WHAT IS GOD SAYING TODAY? Hear gifted teachers from around the Country here and on many of the links on the various tabs throughout the website!
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A LIFEBOAT IS NOT OPTIONAL WHEN IN NEED!
submitted by Fr. Frank
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(That which is in brackets is my own explanation. Fr. Frank Karwacki) Prof. John Cavadini of Notre Dame University gave an address where he spoke of belonging to different clubs as options. He said, “Judging from the way most of my students seem to think, the Church (the Catholic Church) is a kind of club perhaps invented by Jesus otherwise much like any other club”. He goes on saying many of the students see it as “an optional association of like- minded people”. He says, “The Church was born primarily of Christ’s total self-giving for our salvation anticipated in the institution of the Eucharist (the present day Mass) fulfilled on the cross” He goes on to say, “In fact, if we don’t love the Church, we don’t love Christ fully, we don’t fully see Christ, and we don’t fully see even ourselves as baptized and therefore called into one body, one flesh..” Jesus says in the Gospel of John chapter 6 verse 53 (NAB translation), “Let me solemnly assure you, if you do not eat the flesh of the son of Man and drink of his blood, you have no life in you”. (Hence we need to seek his reconciliation in the sacrament of reconciliation “confession” and participate fully in the Eucharist, the Mass every Sunday, or Sat. evening and all Holy Days of obligation and receive His Flesh and Blood. This is not in a cannibalistic way but rather it is his glorified and risen Body and blood we receive in the Catholic Church which is our Lifeboat in the midst of the storms of life). (That which is in brackets is my own explanation. Fr. Frank Karwacki) Prof. John Cavadini of Notre Dame University gave an address where he spoke of belonging to different clubs as options. He said, “Judging from the way most of my students seem to think, the Church (the Catholic Church) is a kind of club perhaps invented by Jesus otherwise much like any other club”. He goes on saying many of the students see it as “an optional association of like- minded people”. He says, “The Church was born primarily of Christ’s total self-giving for our salvation anticipated in the institution of the Eucharist (the present day Mass) fulfilled on the cross” He goes on to say, “In fact, if we don’t love the Church, we don’t love Christ fully, we don’t fully see Christ, and we don’t fully see even ourselves as baptized and therefore called into one body, one flesh..” Jesus says in the Gospel of John chapter 6 verse 53 (NAB translation), “Let me solemnly assure you, if you do not eat the flesh of the son of Man and drink of his blood, you have no life in you”. (Hence we need to seek his reconciliation in the sacrament of reconciliation “confession” and participate fully in the Eucharist, the Mass every Sunday, or Sat. evening and all Holy Days of obligation and receive His Flesh and Blood. This is not in a cannibalistic way but rather it is his glorified and risen Body and blood we receive in the Catholic Church which is our Lifeboat in the midst of the storms of life). (That which is in brackets is my own explanation. Fr. Frank Karwacki) Prof. John Cavadini of Notre Dame University gave an address where he spoke of belonging to different clubs as options. He said, “Judging from the way most of my students seem to think, the Church (the Catholic Church) is a kind of club perhaps invented by Jesus otherwise much like any other club”. He goes on saying many of the students see it as “an optional association of like- minded people”. He says, “The Church was born primarily of Christ’s total self-giving for our salvation anticipated in the institution of the Eucharist (the present day Mass) fulfilled on the cross” He goes on to say, “In fact, if we don’t love the Church, we don’t love Christ fully, we don’t fully see Christ, and we don’t fully see even ourselves as baptized and therefore called into one body, one flesh..” Jesus says in the Gospel of John chapter 6 verse 53 (NAB translation), “Let me solemnly assure you, if you do not eat the flesh of the son of Man and drink of his blood, you have no life in you”. (Hence we need to seek his reconciliation in the sacrament of reconciliation “confession” and participate fully in the Eucharist, the Mass every Sunday, or Sat. evening and all Holy Days of obligation and receive His Flesh and Blood. This is not in a cannibalistic way but rather it is his glorified and risen Body and blood we receive in the Catholic Church which is our Lifeboat in the midst of the storms of life). (That which is in brackets is my own explanation. Fr. Frank Karwacki) Prof. John Cavadini of Notre Dame University gave an address where he spoke of belonging to different clubs as options. (That which is in brackets is my own explanation. Fr.
