The Season of the Spirit - Michelle Moran

Michelle Moran

Over the past year I have spoken at Charismatic events in every continent. There is a rising sense that we are entering a new era of the Spirit. A season of deep grace and power is being unleashed. There also seems to be a sense of urgency, not to simply rush into things, but to strategically and sensitively discern the way forward as we journey towards the Golden Jubilee of Catholic Charismatic Renewal In 2017. In this new time, I have a sense that there are some key things that the Lord is saying to the world-wide CCR. These obviously need careful reflection and discernment at the regional, national and international levels.

Grow in ‘Charismatic’ Ecclesial Maturity

In 1998, Pope John Paul II spoke to around 400,000 people from all the Ecclesial Movements who were gathered in St Peter’s Square on the eve of Pentecost. He issued a timely challenge: ‘Now is a new stage also for the movements, the one of ecclesial maturity’. Sometimes in CCR we can become too experience orientated, we chase after popular preachers and are always looking for a new buzz. Pope John Paul II challenged this superficial consumerist approach. He encouraged members of the movements to become mature disciples, committed to on-going conversion and prepared to make a difference in the Church and in the world.

The Season of the Spirit

1 - Are we growing numerically? Why/ why not?
2 - Are we becoming more mature disciples?
3 - Are we influencing the Church and impacting the world?

Unfortunately in some parts of the world, in an effort to gain acceptability or seem ecclesially mature, the CCR has played down its charismatic dimension. The charisms are not being encouraged and are therefore in decline. The result is a weak CCR which is in danger of losing its core identity. It is important to remember that Pope John Paul II frequently encouraged CCR leaders to be who they are i.e., Charismatics in the heart of the Church. So we have a responsibility as individuals and in our groups to ‘keep fanning into a flame the gift that God gave us…’ (2Tim:1:6) We also have to be committed to enabling people to grow and become more mature in the charisms. ICCRS is focussing upon this at the Road to Pentecost International event in Assisi at Pentecost 2011 (see the backpage for more info).

Be Faithful to your Calling

In 2006 there was an international leaders’ consultation where leaders came together to discern what the Lord was saying to CCR. Overwhelmingly, every group emphasised the centrality of Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the importance of the ‘Life in the Spirit’ seminars. At the moment, the seminars seem to be increasing in popularity. However, in our context, it is not uncommon for the same people to go through the seminars a number of times. This spectator culture is an indication of a lack of growth and empowerment. In the early days of CCR, the pioneers had to grow up quickly. Nowadays it is perhaps easier for seminar participants to be passive receivers and leave everything else up to the seemingly more expert leaders. Clearly we need to enable seminar participants to grow in confidence so that they can become future seminar group leaders. We also need to increase our circle of influence and reach out with boldness inviting new people to participate in the seminars.

Empowering and Transitioning Leadership

The leadership in the Renewal from its beginnings among university students was ‘youthful’. However, for the Renewal to spread, the first wave of leaders needed to invest in other Timothys and raise up new leaders. Today, I often meet leaders who have held the same leadership roles for many years. Whilst continuity is important because it creates security, things can become stale. New people often bring freshness and innovation. It is important to get the right balance and to carefully transition leadership handovers. In one sense there is no such thing as a ‘retired’ leader. However, leaders need careful discernment in order to recognise and invest in potential Joshuas. They then need to sense when it is the right time to hand over responsibilities.

Intercessors Arise

There is an increasing sense worldwide of the need for deep and profound intercession. In some places this ministry is very well developed. I think of the many all night prayer vigils in India, the prayer mountain in Tanzania, the 40 hours of intercession in Mexico and the numerous chapels of perpetual adoration. Here in our own context things are gradually emerging. There is a need to broaden our understanding of intercession. It is more than simply praying ‘for’ things or ‘covering things in prayer’. It involves being drawn more deeply into God’s heart and developing what the Catechism calls; ‘hearts attuned to God’s mercy’ (CCC 2635).

For several years there has been a prophetic sense that the Renewal needs to respond to an urgent call to ‘return to the Upper Room’ in adoration and intense intercession. Connected with this is the encouragement to pray the Pentecost novena, not just as a private devotion but as a tool for intercession. It is wonderful to think that between Ascension and Pentecost, Charismatic Renewal is united together in a world- wide net of prayer. As the call to intercession gathers momentum, I sense that we will see the further unfolding of the vision. (Some time ago the NSC in England established a ‘network for intercession’ if you would like to know more about this please contact the Goodnews office).

New Evangelisation – Now is the time

Pope John Paul II spoke about the spirituality of Pentecost, characterised by ‘a renewed thrust of prayer, holiness, communion and proclamation’. In the short history of CCR we have given a lot of emphasis to growing in prayer and to the universal call to holiness. However, if we are truly filled with the Holy Spirit the inevitable consequence is that we will naturally move out in evangelisation and mission. However, Pope John Paul II also offered some important advice, when he said; ’contemplation which does not give birth to mission will eventually wither and mission that does not spring from contemplation is doomed to frustration and failure’. I think many of us can resonate with this. We must seek to get the right balance in our lives and in our groups. We are called to ‘put out into the deep of prayer so that we can put out into the deep of mission’.

On Pentecost Monday in 1975, Ralph Martin gave a strong prophetic word in the presence of Pope Paul VI. We can return to this after 35 years because the word is gradually unfolding. It spoke about trials which would come upon the Church, a time of being stripped and being led into a deeper dependency upon the Lord for everything. It spoke of a time of darkness in the secular world. I am sure all of us would agree that we have seen these things come to pass. However, the final part of the prophesy said; ‘a time of darkness is coming on the world, but a time of glory is coming for my Church, a time of glory is coming for my people…I will prepare for you a time of evangelism that the world has not yet seen’. I sense that the preparation time is coming to an end and we need to be ready to move equipped with the charisms into this new phase of evangelisation. This seems to fit in with the mind of the Church as Pope Benedict XVI recently announced that the topic of the next major synod in Rome in 2012 will be ‘new evangelisation’.

Promoting the Culture of Pentecost

Pope Benedict XVI has set before us an even greater missionary challenge by calling us to live and spread the ‘culture of Pentecost’. This goes beyond prayer meetings, conferences and other religious gatherings. As Pentecost becomes more of a living reality in the Church the grace will flow out into the whole of society impacting economics, politics, the arts, international relations etc. On a recent trip to Brazil I was impressed to see that the CCR were holding special seminars for politicians and those involved in public life. It has also been encouraging to see social welfare and education programmes aimed at embracing the ‘culture of life’ being established through the Charismatic Renewal in many places worldwide. I believe that the Lord is at work creating new openings and opportunities for us. He is doing new things in our time. We need the eyes to see and the courage to keep following his promptings. We need the courage to firmly take our place as ambassadors of the Holy Spirit.


Michelle Moran is a member of the Sion Community, chairwoman of the English NSC and President of ICCRS.