Fellow Catholics: Have any of you attended a "Charismatic Masses" and what are your thoughts on the subject?

Question

sorry, that should be ANY charismatic Masses

Answer 1

Well, the Origin of the present day Charismatic Movement can be traced back to the “holiness movement” which was began in the late 19th century in the united states by the Protestant preacher Charles fox Parham who began preaching (1901) to his topeka congregation that speaking in tongues was objective evidence of baptism in the spirit.

The Charismatic movement gained its influence in the Catholic Church with the efforts of various individuals such as Cardinal Suenens and Kevin Ranaghan who helped deceived a number of well meaning Catholics into thinking this would be a great way of being united with those outside the Church while learning to “experience the holy spirit”.
The Catholic Promoters of this Pentecostal movement have been moved far from orthodox in their faith (2 Thess 2:14).

That is why Archbishop Dwyer, of Portland, Oregon, in a scathing criticism of the charismatic movement, warned in 1974: "We regard it bluntly as one of the most dangerous trends in the Church in our time, closely allied in spirit with other disruptive and divisive movements threatening grave harm to unity and damager to countless souls."

I have been to one healing mass and that is the only one I will ever go to. The layman who prayed over me put his fingers on the side of my head (temples) and pushed me back by pressing in with his fingers. He persuaded me to fall back and said it was the Holy Spirit at work. (There were men behind me ready to catch me and place me on the church floor.)
Before the Mass bagan he said that he does not push people back in order for them to fall, that is why he places his fingers on the temple area of the head. That way he can't be accused of pushing people back to make them fall like Benny Hinn. Well, he did the exact opposite.
This man was a former protestant, he and his wife tour the country with their healing Masses in cooperation with the local pastor.

The Charismatic movement places great emphasis on "bodily healing" and tells people that "God is not wanting anybody to be sick", but they have not Scripture to show us where God ever said that. Many of them scoff and sneer at such passages. II Cor. 12:7-9: "And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me. For which thrice I besought the Lord, that it might depart from me. And He said to me: 'My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmities, that the power of Christ might dwell in me.'"

When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, He taught them the Our Father. Simple. Not an emotional, energy-packed experience. Not a "gift" which some people receive, while others do not (i.e. praying in "tongues"), but rather a simple prayer which any man, woman or child can say.
For those Apostles who spoke in tongues in the first centrury of the Church, it was in order to communicate the Gospel and be understood by the different peoples they encountered. The Apostles spoke in their own language, Greek , Hebrew,Latin, Aramaic, and were understood by the ones they evangelized in their own language by power of the Holy Spirit. That was speaking in tongues.
If you are in a Charismatic activity, and you speak in tongues, where is the understanding of the message? Who interprets the tongue?
Another former Pentecostalist who became a Catholic convert, Jerry Matatics, a Catholic Apologist, simulated having received such “Spirit” and gave the impression that he started to speak in tongues. Actually, he was just repeating one or two sentences of a psalm in Hebrew; he understood the meaning of the words perfectly. The interpreter, who didn’t know a single word of Hebrew, gave a complete different meaning to the sentences.

Be not decieved for the devil comes as an angel of light. Discern the spirits and guage them against the lives of the Saints, the Magesterium and Doctines of the Church.
"For false Christ’s and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect." - Mark 13:22

Answer 2

I am a very old school Catholic...very traditional and conservative. As such, I was the last person who would ever go to a Charismatic Mass. I used to think that Charismatics weren't "true" Catholics. In my opinion, there wasn't room in the RCC for both us "real" Catholics and those Charismatic lunatics on the fringe.

However, the joke was on me, and one day God decided to set me straight. In prayer, He graced me with the gift of tongues. No one could have been more surprised than me!

I didn't understand the whole "tongues thing". So I did a lot more praying, a lot of questioning, and a lot of reading/studying. And then I most unworthily accepted and have come to appreciate this special gift from God. The more open I have been to the Lord, the more He has blessed me with some other Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Since then I have been to Charismatic Mass, healing services, Bible studies and even a weekend conference. However I also still pray the rosary, go to Adoration and am looking forward to attending Latin Mass sometimes.

What I now know is that Catholic Charismatics aren't like those crazy hoopin' and hollerin' new-agey people you see on televangelist programs. You actually can be Charismatic and incredibly reverent all at the same time.

I thank our Heavenly Father for His grace and love and for finding me worthy!

Answer 3

I attended a Charismatic Mass for the first time only recently, merely as a favor to a friend, who invited me.

I had no personal intentions, only intending to ask for the healing of a few sick friends and relatives.

As I left the church after Mass, I realized that my left knee, which had been seriously messed up for some 15 years, due to an injury, was no longer "messed up".

To try it out, I walked over 8 miles the very next day, with no pain ... and no problems whatsoever.

It's still in great shape.

Now I'm trying to figure out if God works on automobiles, too.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Fellow Catholics: Have any of you attended a "Charismatic Masses" and what are your thoughts on the subject?

Answer 5

I've led music at a couple of healing masses, and held a couple of praise and worship nights... it is not quite the same thing as Pentecostal worship... Yes, I believe in the gift of tongues, but God doesn't give these gifts to show-offs, which is why I think the Holy Spirit doesn't go anywhere near a lot of those showy holy rollers. So with us, there's no people screeching "blethargoooooshnork!" trying to impress everyone else with their hold on the spirit, or anything like that.

Just a lot of tears and joy. It is a much more private, yet truly communal and devotional experience... and genuine, at least at our parish.

Answer 6

i recently went to a healing mass where our pastor brought in a friend who was a charasmatic priest. it was amazing. one of the most moving, heart wrenching masses i've been to in a long time. during the healing prayer portion at first i was thinking - this is a bit much/hokey but then when i just let myself go and opened my heart - i was so filled the tears were flowing out.... i'd do it again in a heartbeat. mind you he didn't speak in tongues or anything.....

Answer 7

I have not been to one and I don't think I want to...
I prefer my Masses more "Catholic," if you know what I mean.

Answer 8

i have been to many and some were very'spirit filled' and reverent and others were very,well,distracting.

Answer 9

yes i went to one ,best feeling i ever had.i loveit,