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The Trumpet Newsletter of Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services
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| Year | Issue Date | Article Title | Author |
| 2006 | Jan./Feb./Mar. | A New Beginning, An Old Call, In a New Year | Ron Bergman-Diocesan Liaison |
| 2006 | Jan./Feb./Mar. | 2005 National Leaders' Conference | Linda Daniel-Editor |
| 2006 | Jan./Feb./Mar. | The Road To Emmaus | Kate Elliott, DRE |
| 2006 | Jan./Feb./Mar. | Discipleship | Louise Hall |
| 2006 | Jan./Feb./Mar. | Take This Four-Minute Quiz | Mary Helen Drucker |
From The Liaison
A New Beginning, An Old Call, In a New Year [back to top of page]
If you have regularly read the articles I have written in this space, you probably know that I believe passionately in the value of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Well, its been on my mind and heart again lately “with vigor.” A few years ago, the Lord told us through his prophetic word that we are a remnant. He commanded us to keep the Charismatic Gifts of the Holy Spirit alive in the Church so that when he is ready to make a new move of power to bring the experience of Pentecost to his people, the gifts will be alive and available to him.
In November, we were fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend the National Charismatic Leaders Conference in Chicago. The title of the conference was Sent Forth to Build the Culture of Pentecost. What a powerful conference it was; what an encouraging and commanding message it brought to us; what a terrific venue it was to receive mature and enlightened direction for our lives and assistance in our ministries.
Sunday morning’s general session and its wrap-up talks, followed by the closing Mass and anointed prophetic words were “over-the-top” as they say these days. Aggie Neck, the chairman of the National Service Committee for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal tag-teamed with a young man I had not heard speak before, Paul George. What an anointed young man he is. I’m sure we will be hearing more of him in the months and years to come.
Aggie got our attention right away with her usual direct manner of speaking truth. “Do you believe that God anointed us with the Holy Spirit? Did you receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit? Did you think it was just for you? Did you think it was to die when you died? God help us if that’s what we thought. This is to go on and on and on until Jesus comes again. We stand here today, you and I, because of faithful ancestors, people who passed the faith on from the Apostles. Thank God for faithfulness. I want people 200 years from now to say ‘Thank God for those who lived in the early 2000s. They kept the faith alive, they stirred the flame of the Holy Spirit within us.’”
Aggie related some of St. Augustine’s comments that “The early believers thought the faith was enough to die for … and I think it should be that we think it’s enough to live for, that we proclaim it, we speak it, we live it. If we don’t teach or pass on what we know and believe is truth, then we will be held accountable for the fact that it died.”
“Do you love your children?” she asked. “Do you love your grandchildren? Do you want them to have the same thing you have? Do you want them to know that God loves them more than they could ever possibly imagine, more than even you love them? Do you want them to know that there is a future that we are walking towards, that this is just but a passing land where we are pilgrims? We are headed home, my brothers and sisters. And those who love God must show it to others who follow them. A leader is not someone who says ‘Take a left turn, take a right turn, go down three blocks and you can’t miss it.’ A leader is someone who says ‘I’m going that way. Follow me!’”
Paul George picked up on what Aggie had said and spoke of freedom. In Proverbs 20, Scripture speaks of parents reminding their sons that God delivered the Israelites to freedom. What our children are really seeking is freedom, he said. “You show me a free person, you show me a person who is living for Jesus Christ. You show me a person who lives in complete freedom in spite of the culture around him and I will show you a person who is living in the Spirit of Pentecost. You show me persons who can walk out into the culture as it is … and walk in freedom in their work place, and in their marriages and in their schools, I will show you persons of freedom, persons who are living for Jesus Christ.”
We all had to ask ourselves, “How do those words strike me?” How do they strike you right now? I don’t think Aggie and Paul were talking just about the Catholic faith or even just about the Christian faith. I think they were talking about the call we have to the faith in the value and reality of Pentecost. Paul said that if we think we are going to build a culture of Pentecost, we are mistaken. God will do it. I once heard someone say about evangelization, “Watch for where God is working, and go there.” It’s easier that way. But go!
This month, January 2006, we begin a new year. Will our resolutions include building on the culture of Pentecost this year? Will we feel compelled to share the thrill and empowerment of an alive, empowered Pentecost experience with our families, with our fellow parishioners? Will we be witnesses of the gentleness and love of Jesus? How will we answer the call to build the culture of Pentecost? We are sent forth, you know.
