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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Holy Laughter	Patrick	Monday, March 23, 2009
Question: Hey, I'm a cradle Catholic and I had a conversion experience that I did not expect. The experience changed me in many ways. One such way is through a gift of laughter. After reading many of your comments, you seem level headed. As a result, I would like to know your thoughts about this situation. . . Once I was at a Healing Mass and was asked if I would stand behind those who were being prayed with. I was there to catch those who experienced dormition. While standing there, I began to pray for those I was paired with. While praying, the laughter came. While I was laughing, I heard someone who was resting in the Spirt speak in a very hideous voice. The voice was horrible. It said, 'Stop the laughter! I cannot stand the laughter!' After Mass, I talked to all those who were in proximity to this event and they all said they heard nothing come from the mouth of this person. In fact, they disbelieved me. Three months later, all the same people were gathered for an adult faith formation class that discussed spiritual healing. The speaker volunteered to lay hands in prayer on those who needed healing. Well, this guy who was demonized was first to get prayer and he was jerking violently on the floor. As I began laughing, I asked God that the Spirit in me be given to him on the floor. As I thought this, I raised my hand in his direction. The demonized person kicked a 6ft long table in the air and several people jumped on him. We all began to pray for this person. I could not stop laughing in the Spirit. (I didn't want to). In faith I wiped the Blood of Jesus on his legs and they stopped jerking. Other were very much involved, not just me!! In a moment of stillness, he opened his eyes with a 'thousand yard' stare and everyone heard the voice say, "This man is mine!" Eventually, the demonized person was able to lay without anyone holding him. With his eyes closed and with a trembling hand, this peron made the sign of the cross over himself and then woke up wondering what happened.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Patrick: Before I answer your post I need to warn you that you will probably not like my comments. You may even be offended by my comments. I am sorry for that, if that happens, but I have a duty to tell the truth about the things presented in your post and call it as I see it. The story you relate is troubling on several levels. The co-called "holy laughter" is problematic, and perhaps the so-called "Healing Mass", as what as what was done for this alleged demonized man, and especially how the Blood of Jesus was used. First, on the "holy laughter": I appreciate and praise God that you have come closer to our Lord through your experiences, but this does not mean that the experience is good, only that God is good in knowing the desires of your heart. The history and source of Holy Laughter is solely within the Protestant Charismatic movement. While somewhat rare among Catholic charismatics, this Pentecostal phenomenon has contaminated Catholics. For a complete discussion of spiritual gifts and the Pentecostal contaminations see the article, Charism Gifts Building Up the Church. To quote from one source... ... in these charismatic meetings where "holy laughter" occurs, some participants (from a handful, to almost the whole audience at times) find themselves laughing uncontrollably for no particular reason, sometimes even to the point of falling out of their chairs and rolling on the floor in convulsions of laughter. This can occur no matter the topic being addressed by the current speaker from the pulpit-even when the speaker is expounding on such matters as Eternal Judgment and Hell. It is taught in such settings that this is a supernatural manifestation which indicates a special in-filling of the individual by the Holy Spirit. Although this phenomenon has been reported in isolated instances for the past 100 years or so, it first attracted widespread attention in the early 1990s as one of the typical manifestations involved with the Toronto Blessing movement. The most prominent individual connected with the Holy Laughter phenomenon is South African evangelist Rodney Howard-Browne, who styles himself "Joel's Bartender." This is a reference to the prophecy in the Bible in Joel 2 regarding the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Those who are overcome with Holy Laughter at Howard-Browne's meetings are viewed as being "drunk with (or in) the Holy Spirit," and some do behave as if physically intoxicated, to the point that they are unable to drive home from meetings. St. Paul specifically warns against the appearance of intoxication. He warned against the congregation speaking in tongues because onlookers will think them drunk (1 Cor 14:23). Uncontrollable laughter is not a sign of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not going to cause a person to lose his dignity and appear drunk or crazy. Inappropriate and uncontrollable laughter is actually a classic symptom of some types of mental illness. The Holy Spirit is not going to cause a normal and sane person to appear mentally ill like this. The Holy Spirit also does not force people to do anything so these phenomena that are not within the control of the person are not of God by definition. The Toronto Phenomena had people not only in uncontrolable laughter but barking like dogs and such. This is nonsense and certainly not of God. The cause of this so-called "holy laughter" may be 1) a psychological manifestation caused by stress and anxiety or a reaction of being caught up in the moment, or some other psychological genesis; 2) demonic; or 3) a combination of both. While I do not intend to scare you I have to tell you that the reaction of the man on the floor to your laughter does not necessarily indicate that your laughter is from the Holy Spirit. The demon in him could react that way to the Holy Spirit, but the demon could also act that way in response to the presence of another demon if the laughter was actually sourced in the demonic. I would advise you to pray to God and ask him to remove this "gift" from you. If you experience this "holy laughter" again after asking God to remove it, then it is assured that the "laughter" is not from God since God does not force anyone to do anything. On Healing Mass: Technically, there is no such thing as a Healing Mass. If there is a time where the priest prays over people for healing that must be done outside of the Mass. It can be done before or after the Mass, but never during the Mass. Your description seems to imply that this healing period was during the Mass. Maybe you meant that it was done after the Mass. If it was done during the Mass then the Priest violated Liturgical Law. He should know better. Concerning Laying on of Hands: You mention that a "speaker" of a meeting was laying on hands for healing. There was no reference that this speaker was a priest. We need to be very circumspect about this practice. The Church has specifically warned against laity practicing gestures and pseudo-rituals that too closely resemble those gestures and actions reserved to priests. Many charismatics perform pseudo-rituals that are very close to the Sacrament of Anointing. They will say they are not trying to do the Sacrament, and that is fine, but the Church says that we must have concern even over the "appearance" that others may perceive of our actions. One of the major documents from the Church on this is the Instruction on Prayers for Healing. The Spirit in me be given to another: This is very odd wording. If you mean the Holy Spirit, then you should have prayed in a manner like, "Lord please bring the Holy Spirit upon this poor soul..." The "Spirit in me" is not something I would want you to pray for me. What if you have a demonic spirit in or around you and you do not even know it? If you did you may have just given the poor man another demon. (a good Catholic in a state of Grace can still have a demonic spirit). Wiped the Blood of Jesus on his legs: This is the most troubling of all, if you mean by this that you wiped the man's leg with the Blessed Sacrament. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER do that. Why did you have the Blessed Sacrament in the first place? This was apparently a formation class. The Blessed Sacrament should have been locked in the Tabernacle in the Sanctuary. In my opinion, doing this was a sacrilege against the Blessed Sacrament. The Sacrament is not to be used like Holy Oil or a salve. You could have wiped the man's legs with blessed oil, but not with the Sacrament. Bottomline: your story of the charismatic group illustrates the profound problems of Catholic charismatics who practice their charisma in a Pentecostal fashion instead of a Catholic expression. As for your "holy laughter" I seriously suggest that you ask God to remove this "gift". It does not serve the dignity of the human person or of God. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Holy Laughter

