WHAT IS A CHARISMATIC

PRAYER GROUP
WHAT IS A CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP
• They do not come together to discuss theology, nor to study
Scripture, nor to be involved in the Church’s social action programs –
although the members might be involved in one or more of these
activities at some other time. Rather, the people come together to
praise God, to ask forgiveness for their sins, to present to God their
petitions, to hear God’s word in Scripture and to raise their voices in
holy song.
WHAT IS A CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP
• A charismatic prayer group stresses the Baptism
of the Holy Spirit and regularly uses charismatic
gifts, both in the weekly prayer meeting and in
private prayer.
WHAT INSIGHT INTO GOD’S PLAN IS OFFERED
BY THE OLD TESTAMENT?
WHAT INSIGHT INTO GOD’S PLAN IS OFFERED
BY THE OLD TESTAMENT? God’s work in the
Old Testament centered upon the formation
of a people committed to Him. His care for
them extends to:
 a) The care of Moses (Exod.3).
b) His care for them in the Exodus, the
central event of the Old Testament (Exod. 12
and on).
c) The giving of the Covenant (Deut. 5).
d) The raising up of the Judges (Book of
Judges and 1 Sam.)
e) The permitting of Kings (1 and 2 Kings).
f) The sending of the prophets.
God’s care forged the Israelites into a people.
This history provides an insight into God’s
pastoral plan – namely, that individuals come
to Him by becoming a part of a community.
WHAT INSIGHT INTO GOD’S PLAN IS
PROVIDED BY THE GOSPELS
• a) He called the twelve, setting them apart for a distinct role
(Matt. 10:2; Mark 3:14 Luke 6:13).
• b) He chose the seventy-two (Luke 10:1).
• c) He gathered the Holy Women (Luke 8:2). Besides forming
these groups, He also lamented that other shepherds were
not available to care for the formation of all the people.
Within these communities, Jesus formed the group and
taught them to pray. The members of each group shared
experiences with one another and with Jesus. From time to
time, Jesus sent them outside of the community to witness
to those who had not yet heard (Luke 10; Mark 3:14).
• WHAT BASIS FOR GROUPS IS OFFERED BY THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES?
Following in the tradition of God’s care for the Jewish people and Christ’s
example of forming a Christian community, the early Christians clearly
understood God’s pastoral plan – namely, that they should come together
in Christian community, developing all the internal and external activities
that Jesus had taught them. The key text is from Acts 2:42-47: “They
devoted themselves to the apostles’ instruction and the communal life, to
the breaking of the bread and the prayers. A reverent fear overtook them
all, for many wonders and signs were performed by the apostles. Those
who believed shared all things in common. They would sell their property
and goods, dividing everything on the basis of each one’s need. They went
to the temple area together every day, while in their homes they broke
bread. With exultant and sincere hearts they took their meals in common,
praising God and winning the approval of all the people. Day by day the
Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”
•WHAT INSIGHT IS OFFERED BY THIS TEXT?
The early Christians understood the
following pattern: a) They came together for
instruction, the breaking of bread and
prayer (Verse 42). b) they shared all things
in common (Verse 43). c) They did many
things together – going to the temple,
taking meals and praising God (Verses 46-
47). By these means the following apostolic
results occurred:
By these means the following apostolic results
occurred:

• a) God blessed the community with signs and

wonders (Verse 43).
• b) New members were added daily (Verse 47)
DOCTRINAL BASIS FOR A PRAYER GROUP
DOCTRINAL BASIS FOR A PRAYER GROUP

•Mystical Body and

•of the Eucharist (the presence of Christ’s
physical, glorified Body among us).
DOCTRINAL BASIS FOR A PRAYER GROUP
•Mystical Body
• a) In St. Paul, the notion of the “Body of Christ” means the actual,
risen, personal body of Christ.
• b) As the term “Body of Christ” is applied to the Church, it means that
body which gathers, by means of the Spirit, the whole assembly of
the faithful.
• c) This union comes about by the fellowship in faith professed at
Baptism, and is perfected through the Eucharist. Basically, this
doctrine stresses that Baptism does not just unite us to God but
incorporates us into Christ’s Body as members.
• Prayer group even when the Eucharist is not
celebrated:
• a) Manifests and makes concrete the unity that exists.
• b) Prepares the members for a more fruitful reception of the
Eucharist. Paul, in 1 Corinthians, chapter 10, brings together the
doctrines of the Mystical Body and the Eucharist: “Is not the cup of
blessing we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? And is not the
bread we break a sharing in the Body of Christ? Because the loaf of
bread is one, we, many though we are, are one body, for we all
partake of the one loaf” (Verses 16-17).
WHAT DO THE CHARISMATIC GROUPS OFFER
TO TOTAL CHURCH LIFE?
• a) An atmosphere in which people can give more time to devotional
practices.
• b) An atmosphere in which people can bring other people to the Lord.
• c) An atmosphere in which people want to spend long periods of time
praying, sharing and learning about spirituality.
• d) The support of Christian relationships needed to withstand the
pressures of the modern world.
• e) An opportunity to get deeper teaching, personalized instruction
and spiritual guidance. Many other helps could be listed which are
sorely needed by the Church and the faithful.