I ask you, “Are you glad you were baptized in the Holy Spirit?” Of course you are. Do you still regularly use the charismatic gifts? Or have they lost their value for you? Yes, it’s hard for all of us to use the gifts alone. So why not resolve this year to rekindle the fire of the Spirit within your life by again participating regularly in Charismatic Prayer Meetings? The fire of the Spirit, the culture of Pentecost continues to be built and nourished and is alive there. The fire of Pentecost is still within you. Why not resolve that it will again burn brightly within you this year? 2 Timothy 1:6.
Blessings,
Ron
Know Your Faith
The Road To Emmaus [back to top of page]
In his Apostolic Letter, Mane Nobiscum Domine (Stay With Us Lord), Pope John Paul II communicates the importance of the Eucharist in our lives and the decision to be a eucharistic people. The pope uses the bible passage in Luke 24:13-32 about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus who meet Jesus although they do not recognize him. They talk with Jesus about all that happened in Jerusalem and how they were hoping that Jesus “would be the one to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21). Along the way Jesus opens the Scriptures to them and the gloom and depression they feel is lifted. As they near the village they ask Jesus to “stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over” (Luke 24:28). While they were at supper, Jesus blessed the bread and broke it and gave it to them to eat. “With that their eyes were opened but he vanished from their sight” (Luke 24:31). “And they said to each other, ‘were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?’” (Luke 24:32).
This story of Emmaus is also our story. We all walk down different roads and on our travels we meet Jesus, who at times we do not recognize. It may be in the midst of trials that we wonder where God is. We may also fail to see him because our minds are clouded in self-absorption. The pope tells us that, “amid our questions and difficulties, and even in bitter disappointments, the divine wayfarer continues to walk at our side, opening to us the Scriptures and leading us to a deeper understanding of the mysteries of God,” (Mane Nobiscum Domine) As Catholics we have Jesus with us always. He is hidden in the Eucharist but we receive him, body and blood, soul and divinity. He is not only with us, he is in us. Our eyes are opened as we dwell on this great mystery. Although we cannot comprehend it, we believe and ask the Lord to open our hearts to a greater understanding of this source of divine life. “Eucharistic communion was given so that we might be ‘sated’ with God here on earth, in expectation of our complete fulfillment in heaven.” (Mane Nobiscum Domine #19)
Once we receive Jesus, we cannot keep him to ourselves. We must be a witness to others and help open their eyes and hearts to the wonders of a eucharistic, God-centered life. ‘‘The Eucharist not only provides the interior strength needed for this mission, but is also – in some sense – its plan. For the Eucharist is a mode of being, which passes from Jesus into each Christian, through whose testimony it is meant to spread throughout society and culture.” (Mane Nobiscum Domine #25)
What a great honor it is to be used by the Lord in this way. May we say with St. Thomas Aquinas, “Living Bread! Your life supply,
Fill us with celestial grace:
You Who feed us below!
Source of all we have or know!
Grant that with Your Saints above,
Sitting at the feast of love,
We may see you face to face. Amen. Alleluia.”
(Lauda Siun)
Kate Elliott, DRE
Holy Spirit Church, Roscoe
2005 National Leaders' Conference [back to top of page]
By Linda Daniel
“Dare to tell about Jesus Christ. Dare to tell about the charisms of the Holy Spirit.” These were the final challenges of Fr. John Gordon at the closing Mass of the 2005 National Leaders’ Conference held November 11-13 in Chicago. The theme of the conference was, “Sent Forth to Build the Culture of Pentecost.” It was dynamic and inspiring to participate with over 600 leaders of the Charismatic Renewal from across the nation. God made His presence known as we praised and worshipped Him.
We had the opportunity to attend four workshops of our choice. The first workshop I chose was titled “SonBlock: How Christians Unknowingly Block God’s Grace” by Dr. Carol Razza. It was based on her book, SonBlock: How Christians Unknowingly Shield Themselves From Grace (ClearLight Communications Inc., (561)793-5222, www.clearlightcoms.com). Dr. Razza is a dynamic speaker and very knowledgeable. In her practice of psychotherapy she found that there were good Christians who tried to live out their faith, but they were hindered. They were stuck in their fears, depression or anger. Their souls were scarred from hurts suffered, and as a result they blocked God from acting to heal them.
