WHERE DID THE CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL COME FROM?

WHERE DID THE CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL COME FROM?
February 2023
By Al Mansfield

This year marks 56 years since the beginning of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) at the Duquesne Weekend, February 17, 18, 19, 1967. Have you ever asked the question, "Where did it come from? How did it come to be?" I know, I know - from God! That is the shortest and the truest answer. But from a human and historical viewpoint, we can say what preceded and led up to the beginning of the CCR. We can distinguish some remote factors and some proximate factors.

REMOTE FACTORS

Blessed Elena Guerra, an Italian religious sister (1835-1914), wrote twelve confidential letters at the end of the 19^th century to Pope Leo XIII in an effort to persuade him to increase devotion to the Holy Spirit in the Church. In 1900 she asked the pope to consecrate the 20th century to the Holy Spirit. Pope Leo did this in St. Peter's Basilica on January 1, 1901. Together with the clergy and laity present, the pope invoked the Holy Spirit upon the new century by solemnly chanting the ancient hymn Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, Creator Spirit). On the same day, providentially, another very different group was seeking the Holy Spirit half a world away in Topeka, Kansas, USA.

Topeka...A group of prayerful intercessors were gathered in a large structure called The Bethel Bible School and Healing Home to study the Scriptures about the Holy Spirit. On January 1, 1901, a woman named Agnes Ozman asked Rev. Charles Parham to pray over her that she would receive the Holy Spirit according to the pattern seen in the Acts of the Apostles. Rev. Parham did pray over her and she began to speak in tongues. This event is commonly referred to as the beginning of the modern-day Pentecostal movement, often called "classical Pentecostalism" to distinguish it from later Pentecostal/charismatic movements.

PROXIMATE FACTORS

As we move closer in time toward 1967, we can identify three other factors that figured into the outbreak of the CCR. We might call these "proximate" factors. They are: the neo-Pentecostal movement; the Cursillo movement; and the Second Vatican Council.

Neo-Pentecostalism...In the late 1940s, into the 1950s and early 1960s, the Baptism in the Spirit with charismatic gifts began to break out in some of the established, old-line Protestant denominations which had their origins in the Reformation. Typically, those who had this experience remained in their respective churches and held prayer meetings in homes during the week. This was different from the "classical Pentecostal" experience, which led to the formation of separate and distinct Pentecostal denominations. Many neo-Pentecostal leaders gave invaluable help and support to the CCR, especially in the early days of the movement.

The Cursillo...This is an apostolic movement of retreats focused on the Resurrection of Christ and basics of the Christian life. It was begun in 1948 in Spain in an effort to build effective Christian leaders. The Cursillo came to the US in 1957 and influenced many who would go on to become the early leaders in the CCR.

Vatican II...Pope Saint John XXIII convoked the Second Vatican Council and had the entire Church pray a special prayer for a year prior to the Council's opening. The prayer contained the now-famous line: "Renew your wonders in this our day as by a new Pentecost." Vatican II emphasized the Holy Spirit - mentioned some 258 times in the Council documents. The Council also taught about the role of charisms of the Holy Spirit in the Constitution on the Church, #12. (As my wife Patti relates in her book As By A New Pentecost, after her experience of the Holy Spirit on the Duquesne Weekend she was concerned to find out if it was truly "Catholic." She was assured that it was by reading the references in the Council documents.)

A CHANCE, AN OPPORTUNITY, A GRACE

The CCR was called by Pope Saint Paul VI "a chance for the Church." I have also seen that translated as an "opportunity" or a "grace" for the Church. Pope Saint John Paul II repeated that phrase in his numerous meetings with members of the CCR (several of which I was privileged to attend). He spoke and wrote extensively on the Holy Spirit and his charisms, urging us to receive "docilely and obediently" the gifts the Spirit gives.

Pope Benedict XVI was likewise supportive and blessed the work of the CCR. He stated: "The entire mission of the Messiah can be summarized in this - to baptize us in the Holy Spirit" (Angelus Address, January 13, 2008). A personal high point for me was when my wife Patti was chosen to deliver an address to him at a huge gathering (over 400,000) of all the ecclesial movements in St. Peter's Square at a Pentecost Vigil Service in 2006.

On June 3, 2014, Pope Francis said: "Share with all in the Church the grace of Baptism in the Spirit."

All we can say after over half a century of extraordinary grace is...Deo gratias! Thanks be to God!