Spirit Who? - New Evangelizers

We sometimes hear this phrase in preaching and/or teaching about the Church: “The fullness of the Spirit.”  For me that’s a cue to the life-changing events that set my life onto a path that I never intended.  That phrase makes me smile, wonder, stand in awe, and sometimes long for the “old days.”

It also makes me worry about others who call themselves Catholic and how the faith is going for them.  I almost never hear any of my faith friends refer to the Spirit unless they are talking about confirmation and then not often enough.  I rarely hear it at all when people talk about their own personal faith journey.

As a Church, we have not done a good job with teaching the idea that our “wholeness” as a people is Trinitarian.  I have even known some priests who avoid scenarios about the Spirit because they do not want to be identified as Charismatic.  The Eastern Church has always had a firm grasp on the concept of the Holy Spirit but in the west, we have not.  I guess I shouldn’t be surprised when I do not hear talk about the Spirit from fellow believers.   I am a charismatic, though, and have no shortage of belief, experience, or willingness to witness when it comes to the Spirit.

I cannot help but feel a little privileged about my 40-year Charismatic experience.  I came to the movement in my 20’s at a time when my life was at loose ends.  That was in the 1970’s, when the Charismatic movement was at a high and literally exploding in the Catholic Church. After just a couple of conferences of 40,000 plus Catholic Charismatics, being present at Masses served by 200 priests, and weekends on campuses with Catholics praying and praising 24 hours nonstop, there was no dissuading me from the idea that this community of praise, worship, and joy was  exactly like what the first Christians experienced!

In that atmosphere, being steeped in the Spirit was a simple reality.  Come to a prayer meeting and hear him speak.  Go to a prayer session and don’t be surprised if another miracle occurs.  Attend Life in the Spirit and hear one more breath taking witness.   As Charismatics at a very well-structured prayer meeting, headed by a Jesuit, we were all attending the “school of the Spirit” although we didn’t realize it.

I spent years in that environment and received (spiritual) education worth a million dollars.  There was sound teaching on prayer, praise, meditation, contemplation, intercession, discernment, testing of spirits, scripture, tongues, miracles, witnessing, the mind of God, the Love of God, faith, service.   I saw miracles and heard tongues with their interpretations so often that I found nothing unusual when one more incident was happening in front of my eyes or ears.

My experience with the Holy Spirit changed my life and educated me about living faith in ways that I can’t even articulate.  I fear that the lack of teaching and active recognition of the Holy Spirit in today’s Church does nothing but weaken us as a body of believers.  We cannot return to the 70’s, but we need to be more cognizant of the Spirit in our conversation, teaching, faith habits and prayer.

Whether you are charismatic or not the Holy Spirit is still the “animator of the soul.”  The Spirit brings that dimension of faith which we cannot generate by ourselves. The unseen ah-ha moment in the soul when we finally “get it” can only be brought by the Spirit as witnessed by the Apostles at Pentecost.  Jesus himself told them that it would be the Spirit who would come to them.

“There are two kinds of faith: supernatural faith which the Holy Spirit infuses into souls and human faith, which is the belief we give to human witness.  In infused faith [by the Spirt] there is no measure or mean.” (Venerable Louis of Granada, t1588, Spanish Dominican)

As we approach Pentecost rethink your attitude toward the Holy Spirit and the gifts he has to give you.  Invite him to be part of your prayer and intercession.  Recognize him when graces happen that you never thought of.  Think of him more often than once a year.

The Holy Spirit can complete and fill in any part of your faith that feels like it is lacking.  He can arm you with spiritual tools that you can’t obtain any other way. He is might and God’s warrior in all the places that are hidden and can’t be seen.

Make your Faith truly Trinitarian for an unbeatable combination of joy and power.  I’ve lived it and know that when you invite the Spirit surprises will come that you never imagined could happen.

Copyright © 2013, Kathryn M. Cunningham

Note:  The Image above is the famous Holy Spirit found in St. Peter’s in Rome.  It is directly above The Altar of The Chair. The chair which Peter himself is thought to have used while teaching is enshrined there.  The dove was painted by Bernini himself on Alabaster sliced so thin that it is translucent.  It has been in the Basilica since 1666.      

Kathryn M. Cunningham

Kathryn holds a Master’s in Education from Saint Xavier University. Most recently she completed Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from The Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. This recent degree was part of a “retirement project” after teaching for 35 years. She has also worked as a spiritual director, music minister,council member and prayer team warrior. Kathryn has a deep interest in catechesis for the people in the pews. As a “sort of” convert she finds the wisdom of the Church a source for encouragement, joy and survival in a world not sure of anything. Her writing has appeared in diocesan publications and on-line sites, most recently for Zenit. To learn more about Kathryn check out her thinking at: www.atravelersview.org">ATravelersView.org.