After introducing the subject, Razza proceeded to tell us about God’s healing. He asks us to surrender ourselves to Him, but we resist, sometimes even without knowing it. We hear Isaiah 43:1-4 tell us that God loves us and we need not fear, but we don’t believe it or embrace it. We need to understand it beyond our understanding. But there are areas that tend to block us because of our woundedness. These include:
· our trust (Proverbs 3:5-6);
· our mind, memories (Romans 12:2);
· our heart (Psalm 103);
· our body (Romans 6:16);
· our unforgiveness (of ourselves and others);
· our family tree.
We have to allow ourselves to be transformed. God has to get in deep to transform and heal us. Razza said, “Ask Jesus to reveal the lies that keep you stuck.” She also said that overcoming blocks always involves taking risks, but God makes it worth it. God reveals things to free us, not to bind and shackle us. We don’t need to go to “healers.” We have the best healer within us, in the Eucharist, and in the adoration chapel.
I attended another workshop led by Dr. Razza about Prayer. She challenged us to look beyond where we are in our prayer life to say, “Lord, I know you have more, show me.” She said that there are two types of prayer: functional and spousal. Functional prayer is part of our ongoing daily conversation with God about things we do and needs we have. Spousal prayer is intimate. It involves sharing the depths of our hurts and joys. When we come into this, we recognize that we’re truly loved by God.
The spousal prayer allows us to know the Good Shepherd (John 10). The sheep follow him because they know his voice – they know him intimately.
The impact of spousal prayer is to transform us into the image of Christ. It forms our heart and transforms our mind (Romans 12:2). It also conforms our will to God’s will, making it become His will for our lives. Suffering comes from choosing God over our desires – when God says, “no,” He also says, “I have something better.” Our choices help us become a highway of holiness that God can walk on. In spousal prayer we allow ourselves to look deeper into our brokenness. We can say, “Lord, have your way with me.”
In the whole conference we were challenged to go deeper, to stretch ourselves, to step out of the boat (Matthew 14:29). We were encouraged to persevere. We need to be free to move out and proclaim the message of Jesus. The race is not over, so we must run the race to win.
Many prophetic words were spoken in the closing session. Here is part of one of them:
I am calling you to get serious with my calling. There is no time for sitting on the sidelines. If you do not answer my call, the very rocks will do it. You have been silent too long. I want to make a difference in the world and I need you to be obedient.V
Discipleship [back to top of page]
By Louise Hall
“You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the almighty, say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.’ ... He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in distress. I will deliver him and glorify him; with length of days I will gratify him and will show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:1-2, 15-16)
My parish was blessed by a true apostle, named Barbara. She was a beacon of light and her smile showed that she lived in the shadow of God. My first contacts occurred when she was pregnant at the same time my daughter was. She could have been complaining because she had three children, the youngest was fifteen, the same age as my youngest. But Barb glowed with love and said she had always hoped for four children.
As her daughter grew Barb became more involved in parish outreach. She took junior high students into the nursing home to help them use their energy in positive ways. The residents beamed and perked up when the young people arrived. They would sing or do crafts or games and really seemed to enjoy the contact.
Barb also restarted the youth group and began a variety of social activities for them. Four years ago she initiated plans for participation in the summer Teen Work Camp program. There were many fundraising activities to ensure the teens could spend a week helping the less fortunate. The teens that attended the first year were so enthusiastic that they continued the fundraising so they could go again and again.
Barb was an example of Christian love in her family. She seemed tireless in her efforts to help her grown children or watch her grandchildren. She always seemed to be smiling when family was around. She extended that same warmth and caring to new parishioners and was supportive of many in the parish.
Our church building was improved by Barb as she cleaned and refurbished the stained glass windows. We did not realize the colors could be so bright. Barb never complained about the time or tediousness of the work.
In June our beloved friend was quickly called to her eternal reward. She died on the feast of the Sacred Heart. We knew she had gone to join the God she had trusted and served. She had lived as a witness to Jesus’ words: “Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:33, 35-36) Barbara’s leadership will live on in the minds and hearts of many.V
Take This Four-Minute Quiz to Find Your Blessings [back to top of page]
By Mary Helen Drucker, Loving Spirit Prayer Group, Freeport, IL
Read the following ten statements. Do you agree with them or not? Circle your answer.
1. I just don’t know what this world is coming to! a) yes; b) no; c) undecided.
2 2. As a child, I slipped into Church for short visits because Jesus wanted my company. a) yes; b) no; c) life is way too busy.
