Baptized in the Spirit

Evangelizing Catholic Culture with Father David Tickerhoof

Being Baptized in the Spirit of the Paschal Mystery ~ Episode 30

Can those baptized in the spirit learn to share their faith? Yes! In designing a formation workshop, Fr. David shares the importance of building on the graces received in the Church through the renewal movements, especially the Charismatic renewal. The reason for this approach is that the basic features of the Charismatic Renewal are the essential building blocks of grace in relationship to the process of conversion and spiritual renewal in the human personality.

This inspiring book by Father David Tickerhoof, Third Order Regular (TOR), on the role of Merciful Penitents in the Renewal and Reform of the Church

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These features can be identified as a deep personal relationship with the Lord, the development of a life of prayer, a hunger and desire to know and live in the Word of God, and a profound experience of the Holy Spirit and the spiritual gifts and charisms of the Holy Spirit. As basic and important as these elements are they are by no means the last word in regard to the complement of graces an individual needs for a complete and total renewal in the Holy Spirit identified as The Church’s Grace of Renewal.

It is not a coincidence that the spiritual renewal movements in the Church occurred at the same time as the Vatican Council II. Pope Benedict was tireless in reminding everybody that the basic renewal and achievement of the Council was again placing the experience of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ in the heart and at the center of all Church life. The scripture in the Gospel of John chapter twenty, which recounts the appearance of the Risen Jesus to the disciples gathered in the Upper Room Easter Sunday night clearly illustrates this profound reality. The core elements of the Paschal Mystery are the Passion, Death, Resurrection, and the bestowal of the Holy Spirit. Easter Sunday night Jesus appears in the splendor of the Resurrection, shows the disciples his wounds, and breathes on them the commissioning gift of the Holy Spirit. When an individual is being prayed with for, being baptized in the Spirit of the Paschal Mystery, they are receiving the powers of the Cross, the Resurrection, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. A threefold experience of power which is one actualizing power of grace. There is much more here than what one thought that they were usually receiving when they were baptized in the Spirit in the Charismatic Renewal.

The terminology used in the early days of the Charismatic Renewal was presented by well-meaning individuals who usually did not have a theology background. This powerful experience for the most part was identified as an experience of the Holy Spirit and the charisms. It was not clear that the Cross and the Resurrection of Jesus was also a part of the mix. Many in their growth gradually moved to see that a profound experience of the Holy Spirit should lead to experiencing the power of the Cross and the Resurrection, but many did not. Therefore, fifty or sixty years later some are saying that it is necessary to build on the experience of the Baptism of the Spirit, and include the profound experience of the Cross and Resurrection; the essential parts of the Cross and Resurrection should be integrated in the prayer when praying for an individual or group for the Church’s Grace of Renewal. Being baptized in the Spirit of the Paschal Mystery may be a more accurate way of identifying this powerful actual grace of renewal. The next podcast will provide a suggested outline for a workshop offered to people who desire a more powerful experience of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus, or for being baptized in the Spirit of the Paschal Mystery.

May We Pray!

Dear Father, we ask you and your beloved Son, Jesus to enlighten and guide us to design a program which will fill us with all the graces we need to experience the Church’ Grace of Renewal. We desire to be deeply infused with all the graces which can come to us in regard to a new life in the Spirit together with a complete experience of the power of the Cross and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And may this beautiful mystery of love be given through the immaculate heart of our Mother Mary, who may lead us into the wonderful mystery of Divine transforming love. Amen

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