Catholic Charismatic Renewal and Pentecostalism

Opoku Onyinah

doi:10.38159/pecanep.2020083

Abstract

A new set of Pentecostal renewal started in the early twentieth century leading to the proliferation of Pentecostal denominations, and renewal movements within the then existing denominations. The beginning of this Pentecostal renewal has often been linked with the Bethel Bible School, which was started by Charles Fox Parham, and amplified by William Joseph Seymour at Azusa Street, Los Angeles, in the US. This article brings another dimension of the renewal by demonstrating that, for the Catholic Charismatics the outbreak of the Holy Spirit in the early twentieth century was partly an answer to the prayer of Pope Leo XIII. In addition, the Catholic Charismatic advocates consider the Pentecostal experience, dubbed Duquesne Weekend, which led to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movements as the answer to the prayer of Pope John XXIII at the Second Vatican. The considerations of the Catholic Charismatics are presented apparently as an affirmation of the sovereignty of God over his Church and the world.

Highlights

The Pentecostal revival that broke out in the early twentieth century, especially at Azusa Street, in the USA, is penetrating through all of the Christian traditions without excuse.2 In the 1950s as the baptism in the Holy Spirit began to gain root in some of the established churches, through the Full Gospel Business Men Fellowship, by members who remained in their denomination, the Charismatic Movement came into existence.What the Pentecostals called the baptism in the Holy Spirit began to take place, in early 1960s, among members of these churches including the Episcopalians, Lutherans, and Presbyterians
The Catholic Charismatic advocates consider the Pentecostal experience, dubbed Duquesne Weekend, which led to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movements as the answer to the prayer of Pope John XXIII at the Second Vatican
The best way to understand their experience was to turn to the Catholic sacramental theology—Christian initiation. It is this way of understanding the baptism in Holy Spirit— the “‘stirring up’ or ‘release’ or ‘actualization’ of the Spirit given in the sacraments of Christian initiation, primarily of baptism and confirmation,” which articulates the Catholic Charismatic Renewal contribution to the Pentecostal movement

Summary

Introduction

The Pentecostal revival that broke out in the early twentieth century, especially at Azusa Street, in the USA, is penetrating through all of the Christian traditions without excuse.2 In the 1950s as the baptism in the Holy Spirit began to gain root in some of the established churches, through the Full Gospel Business Men Fellowship, by members who remained in their denomination, the Charismatic Movement came into existence.What the Pentecostals called the baptism in the Holy Spirit began to take place, in early 1960s, among members of these churches including the Episcopalians, Lutherans, and Presbyterians. These two books, The Cross and the Switchblade written by David Wilkerson and They Speak in Other Tongues by John Sherill were to change their destiny but to cause a renewal, leading to the establishment of a whole movement within the Catholic Church.6 Following their quest to experience the Pentecostal concept of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, they sought and attended a prayer meeting in their area, which was mainly attended by mainline Protestant Charismatics.

Results

Conclusion