The Charismatic Renewal had been in the catacombs for many years and now the moment had come to emerge from its hiding place and walk up the Vatican hill. As St. Peter's successor, Paul VI received us all. His ministry in the church is to confirm charismatic gifts, to ratify the spirit of the prophets, and to attest his judgement concerning this phenomenon that had flowed throughout the church. A harmonious song in tongues followed communion and a spirit of silent adoration slowly took over, for a time that seemed not to end. Suddenly, a young man stood up and walked to the pulpit from where the Word of God is proclaimed. He was Bruce Yocum, powerfully proclaiming a prophecy that we have seen come true, the coming of a new era of evangelization as never before seen in the Church.
The same day Pope Paul VI affirmed the Charismatic Renewal, describing it as a new opportunity for the church and the world. Ten years later, John Paul II confirmed this vision by announcing and promoting a missionary springtime and the New evangelization for a new world took off.
Pentecost began at nine in the morning with one hundred and twenty persons in the Upper Room, ending at six in the afternoon with 3,000 converts filled with the Holy Spirit. That is to say that the Pentecost experience includes both the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on those gathered in the upper room as well as the evangelization and conversion of 3,000 people from every nation under heaven. That morning, Peter and the others, who had been hiding in the Upper Room, stood up and witnessed to the world that Jesus had died, had resurrected, and was exalted at the right hand of the Father making him Lord and Messiah. The Holy Spirit harvested a multitude of believers in Jesus by whose name, and no other, we are saved.
The Charismatic Renewal, a new Pentecost for the Church today, participates in that same Pentecostal mission which began 2,000 years ago. The powerful experience in the Upper Room is the starting point and it culminates in proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, for the repentance and forgiveness of sins.
The Pentecostal clock has not yet stopped. The hour has come to descend from the Upper Room and to testify with the power of the Spirit the victory of Jesus over sin and death, and to proclaim that God so loved the world that He has sent His only son so that we may have life through Him. This news is first directed to us sinners that we may repent, change our sinful way of life, and only then can we make the civilization of love a reality.
Today, as in that prophetic congress of 1975, let us emerge from the catacombs once more and announce to Zion that our God reigns. The world calls on us during times when pessimism abounds, international conflicts grow larger and chaos seems to reign. The world needs our joy, our hope in the midst of trial. We suffer the same fate, but in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly. Now it is time (kairos) to answer with hope that never fails, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given us.
Charismatic Renewal, you are a chance for the Church and the world today! Remember your birth in Pentecost and your goal: to proclaim the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ until His coming!
Paul VI said that the essence of the Catholic Church is to evangelize. So then, what is the specific task of the Charismatic Renewal? What is our specific charism in this mission?
It has three characteristics:
Those words that resounded in St. Peter's 20 years ago are still being fulfilled today: Catholic Renewal, the time has come to evangelize at all times until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!
This site Copyright © 1995-2001 Catholic Charismatic Center