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Question Title Posted By Question Date
word of knowledge James Sunday, February 1, 2009

Question:

Brother,

Thanks for replying to all my queries. I read your answer to Liz's question [about Alan Ames] and you said that you're wondering about 'word of knowledge.' There was a charismatic priest I know and he told of a story in his homily about a charismatic prayer meeting where someone suddenly revealed that a person present in that meeting has committed an abortion and the Lord is going to forgive her. A certain woman present admitted that she did so. The priest defined it as 'word of knowledge.' He believes it is a gift of the Holy Spirit and sounds to me like 'reading of hearts' that saints like Padre Pio can do.

God bless+
James



Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear James:

I was wondering how Ames defines word of knowledge; I know how I define it

The word of knowledge is not a pseudo-mediumistic knowledge where someone stands up and reveals that someone has an illness or had an abortion or whatever, or a minister on stage saying something like, "God tells me that someone in the audience as a kidney disease" or "Someone in the audience is living a terrible life of sin."  That definition and practice comes from the Pentecostals that unfortunately has been picked up by Catholic Charismatics. There are many Pentecostal contaminations in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

I believe the charism gift of Word of Knowledge is the ability to discover, know, and communicate deep spiritual Truths. In extremely rare instances, such as with St. Padre Pio, this gift may include the ability to “read souls” [1 Cor 12:8]

For a complete discussion on the issue of Spiritual Gits, what they are and are not, the pros and cons of the Charismatic Renewal, and a list of Pentecostal contamination see the essay, Charism Gifts Building Up the Church.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary


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