St. Elizabeth Catholic Community

St. Elizabeth Charismatic Prayer Meeting
Wednesdays at 7:30 PM

The prayer meetings are called "charismatic" (from the Greek word for gift) in reference to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially as listed in chapters 12, 13 & 14 of 1 Corinthians.  These gifts, especially healing, prayer in tongues, prophecy, words of knowledge as well as faith are usually expressed at our prayer meetings.

The meetings are an occasion for centering upon Jesus with praise and thanks for the working of His spirit in our lives.  This is usually done along with the singing of songs and the raising of hands in prayer as was the common practice among the early Christians and Jesus.  Sometimes this is expressed with singing in tongues or spontaneous expressions of praise and even the clapping of hands (Psalm 47, "All you people clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness.")

Each meeting will include a teaching based on a bible theme and time for people to share their personal experience of how God has been working in their lives.  The leader of the meeting will attempt to co-ordinate the meeting in such a way as to allow the Spirit to move freely upon the people present and allow the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit to take place in an orderly manner.  You will notice that people pray and sing with joy and enthusiasm.  Faith is expressed with feeling.  It is sometimes similar to the worship of the Lord as described of David when he danced before the Ark of the Covenant and is reminiscent of many of the Psalms, especially Psalm 150 which tells us to praise God with a full orchestra and ends with the exhortation:  "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!  Alleluia."

Most of the people who come to our prayer meetings are Catholic but all of God's children are welcome.  We are Christ centered in our beliefs and in the way that we worship.  We believe that the enthusiastic, free worship of God should be normal for all who are Christian - Catholic or Protestant.  Some Catholics who have heard about charismatic style of prayer as being wild, etc. should realize that the term "catholic" means universal and therefore implies an acceptance of universal forms and styles of worship.  The Church should be open to variety and diversity because worship without this freedom ends up as dead ritual.  The charismatic style of worship and charismatic leadership has been accepted and approved by both Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II.   Individual priests and pastors may personally not accept the charismatic renewal as their style and form of worship but they cannot justifiably deny it as an option for their people.

God wants the power of His Spirit to prevail in the life of every Christian in every age.  It is as much needed today as in the early life of the Church.  Christians of today need the power of the Spirit if they are to prevail in a worldly environment that ignores the word of God and prefers to be permissive in regard to sin.  It is Jesus who is needed through the Baptism in the Spirit for it is He who convicts us of our sins and teaches up to repent.  His Spirit wants to move upon us to praise God with enthusiasm and holy boldness when we come together not only at prayer meetings but also at Mass.  Satan is alive and working to destroy all that God wants to build through His Church.  This is evident in our country today.  It shows in the behavior of people even in Church leadership hose outlook, views and opinions have blurred and denied the reality of sin.  We need to turn to God and repent of our apathy and then praise and worship God with the boldness and enthusiasm that will allow Him to move upon our Church and country and bless us with new life.

How did the early Christians behave when they received the Baptism in the Spirit?   See Acts 10:44-48 where it states:  "They could hear (them) speaking in tongues and glorifying God."  Also, see Acts 19: 1-7 where it states:  "As Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came down on them and they began to speak in tongues and to utter prophecies."

We also give a series of classes called Life in the Spirit seminars designed to help people centralize Jesus in their lives and receive the Baptism in the Spirit.  These classes will help you if you have a hunger for more of what God has for you regardless if you are already Christian or not.  God wants to empower you with the Baptism in the Spirit.  Jesus will do it.  He will baptize you in the Spirit.  After the fifth class of the Life in the Spirit seminars the teachers and helpers will pray over you and Jesus will use them as His instruments to baptize you in the Spirit.  If you have read this far it is a sign that you should take the next step and come to the seminars.  You are welcome.  God has more for you.  Come and see for yourself.

We now schedule a charismatic healing Mass on the first Wednesday of each even-numbered month.  (The next healing Masses will be on: April 4, 2007, June6,2007.)  The Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration before the healing Mass, from 6:30 PM to 7:15 PM.   Come join us in worship and praise.