Patrick

Monday, March 23, 2009

Question:

Hey, I'm a cradle Catholic and I had a conversion experience that I did not expect. The experience changed me in many ways. One such way is through a gift of laughter. After reading many of your comments, you seem level headed. As a result, I would like to know your thoughts about this situation. . .

Once I was at a Healing Mass and was asked if I would stand behind those who were being prayed with. I was there to catch those who experienced dormition. While standing there, I began to pray for those I was paired with. While praying, the laughter came. While I was laughing, I heard someone who was resting in the Spirt speak in a very hideous voice. The voice was horrible. It said, 'Stop the laughter! I cannot stand the laughter!' After Mass, I talked to all those who were in proximity to this event and they all said they heard nothing come from the mouth of this person. In fact, they disbelieved me.

Three months later, all the same people were gathered for an adult faith formation class that discussed spiritual healing. The speaker volunteered to lay hands in prayer on those who needed healing. Well, this guy who was demonized was first to get prayer and he was jerking violently on the floor. As I began laughing, I asked God that the Spirit in me be given to him on the floor. As I thought this, I raised my hand in his direction. The demonized person kicked a 6ft long table in the air and several people jumped on him. We all began to pray for this person. I could not stop laughing in the Spirit. (I didn't want to).

In faith I wiped the Blood of Jesus on his legs and they stopped jerking. Other were very much involved, not just me!! In a moment of stillness, he opened his eyes with a 'thousand yard' stare and everyone heard the voice say, "This man is mine!" Eventually, the demonized person was able to lay without anyone holding him. With his eyes closed and with a trembling hand, this peron made the sign of the cross over himself and then woke up wondering what happened.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Patrick:

Before I answer your post I need to warn you that you will probably not like my comments. You may even be offended by my comments. I am sorry for that, if that happens, but I have a duty to tell the truth about the things presented in your post and call it as I see it.

The story you relate is troubling on several levels. The co-called "holy laughter" is problematic, and perhaps the so-called "Healing Mass", as what as what was done for this alleged demonized man, and especially how the Blood of Jesus was used.

First, on the "holy laughter": I appreciate and praise God that you have come closer to our Lord through your experiences, but this does not mean that the experience is good, only that God is good in knowing the desires of your heart.

