Charismatic Christianity VI

Monasteries and charismatic gifts

Many monasteries were established in opposition to the growing institutionalization of the church. At the beginning these monasteries had charismatic gifts in operation, but soon similar development took place in them as had taken place in the church, they also were institutionalized and lost the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. During the 11^th and 12^th centuries monasteries were in need of reformation and monastic renewal took place through the Cistercian and Franciscan orders. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 – 1153) was a leading charismatic Cistercian monk, through whom many sick people were healed. Franciscus of Assisi (1181 – 1226) was also made famous at that time because of his gifts of prophecy and healing.[1]

The Cathari

There were several Christian groups who did not approve of the teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. One of these groups was called the Cathari, they lived in Western Europe from the 12^th to 15^th centuries, their name comes from the Greek word katharós, meaning pure. Knowledge of the Cathari and their beliefs, like the Montanists, is based solely on documents written by their adversaries. The documented knowledge has been found in the records of the courts and the church manuals which explain how heretics should be treated. The Cathari emphasised the spiritual values of Christianity, and they rejected formality and the rituals of the church, they also did not accept the sacraments. For instance instead of water baptism they taught baptism in the Holy Spirit. The Cathari experienced supernatural workings of the Holy Spirit including speaking in tongues, this was reason for the Church to accuse them of witchcraft. According to Hyatt the Roman Catholic Church considered the Cathari as an affront to the institutionalized church, because the source for their authority was the Bible and charismatic experience of the Holy Spirit. The Cathari became the objects of persecution and even systematic attempts of annihilation by the Roman Catholic Church, who burned them at the stake. The Cathari knew the Bible well, and therefore at the Synod of Toulouse in 1229 the Roman Catholic Church forbade laymen to use the vernacular translations of the Bible.[2]

[2] Hyatt 2002, 63 – 65.