Renewal in the Holy Spirit History Renewal in the Holy Spirit St. John XXIII opened II Vat. Council to seeking renewal of the Church in the power of the Holy Spirit. Indeed the Council prepared the way for a powerful current of grace. While the enemy tried to destroy the renewal of the Church by causing confusion and false interpretations of the Council, the Holy Spirit raised numerous ecclesial movements which Pope Paul VI and his successors have encouraged as authentic signs of renewal and a hope for the Church. The fruit of the renewal is that millions experience a deeper life in the Spirit through the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. This means an awakening to the graces received in baptism and confirmation and thus a new experience and knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, alive in the Church and in our personal lives, which in turn leads to a revival of all aspect of life, including family life, prayer, praise, communities, bible study, charismatic gifts, ministries and miracles. The Christian is now under the power of the Holy Spirit and no longer blindly led by the secular mindset of the world and the flesh. St. John Paul II: "¡Open yourselves to Christ, ask the Holy Spirit so that a NEW PENTECOST may dwell in each community! A new humanity, a joyful one, will arise from your midst; you will experience again the saving power of the Lord" -L’Obsservatore Romano - English language edition, October 21, 1992, p.10, sec.30. Pope Benedict XVI: "…let us implore from God the grace of a NEW PENTECOST… May tongues of fire, combining burning love of God and neighbor with zeal for the spread of Christ’s Kingdom, descend on all present! —Homily, New York City, April 19th, 2008. We should not suppress the Holy Spirit for fear of abuses. We need to know that the Spirit of God must have total freedom over our lives. We must grow in discernment. "God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control". 2 Tim 1:7 Pope Benedict XVI: Witnesses of true Joy Some exemplars St. John Vianney: We believe the Lord desires to give us the grace to be great saints, to be transformed in Him so that we know intimacy with Him. This is the witness of every saint. We pray that priests and laity be filled with the Holy Spirit. "A priest should be always wrapped in the Holy Spirit as he is in his vestments" Conchita (wrote), in the years 1916-1918, when no one had yet spoken of a new Pentecost. It is the Son, Jesus, who speaks: "On sending the world a new Pentecost, I want it to burn, I want it to be cleansed, illumined, inflamed and purified by the light and fire of the Holy Spirit. The last stage of the world should in a very special way distinguish itself by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to reign in hearts and in the entire world. More than for his own glory, the Holy Spirit wants the Father to be loved, and to give witness to Me, tracing Me on hearts and glorifying Me, albeit his glory is that of the entire Trinity. He will come, I will send Him for the second time in a way that will be evident in its effects, which will surprise the world and spur the Church towards sanctity." -Quoted by Papal Preacher, Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa in, Il canto dello Spirito, p.387 Venerable Fr. Felix Rougier, M.Sp.S |