The history and source of Holy Laughter is solely within the Protestant Charismatic movement. While somewhat rare among Catholic charismatics, this Pentecostal phenomenon has contaminated Catholics. For a complete discussion of spiritual gifts and the Pentecostal contaminations see the article, Charism Gifts Building Up the Church.

To quote from one source...

... in these charismatic meetings where "holy laughter" occurs, some participants (from a handful, to almost the whole audience at times) find themselves laughing uncontrollably for no particular reason, sometimes even to the point of falling out of their chairs and rolling on the floor in convulsions of laughter. This can occur no matter the topic being addressed by the current speaker from the pulpit-even when the speaker is expounding on such matters as Eternal Judgment and Hell.
It is taught in such settings that this is a supernatural manifestation which indicates a special in-filling of the individual by the Holy Spirit. Although this phenomenon has been reported in isolated instances for the past 100 years or so, it first attracted widespread attention in the early 1990s as one of the typical manifestations involved with the Toronto Blessing movement. The most prominent individual connected with the Holy Laughter phenomenon is South African evangelist Rodney Howard-Browne, who styles himself "Joel's Bartender." This is a reference to the prophecy in the Bible in Joel 2 regarding the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Those who are overcome with Holy Laughter at Howard-Browne's meetings are viewed as being "drunk with (or in) the Holy Spirit," and some do behave as if physically intoxicated, to the point that they are unable to drive home from meetings.

St. Paul specifically warns against the appearance of intoxication. He warned against the congregation speaking in tongues because onlookers will think them drunk (1 Cor 14:23).

Uncontrollable laughter is not a sign of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not going to cause a person to lose his dignity and appear drunk or crazy. Inappropriate and uncontrollable laughter is actually a classic symptom of some types of mental illness. The Holy Spirit is not going to cause a normal and sane person to appear mentally ill like this. The Holy Spirit also does not force people to do anything so these phenomena that are not within the control of the person are not of God by definition.

The Toronto Phenomena had people not only in uncontrolable laughter but barking like dogs and such. This is nonsense and certainly not of God.

The cause of this so-called "holy laughter" may be 1) a psychological manifestation caused by stress and anxiety or a reaction of being caught up in the moment, or some other psychological genesis; 2) demonic; or 3) a combination of both.

While I do not intend to scare you I have to tell you that the reaction of the man on the floor to your laughter does not necessarily indicate that your laughter is from the Holy Spirit. The demon in him could react that way to the Holy Spirit, but the demon could also act that way in response to the presence of another demon if the laughter was actually sourced in the demonic.

I would advise you to pray to God and ask him to remove this "gift" from you. If you experience this "holy laughter" again after asking God to remove it, then it is assured that the "laughter" is not from God since God does not force anyone to do anything.

On Healing Mass: Technically, there is no such thing as a Healing Mass. If there is a time where the priest prays over people for healing that must be done outside of the Mass. It can be done before or after the Mass, but never during the Mass. Your description seems to imply that this healing period was during the Mass. Maybe you meant that it was done after the Mass. If it was done during the Mass then the Priest violated Liturgical Law. He should know better.

Concerning Laying on of Hands: You mention that a "speaker" of a meeting was laying on hands for healing. There was no reference that this speaker was a priest. We need to be very circumspect about this practice. The Church has specifically warned against laity practicing gestures and pseudo-rituals that too closely resemble those gestures and actions reserved to priests. Many charismatics perform pseudo-rituals that are very close to the Sacrament of Anointing. They will say they are not trying to do the Sacrament, and that is fine, but the Church says that we must have concern even over the "appearance" that others may perceive of our actions. One of the major documents from the Church on this is the Instruction on Prayers for Healing.

The Spirit in me be given to another: This is very odd wording. If you mean the Holy Spirit, then you should have prayed in a manner like, "Lord please bring the Holy Spirit upon this poor soul..." The "Spirit in me" is not something I would want you to pray for me. What if you have a demonic spirit in or around you and you do not even know it? If you did you may have just given the poor man another demon. (a good Catholic in a state of Grace can still have a demonic spirit).

Wiped the Blood of Jesus on his legs: This is the most troubling of all, if you mean by this that you wiped the man's leg with the Blessed Sacrament. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER do that. Why did you have the Blessed Sacrament in the first place? This was apparently a formation class. The Blessed Sacrament should have been locked in the Tabernacle in the Sanctuary.

In my opinion, doing this was a sacrilege against the Blessed Sacrament. The Sacrament is not to be used like Holy Oil or a salve. You could have wiped the man's legs with blessed oil, but not with the Sacrament.

Bottomline: your story of the charismatic group illustrates the profound problems of Catholic charismatics who practice their charisma in a Pentecostal fashion instead of a Catholic expression.

As for your "holy laughter" I seriously suggest that you ask God to remove this "gift". It does not serve the dignity of the human person or of God.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.