Frank Karwacki)
Prof. John Cavadini of Notre Dame University
gave an address where he spoke of belonging to different clubs as options. He
said, “Judging from the way most of my students seem to think, the Church (the
Catholic Church) is a kind of club perhaps invented by Jesus otherwise
much like any other club”. He goes on saying many of the students see it as “an
optional association of like- minded people”. He says, “The Church was born
primarily of Christ’s total self-giving for our salvation anticipated in the
institution of the Eucharist (the present day Mass) fulfilled on the cross” He
goes on to say, “In fact, if we don’t love the Church, we don’t love Christ
fully, we don’t fully see Christ, and we don’t fully see even ourselves as
baptized and therefore called into one body, one flesh..” Jesus says in the
Gospel of John chapter 6 verse 53 (NAB translation), “Let me solemnly assure
you, if you do not eat the flesh of the son of Man and drink of his blood, you
have no life in you”. (Hence we need to seek his reconciliation in the
sacrament of reconciliation “confession” and participate fully in the
Eucharist, the Mass every Sunday, or Sat. evening and all Holy Days of
obligation and receive His Flesh and Blood. This is not in a cannibalistic way
but rather it is his glorified and risen Body and blood we receive in the
Catholic Church which is our Lifeboat in the midst of the storms of life).
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HARRISBURG DIOCESAN CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL
A LIGHT TO THE NATIONS Summer 2013
The Charismatic Gifts: The Power Tools of Evangelization
by Fr. Frank Karwacki, Harrisburg Diocesan Liaison for Charismatic Renewal
Some theologians believe that the charismatic gifts described in 1Cor. 12 verses 8-11 (Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healings, Miracles, Prophecy, Discernment, Speaking in Tongues, and Interpretation of Tongues) were manifested in the early church only because they were needed as the nascent Church was being buffeted by persecution. However, many Church Fathers such as Basil of Caesarea (c.330-379), Gregory of Nazianzus (329-389) and John Chrysostom (347-407) saw the charismatic gifts as normative manifestations of the Holy Spirit that occurred within the Initiation Liturgies of the Church.1
These manifestations have also occurred in the lives of the saints throughout the ages. Leon Joseph Cardinal Suenens wrote, "A careful reading of the lives of the saints - I am thinking of the Cure of Ars, Don Bosco, and many, many others - will show the undeniable presence of the charismatic gifts: discernment of spirits, prophecy, healings and other manifestations of the Holy Spirit". He went on, "It cannot be said that charisms belong to a bygone age".2
The premise that only the early church needed the charismatic gifts to survive the persecutions does not mesh with the fact that church has been persecuted throughout history even to this day as the Chaldean Rite of the Catholic Church is being subjected to extreme violence in Iraq as well as multitudes of Christians and Catholics being massacred in the Sudan. Catholics and Christians are being imprisoned in Islamic countries such as Iran and Communist countries such as Northern Korea and China.
The Church needs the Charismatic gifts more than ever in these situations as well as in so called democratic countries such as our own where the practice of the faith is being squeezed out of the public square. We need these gifts more than ever as instruments (power tools) in the New Evangelization! The gift of discernment is sorely needed in our present age which is clouded by relativism. The gift of prophecy is needed as a clear call to renewal and repentance as well as a call to a holy boldness in the proclamation of the truth! The signs and wonders of miracles and healings are needed to break through the walls of skepticism! So why would some ignore these gifts? Why would they not want to receive these gifts of the Holy Spirit to build up the Church in our day?
