WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PRAYER?

Since the Holy Spirit is the interior Master of Christian prayer and "we do not know how to pray as we ought" (Romans 8:26), the Church exhorts us to invoke him and  implore him on every occasion: "Come, Holy Spirit!" The Holy Spirit gives sweetness in believing (faith) and leads us into a personal communion with God. He guides us and teaches us how to pray. [ See CCC 2690]


Please explain the 'the gifts of knowledge' and if it is okay to allow who has this goft to pray over you and give you the message he receives.

The gifts of knowledge is not a gift for scientific civil studies of mathematics, or languages, or any other subject. It is only "to know" , i.e., to understand better the Word of God and its implication in our present life.It is a gift that is linked with anothr gift, the gift of Wisdom. Anybody can pray over you or over me or over any other person. But, we should be very skiptical about "the message they receive". Many times the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with that the person seems or assumes to receive from  him. Even though the the Holy Spirit can speak to somebody in many ways, even by private inspiration, the Holy Spirit normally conveys his messages through the Church (by Word of God, through the Sacraments, Liturgy, and prayer).When somebody tells you that his message comes from the Holy Spirit, please don't readily believe it.A discernment of the spirit is always necessary in these cases. [ See CCC 2690] 

                How can we discern if one is animated by a good or an evil spirit?

Generally one of the three spirit is Dominant in every soul: in perverse, the devil; in the tepid,the natural (worldly) spirit; and in those who are beginning to give themselves seriously to interior conversion and prayer, the Spirit of God habitually dominates. The great principles of the discerning of spirits was given to us by our Lord himself in the Gospel when he said: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. By their fruits you shall know them..."(see Mt 7:15-18)if we are prone to wicked or worldly ways, we can ask God to restore his Spirit within us. "A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit. Do not drive me from your presence, nor take from me your holy spirit. Restore in your salvation; sustain in me a willing spirit"  

What is the 'Gifts of Tongues'?

At Charismatic prayer meetings, we are people praying and praising using some repeated syllables and it is described as the 'Gift of Tongues'.But in the Acts 2, we see that when St. Peter talked in some language, the people heard it in their own language.In Cor 14, St. Peter says the
'Gift of Tongues' should be used only if there is an interpreter.

Pastorally Speaking, St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians rules out any speaking in public, during the assemblies, when there is no one to translate. The advice of St Paul that there should be an interpreter is always valid. Unfortunately, this is not followed by many prayer groups. The Aposle prefers to say five intelligible words than ten thousand in unknown and unintelligible tongues. (1 Cor 14:4-19). Nevertheless,some thinkers claim that the speaking in languages, even the with incomplete words or/and unintelligible sounds, is praise to the Lord (1 Cor14:4 ), since every tongue should praise the Name of Jesus and confess that he is in the Glory of the Father(see Philippians 2:11)Needless to say, that such a goft is restrictedto the sole beneficiary who praises the Lord without understanding himself (herslf)at times what he(she)says. Even the unintelligible-and not understood sounds- find somehow a "justification", for some thinkers, in the sense that they fulfill the words of St.Peter about our incapacity to pray. "So, the Spirit comes to assist us, praying himself in us, through unintelligible sighs"(see Romans 8:26).

As for Acts 2, I prefer to interpret that event as "common faith", rather than a language understood by every one in his own language. I prefer to say that all who heard Peter, embraced the same faith. The Holy Spirit gave every listener the gift of faith in Jesus Christ.

What is the "Gift of Healing"?Is it the same as the miracles that Jesus performed?

The signs and miracles that Jesus worked attest that the Father sent him. They invite belief in him. To those who turn to him in faith, he grants what we ask. So miracles strengthen faith in the One who does his Father's works; they bear witness that he is the Son of God. In his name, Jesus' disciples performed miracles, for the Father granted all they asked in this name.

In the Church there are people, including Deacons, Religious and lay people who are actively exercising the charism of healing the sick. Many miraculous healings are being reported by many of these different ministries such as the lame being able to walk, the blind being able to see, the deaf being able to hear, a radical changing of people's hearts and lives towards God, and other types of healings.The Church encourages all the faithful to use the spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church in charity according to the Documents of the Vatican Council II under the Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People.Of course, the Church has the responsibility to pass judgement on the authenticity and good use of these gifts in accordance with 1Thes. 5:12,19, 21, to test everything and to keep what is good. I think it is also worthwhile to mention here that the Doctrinal Commission of the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services  (ICCRS) based in the Vatican has recently published a booklet entitled, "Guidelines For Prayer For Healings" to facilitate the exercise of prayer for healings that is in communion with the teachings of the Catholic Church. The Eucharist is the best source of healing. Every time we attend Mass, we attend a Healing Service, where we receive the Living Christ the Healer, his body, blood, soul and divinity. Some sects, like "Christian Services", reject all medicine. To do is "to tempt God", somehow "forcing " him to interfere and to perform miracles.

WHAT IS THE CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL?

The word Charismatic comes from the Greek word Charis' which means 'Gift'. When this outpouring of the Holy Spirit began in the Catholic  Church in the early 1960's shortly after Vatican II, it was called the Catholic Pentecostal Renewal. Due to confusion in the minds of Catholics with Protestant Pentecostalism, the term Pentecostal was dropped in favor of the word Charismatic and it became known as the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Since its small beginnings in the USA, it has spread rapidly to become one of the fastest growing movements in the Catholic Church with a global membership exceeding 100million today. The "Charismatic"groups - which are not popular among the Middle - Eastern Christians, but are very keen on keeping Catholic faith and moderate manifestation of heavenly gifts, according to  the directives of St. Paul, especially in 1Cor. 14.



 

What places are conducive for prayer?

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The most appropriate places for prayer are personal or family oratories, monasteries, places of pilgrimage, and above all the church, which is the proper place for liturgical prayer for the parish community and the privileged place for Eucharistic adoration. [ See CCC 2696 ]

What times are more suitable for prayer?

Anytime is suitable for prayer but the Church proposes to the faithful "special times" for praying which are intended to nourish continual prayer. They are morning and evening prayer, prayer before and after meals. The Divine Office,Sundays centered on the Eucharist, and feast of the Liturgical year.[See CCC 2698]