spirit, holy laughters and more others.
What is strange in these things is that these happened to both Catholics and Non-Catholics. Non Catholics are those that belongs to quasi protestant evangelical sects and cults who expressly do not follow Catholic teachings and practices. They were the very ones who destroy sacred images, and statues of the saints particularly that of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They do not have the crucifix with the corpus of the Lord but a simple and plain cross without Christ. The same people who abhor the repetitive prayer and meditation of the Holy Rosary. Their pastors prayed over to their followers so as to drive away from them all influences of Catholicism which they labeled as Satanic, demonic and threat to their eternal salvation.
On the other hand, some Catholics priest and lay, influenced by these manifestations, also promote and practice what these non-Catholics are experiencing with the exception that they do use or implement sacred images as purely visual aid in their gatherings. This Catholic community or group is a new brand of Catholicism existing within the Roman Catholic umbrella. They claim they do are receiving baptism of the Holy Spirit and thus manifestations like prophesy, healing, speaking in tongues, slain in the spirit, holy laughters and host other things are proof that indeed the Holy Spirit works in them.
The question is why then Catholics and Non Catholics are both having similar manifestations? Are this really coming from the Third Person of the Holy Trinity or from other spirit? Is this what the Lord JC tells us in the gospel about those who claimed they do miracles in His name and yet the Lord replied them He do not know them? If this be the true works of the Holy Spirit, with the great number and accelerated rate of conversions to this kind of faith and practices - why then our Lord tells His disciples if would He still find faith on earth when comes back (in the Second coming). There is a true Catholic and Christian faith whose believers will decrease and seemingly diminished because of so many reasons.
Charismatic, by the way, came from the word Charisma (meaning "gift," "of/from/favored by God/the divine") is a trait found in individuals whose personalities are characterized by a powerful charm and magnetism (attractiveness). and markedly superior capabilities of interpersonal communication and persuasion. One who is charismatic is said to be capable of using their personal being, rather than just speech or logic alone, to influence others in a personal and direct manner, and effectively communicate an argument or concept to them. It is thus a subjective rather than an objective judgment about such persons and falls into the domain of the irrational rather than rational responses. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charismatic
Pentecostalism is a movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit.[1] The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, a Greek term describing the Jewish Feast of Weeks. For Christians, this event commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus Christ, as described in the second chapter of the Book of Acts.[2] Pentecostals tend to see their movement as reflecting the same kind of spiritual power, worship styles and teachings that were found in the early church. For this reason, some Pentecostals also use the term Apostolic or full gospel to describe their movement. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecostalism
See some videos from youtube:
CATHOLICS?
PENTECOSTAL NON CATHOLIC SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT MANIFESTATION
SPEAKING IN TONGUES
OTHER MANIFESTATION/EVENTS WITHIN CHARISMATIC/PENTECOSTALISM
The OT and the NT describe spirit and Holy Spirit manifestations which I will discuss later.
to be continued....