1. McDonnell & Montague, Fanning the Flame Liturgical Press 1991 pp. 18 & 19.
2. Cardinal Suenens, A New Pentecost Seabury Press, 1975 N.Y. p.39
Rev. Francis J. Karwacki, M.Ed., M.Div. is the Bishop’s Liaison for Charismatic Renewal for the Diocese of Harrisburg. Born Oct. 7, 1944 in Danville, Father graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in 1963. In 1967 he graduated with a B.S. in Education and a Master’s Degree in 1971 from Bloomsburg State College. He taught Biology and Science at Mount Carmel Area High School from 1967-1978. After graduating from Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, MA in 1983 with a Master’s Degree in Divinity, he was ordained on April 9, 1983 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Harrisburg. Fr. Frank has been Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Mt. Carmel, PA since 2005. He was Chaplain to Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill from 1986 to 1990. He is the Founder of FFCAAD (Family and Friends Concerned About the Abuse of Drugs) which is a support group designed to increase community awareness of the problems of drug abuse. He is a published book author and has published in national religious and pastoral magazines.
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Graces of the Holy Spirit
Charisms - A Spiritual gift by which the Holy Spirit moves through us.
Purpose of Charisms
1. To Build up the Church
2. For the Good of the People
3. For the Needs of the World
We need to accept them with gratitude and use them in conformity with the promptings of the Holy Spirit. In John 15:5 Jesus tells us: "Whoever remains in Me and I in him will bear much fruit. Because without Me you can do nothing." The Holy Spirit wants to make all Christians fruitful. The 9 charisms of 1Cor.12 are gifts given to serve the community, which the exception of the gift of tongues which is "to build up one's self (1Cor.14:4). These charisms are mentioned three times in 1Cor.12:8-12, 28-30, and the gifts of prophecy, tongues and interpretation of tongues are specially treated in 1Cor.14.
Classes of Charisms
The 9 gifts or charisms of 1Cor.12 can be divided in 3 classes:
1. Three Charisms of the mind: The word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, the discernment of the spirits.
2. Three Charisms of action: The gifts of healing, the working of miracles, the gift of faith, that faith that moves mountains (Mt.21:21, Mk.11:22-23).
3. Three Charisms of the tongue: Prophecy, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues.
Principles of Charism
- "C": Community – We are Christ’s body and individual parts of it. We are all contributing to the building of the mystical Body of Christ. We need to belong to some type of group: a rosary group, a Bible study group, a marriage encounter group, a charismatic prayer group. If and when need be the group can pray for us.
- "H": Healing – The Holy Spirit is dwelling in us, working on our spirits, changing us, converting us. The fruits are: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GENEROSITY, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL.
- "A": Attitude – Ours should be that of Jesus. John 15:4 states: "Remain in me, as I remain in you." Do we really believe that Jesus remains in us through His Holy Spirit? TAKE YOUR HAND AND PUT IT ON YOUR HEART. INDIRECTLY TOUCHING OURSELVES WE’RE TOUCHING JESUS. Jesus is going to lead us in sharing with people, in giving love, in giving consolation, in giving instruction, in wisdom. SAY "YES", Holy Spirit, MOVE!
- "R": Revelation – Jesus is revealed through charisms. They are a revelation of Jesus’ presence in our midst.
- "I": Interior – Jesus says: "Whoever believes in Me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these…". Jesus works in and on our hearts to draw us into a deeper relationship with Him.
- "S": Service – We’re called to minister to the Body of Christ.
- "M": Mission – We all have our own mission. No one can replace us, no matter who we are, no matter where we are.
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Mission Statement As a lay organization, the mission of the Charismatic Renewal is: 1. To help all people come to know the love of God in their lives as demonstrated through our Lord, Jesus Christ. 2. To help our brothers and sisters respond to God's love by loving God in return through a commitment to serve Christ and His Church. 3. To assist them to listen and follow the movement of the Holy Spirit at work in their lives. 4. To help our brothers and sisters recognize the ministry that God has called them to, and accept the gifts that God desires to bestow upon them for His work in our Church and in our world. 5. To lead them to a New Life offered to us by the Holy Spirit. (Reprinted as expressed from Diocese of San Francisco: sfspirit.com)
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