CATHOLICISM 101 June 20 2019 NOTES Charisms, Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Instead of separate notes for each part, I have put the notes continuously) PART 1: Brief Introduction Charisms are "particular gifts given by the Holy Spirit to each individual for the common good of the whole Church, the mystical body of Christ". The Greek word Charisma (singular) or Charismata (plural) is translated as a "spiritual gift", "spiritual aids" , "gratuituous gift" (free gift), "benefit". Cf CCC #2003. A Charism is a supernational gift freely given by the Holy Spirit. No one merits or deserve a spiritual gift. The Greek word "Charisma" and "charismata" is found 16 time in the New Testament especially in St. Paul's Letters. PART 2: BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING Charisms or spiritual in the New Testament. Gifts are manifestation (1 Cor 12:7). They are given for the common good of the whole Church (1 Cor 12:7). The spiritual gifts are the work of the Spirit who gives them as He determines (1 Cor 12:11). We all receive different spiritual gifts depending where we are in the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27) CHARISMS OR SOIRITUAL GIFTS Charisms or spiritual in the New Testament. Gifts are manifestation (1 Cor 12:7). They are given for the common good of the whole Church (1 Cor 12:7). The spiritual gifts are the work of the Spirit who gives them as He determines (1 Cor 12:11). We all receive different spiritual gifts depending where we are in the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27) WHAT ARE THESE GIFTS? Such gifts include: Apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healing, helping others, administration, speaking in tongues. Not all spiritual gifts are on the same level. They are not all equal. (1 Cor 12:31). TRADITIONAL 7 GIFTS 1 Is 11:1-3 We believe that in Baptism the Holy Spirit is poured out upon the believer. We also believe that in the Sacrament of Confirmation, the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit are freely given us which is our "Baptism in the Spirit". We normally listen to Is 11:1-3 at Confirmation that lists all 7 gifts. FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT Fruits of the Spirit These are so called because they are the evidence that of our being let by the Spirit. We can do nothing without the Lord. They are the evidence that we are in the Spirit if we His fruit (Jn 15:5). What are the Fruits? The Fruits of the Spirit are different from the gifts of the Holy Spirit received at our Confirmation. The gifts are "permanent dispositions which make a Christian docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit." (CCC1830) FRUITS AS EVIDENCE f truly we are in the Spirit, which means we have undergone transformation, then the fruits of our love, patience, kindness etc are the evidence of our conversion. "By their fruits you shall know them," (Mt 7:16-23) HOW DO WE GET THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT? Fruits of the Spirit are received in the soul along with sanctifying grace and remain in us as permanent dispositions to help us follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We lose them only when we the state of grace through mortal sin. FRUITS AS EFFECTS IN US The fruits of the Spirit are the effects in us of living a life according to the will of God, a life of holiness. To understand the fruits we need to read St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 5:13-26 where he lists them. FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT -Gal 5:19-21 PAUL’S LETTER TO THE GALATIANS ON FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT IN CONTRAST TO THE FRUITS OF THE FLESH 2 Galatians 5:13-26. Here Paul contrasts the fruits of the Spirit to the bitter fruits of the flesh (vices). He states that the desire of the flesh are against the desires of the Spirit, and those of the Spirit are against the desires of the flesh. The War Within us. Paul goes on to warn about the possible loss of eternal life for those who indulge in the flesh. "I warn you as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal 5:21) CHARISMS I Cor 12:7 The Manifestation Gifts – Corinthian Gifts. These are often referred to as the Charismatic Gifts. "To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit." 1 Cor 12:7 - There are different members, but ONE BODY – all function together. These gifts are free and are dispensed sovereignly by God upon His people for the good of others. These gifts are supernatural abilities bestowed upon individuals by the Holy Spirit. They are not natural abilities. These manifestations are for the common good of the Church and are not to be used to promote the importance of the person bearing the gift. – see Catechism references above. We do not ‘possess’ the manifestation gifts. We are the vehicles the Lord uses for the outpouring of His blessings upon His people. We are the ‘gift bearers’ and must function "with humility, willingness to take risks, trust in God, and love for our brothers and sisters in Christ" –Catechism of the Catholic Church. Christians open to the manifestation gifts of the Holy Spirit, to use them for their own building up and then for the building up of the church, should know what the gifts are and pray for the gift of discernment in when and how to use certain gifts. The Manifestation gifts consist of gifts of Insight / Revelation, gifts of Communication / Utterance, and Power / Dynamic gifts.) "CHARISMS are therefore graces bestowed by the Holy Spirit upon certain members of the faithful to prepare them to contribute to the common good of the Church" JP II. (cf 1 Cor 12:8-10) PART 3: WHAT DOES THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (CCC) TEACH ABOUT CHARISMS? 3 "The Holy Spirit is the principle of every vital and truly saving action in each part of Body. He works in many ways to build the Body in charity... by the many special graces (called charisms), by which He makes the faithful 'fit and ready to undertake various tasks and offices for the renewal and building up of the Church" CCC#798 #799: "Whether extraordinary or simple and humble, charisms are graces of the Holy Spirit which directly or indirectly benefit the Church, ordered as they are to her building up, to the good of the faithful, and to the needs of the world." 801 – "It is in this sense that discernment of charisms is always necessary. No charism is exempt from being referred and submitted to the Church’s shepherds. ‘Their office [is] not indeed to extinguish the Spirit, but to test all things and hold fast to what is good,’ [254] so that all the diverse and complementary charisms work together ‘for the common good.’ [255] " 951 –"Communion of charisms. Within the communion of the church, the Holy Spirit ‘distributes special graces among the faithful of every rank’ for the building up of the Church. [482] now, ‘to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.’ [483]" 2003 – "Grace is first and foremost the gift of the Spirit who justifies and sanctifies us. But grace also includes the gifts that the Spirit grants us to associate us with his work, to enable us to collaborate in the salvation of others and in the growth of the Body of Christ, the Church. There are sacramental graces, gifts proper to the different sacraments. There are furthermore special graces, also called charisms after the Greek term used by St. Paul and meaning ‘favor,’ ‘gratuitous gift,’ ‘benefit.’ [53] Whatever their character – sometimes it is extraordinary, such as the gift of miracles or of tongues – charisms are oriented toward sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the Church. They are at the service of charity which builds up the Church. [54]" 2004 – "Among the special graces ought to be mentioned the graces of state that accompany the exercise of the responsibilities of the Christian life and of the ministries within the Church. Having gifts that differ according to the grace give to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. {55] " 4 CHARISMS IN THE DOCUMENTS OF THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL (1962-1965) The term charism and charismatic appears 14 times in the documents of the Second Vatican Council. The document on the Missionary Activity of the Church (Ad Gentes #23) speaks of the Holy Spirit, who distributes the charismata as He wills for the common good (1 Cor 12:11). These gifts are used for the preaching of the Gospel. +++++++++ Ad Gentes Chapter IV, “Missionaries.” # 23 “Every disciple of Christ has the duty of spreading the Faith. (1) Christ the Lord always calls whomever He will from among the number of His disciples, to be with Him and to be sent by Him to preach to the nations (cf. Mark 3:13). Therefore, by the Holy Spirit, who distributes the charismata as He wills for the common good (1 Cor. 12:11), He inspires the missionary vocation in the hearts of individuals, and at the same time He raises up in the Church certain institutes(2) which take as their own special task the duty of preaching the Gospel, a duty belonging to the whole Church.