The Flame
: July & August, 2005
Dear Readers of The
Flame,
I recently attended the Association of Diocesan Liaisons
meeting in
Sacramento
. The meeting was titled Charis
ms
Past and Present: What the Saints Can
Teach Us about Charismatic Renewal. Our presenters,
Ralph Martin
, Dominic Berardino and Patricia Treece, unveiled the charismatic activity of
the saints and highlighted lessons for charismatics today.
However, built into the program of the meeting were two
panel discussions in which our presenters gave us their sense of the condition
of the charismatic renewal in the
United States
. Here are some of their thoughts.
Dominic Berardino, the president of Southern California
Renewal Communities, described the charismatic renewal with the phrase “well
positioned.” There was a growing hunger for God in people. Fragmenting of
culture and fleeting amusements (even the false spiritualities of the new age
movement) were creating a desire for the real power of the Holy Spirit.
Dominic’s second phrase for the renewal was “elbow grease.” Charismatics
need to do the work-setting up chairs, greeting people, advertising and carrying
out charismatic outreaches. As the old phrase goes, “Pray as if everything
depended on God. Work as if everything depended on us.” Dominic was sensing
that some charismatics see the
ms
elves as too spiritual to do the mundane. Therefore, “elbow grease!”
Ralph Martin
noted that prosperity stifles one’s felt need for God. He cited
Poland
. Under communism the economy tanked but the church flourished. Now, under more
of a free market system, the Polish economy is growing but the faith is
weakening. However, Ralph was quick to note that the recent clergy scandals in
the
United States
have humbled many of leaders. They are seeking formation progra
ms
for priests that are genuinely spiritual and orthodox. At Sacred Heart Seminary
in
Detroit
, some of the newer members of the faculty are longtime participants in the
renewal. They are influencing the next generation of priests. Ralph also
encouraged charismatics to “persevere” and “to keep putting on Life in the
Spirit Seminars!”
Finally, Patricia Treece, a wonderful author on modern
saints (St. “Padre” Pio, for example) had some very simply advice: hang in
there!
Perhaps an apt summary of these panel discussions on the
state of the renewal in the
United States
can be found in the words of the prophet Haggai. He was inspired to motivate
God’s people to rebuild the
Temple
. He told them, “Take courage, all you people of the land…and work!”
(Haggai 2:4)
And where do we find courage? One place where we
charismatics can be encouraged will be at
Magnificat
High School
on August 12 and 13. This is the new site for our annual charismatic
conference. This year’s theme is Called
By My Name and the conference will feature Fr. Tom Forrest, a longtime
leader in the renewal on the national and international scene, and Fr. John
Gordon, from the Archdiocese of Newark who is working with pre-seminary students
at
Franciscan
University
. This conference will be a tremendous source of grace and courage for all who
participate. Sign up information is in The
Flame. I will look forward to seeing your there!
Persevering in the power of the Spirit,
Fr. Bob Franco