09/01/2026
WHY IS IT THE CATHOLIC “CHARISMATIC” RENEWAL?
By Al Mansfield
September 2026
Why use the word “charismatic”? Well, simply because a re-discovery or renewal of the charismatic gifts is an integral part of this Renewal Movement that began in the Catholic Church in February 1967. As we continue our approach to the 60th Anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, I thought it would be good to devote this blog to the charismatic gifts. Indeed, these gifts certainly make up a distinguishing characteristic of the Catholic Charismatic movement.
Since there are some 27 charismatic gifts listed in the New Testament, a thorough discussion of these gifts could get lengthy and complicated. For that reason, I will briefly comment only on the gifts mentioned in 1 Cor. 12 -14.
DIVISION OF GIFTS
While I'm aware that there are other ways of categorizing these gifts, I have found the following division of the Corinthian gifts to be most helpful:
Gifts that work through the mind or understanding: word of wisdom and word of knowledge.
Sign gifts: faith, gifts of healing, miracles.
Revelational gifts: prophecy, discernment of spirit, tongues with interpretation.
Prayer gift of tongues.
Let us now examine them individually.
GIFTS THAT WORK THROUGH THE MIND OR UNDERSTANDING
The word of wisdom is a word of practical advice on how to best live the Christian life - what to do or how to act in a given situation...an insight into God's will in a concrete circumstance.
Our understanding of the word of knowledge is an inspired grasp of Christian truths and an inspired ability to communicate those truths in preaching and teaching. However, another common explanation of this gift is that it refers to knowledge or information that a person did not receive through natural means.
SIGN GIFTS
The gift of charismatic faith can be described as a special assurance in prayer - a supernatural confidence that what is being prayed for will be granted by the Lord.
We note that gifts of healing is in the plural form, perhaps indicating that there are different types of healing - spiritual healing; psychological or emotional healing; and physical healing.
A miracle is a suppression of the ordinary laws of nature, such as the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. The Lord's disciples in Scripture, saints down through Church history, as well as God's people in our own day have been used to work miracles.
REVELATIONAL GIFTS
The gift of prophecy refers to words spoken as inspired or led by God. It is a way that God communicates to His people through the Holy Spirit.
Discernment of spirits is the gift of knowing whether the particular spirit operating in a given person or situation is the Holy Spirit, the human spirit, or the evil spirit.
THE GIFT OF TONGUES
The gift of tongues really has two functions as indicated in Scripture. First, it is a prayer gift for an individual.
This is the more common and usual way the gift of tongues is exercised.
Secondly, however, the gift of tongues can also be used in a public way to bring a message into a group, and in this case it must be followed by an interpretation so that all can benefit from what is said. It functions here much like a prophecy.
ST. PAUL ON CHARISMATIC GIFTS
St. Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, says that we should not be ignorant about charismatic gifts (1 Cor. 12:1). He says that we should earnestly desire them (1 Cor. 14:1). St. Paul wants us all to speak in tongues but even more to prophesy (1 Cor. 14:5). In fact, Paul says that he speaks in tongues "more than you all" (1 Cor. 14:18). He summarizes his teaching by saying, "Earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues, but all things should be done decently and in order (1 Cor. 14:39-40).
Let us all pray for the grace to obey God's word in this, as in all else. Amen!