3. Someone I love is hurting. a) yes; b) no; c) and I hurt too.
4. I live a decent life; yet, I have an empty feeling as if I’m missing something special. a) yes; b) no; c) the heart is restless until it rests in God.
53. 5. I envy the apostles who were with Jesus when he walked this earth. a) yes; b) no; c) his real presence continues on.
6 6. Although I don’t understand it, Jesus Christ becomes substantially present, under the appearances of bread and wine, during the holy sacrifice of the Mass. a) yes; b) yes; c) definitely yes.
7. I want to read the Bible, but there are too many distractions. a) yes; b) no; c) I’m great at excuses.
8. I treasure the time I have with Jesus when he comes in holy Communion. a) yes, for ten minutes; b) yes, for the whole day; c) yes, for the whole week.
9. Life is becoming so complicated and difficult that it robs me of inner peace. a) Amen!
10. “Jesus loves me. This I know. For the Bible tells me so.” a) children’s song; b) wishful thinking; c) makes life worth living.
One “yes” to any of the above statements is a sure sign that Jesus Christ is inviting you to the blessings of a deeper relationship. When it comes to a vibrant relationship with Jesus, practicing Catholics have “the whole pie.” Central to our faith is his real presence in holy Mass. Amazingly, his real presence continues in the sacred host which is reserved in the tabernacle and is the focus of eucharistic adoration.
Our relationship with Jesus deepens when we spend more time being present to his presence. In his great Encyclical Letter, Ecclesia De Eucharistia, Pope John Paul II writes: “I wish once more to recall this truth and to join you, my dear brothers and sisters, in adoration before this mystery: a great mystery, a mystery of mercy. What more could Jesus have done for you? Truly, in the Eucharist, he shows us a love which goes ‘to the end’ (John 13:1), a love which knows no measure.” (Complete text: www.adoramus.org)
Pope John Paul II preached what he practiced. He made time for quiet prayer before the Eucharist. He understood how the ten statements above are part of our human condition and he was constantly interceding for us as well as praying for himself that he fulfill the will of God.
Most of the ten statements will touch us at some point. Pondering the deepest meaning of a statement, we find ourselves called to the eucharistic presence of our loving savior.
Mother Teresa repeatedly told us that our lives must be woven around the Eucharist. We need to fix our eyes on him who is the light; bring our hearts close to his divine heart; ask him to grant us the grace of knowing him, the love of loving him, and the courage to serve him. We do this by participating at holy Mass, receiving Holy Communion, and spending time at eucharistic adoration – all blessings beyond our wildest dreams.
In the Rockford Diocese, there are many parishes which have eucharistic adoration at various times during the month. Some have perpetual adoration, 24 hours a day, seven days a week (24/7). The Observer regularly carries a list of these on their Bulletin Board page in the last issue of the month.
On the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1996, Freeport Perpetual Adoration was begun by St. Joseph, St. Mary, and St. Thomas Aquinas parishes. Its first 24/7 location was the Provena Sacred Heart Chapel, a venerable old building complete with swooping bats, on the St. Joseph/St. Vincent campus.
When one of the first adorers died, I said to his wife, “Joe is still adoring Jesus, only from the other side of the monstrance.” The communion of saints is a reality. Consequently, Freeport Perpetual Adoration has an annual Mass in November for deceased adoration participants and deceased members of participants’ families.
On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in 2000, Freeport Perpetual Adoration was relocated, intact and uninterrupted, to recently constructed Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, attached to the southwest side of St. Thomas Aquinas parish. Prayers of praise, worship,
thanksgiving, contrition, and petition continued 24/7.
Since June, 1996, close to 170,000 hours of prayer have been logged in our register book by scheduled adorers, substitutes, and visitors from 14 communities in addition to Freeport. Many of these “prayer hours” have been sent to others via our small, blue “Gift of Prayer” cards which are available in our lobby.
In Freeport, many people drop in for 10 or 15 minutes. My favorite 10-minute visitor is a mother who brought three very young sons. They knelt close to the altar. Then she leaned down and whispered to each, “What would you like to pray for?”
You took the quiz. You know which statement went straight to your heart. Now picture yourself receiving an invitation from Jesus. You open it to read –
“Our Savior, Jesus Christ,
With Love And Mercy,
Personally Invites You To Visit Him,
Truly Present,
In Exposition of The Eucharist,
On A Day Of Your Choosing,
At A Time Convenient To You.
PLEASE REPLY SOON.”V