EVANGELIZATION

The Catholic Charismatic Movement—more commonly called the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR)—is a movement within the Roman Catholic Church that emphasizes a renewed experience of the Holy Spirit, drawing especially on the gifts (charisms) described in the New Testament.

Origins

The movement began in 1967 at a retreat of Catholic university students in the United States, who experienced what they described as a new, personal outpouring of the Holy Spirit. From there, it spread rapidly throughout the Catholic world and today is present in nearly every country.

Core Emphases

At its heart, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal seeks to help Catholics live more fully the grace of their Baptism and Confirmation. Its main characteristics include:

• A personal relationship with Jesus Christ
  Emphasis is placed on conversion, surrender to Christ, and ongoing discipleship.

• “Baptism in the Holy Spirit”
  This term refers not to a new sacrament, but to a renewal or awakening of the grace already received in the sacraments, often accompanied by a deepened prayer life and zeal for mission.

• The charisms (spiritual gifts)
  These include gifts such as praise, prophecy, healing, tongues, interpretation, and discernment (cf. 1 Corinthians 12). These gifts are understood as given for the building up of the Church, not for personal status.

• Praise and worship
  Prayer often includes spontaneous praise, Scripture-based prayer, music, and expressive worship, while remaining fully Catholic in theology and sacramental life.

• Community and evangelization
  Many participants gather in prayer groups, covenant communities, or parish-based ministries that focus on fellowship, formation, and outreach.

Relationship to the Catholic Church

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is fully Catholic and operates in communion with the Pope and local bishops. It affirms:

• The authority of the Magisterium

• The centrality of the Eucharist

• Devotion to Mary

• The importance of the sacraments

Popes from St. Paul VI to Pope Francis have repeatedly affirmed the movement as a legitimate and fruitful expression of Catholic life, when lived with humility and fidelity to the Church.

Purpose and Fruit

The Renewal exists not as a separate spirituality, but as a grace for the whole Church, aiming to:

• Renew personal holiness

• Revitalize parish life

• Encourage evangelization

• Foster openness to the action of the Holy Spirit

In short, the Catholic Charismatic Movement seeks to help Catholics rediscover the power, presence, and gifts of the Holy Spirit at work in the Church today—just as in the time of the Apostles—always in unity with Catholic faith and practice.