Moving On From My First Life in the Spirit Seminar
It surely was just the right time, having been actively attending Friday evening prayer meetings at the St. Paul the Apostle Prayer Community in Corona, Queens, for over a year now. The "Life in the Spirit Seminar" which I attended the first time over this weekend brought me a host of (what I can describe as) spiritual experiences that I may take some time to absorb and learn from, the effects of which maybe felt better and
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understood more clearly in the days to come. Let me just share the experience now. I didn't really turn histrionic, not even extra dramatic at all, while we're being baptized by the Holy Spirit ---I closed my eyes practically all through out the period when each one of the 40 + participants were being baptized in the Holy Spirit---I opened my eyes when I heard group singing (as I thought the process was over; nobody's giving a queue at all), then I abruptly closed by eyes again.
This second time that I did keep my eyes closed, I experienced the Holy Spirit. There was a cool breath from somewhere, gushing slowly on my face. I actually was feeling warm before this, being always having clammy hands. At least 3 persons, including a priest, laid hands on me, and prayed over me, during the first time that I had my eyes closed.
In my case, the experience of the Holy Spirit's presence was all about having been enveloped by a great hug by someone who has known me for a long time, like I was being assured I got a most loving company, and I didn't really need to feel lonely, nor feel like I'm ever alone. This prompted my senses, and knew I started having my eyes welling into tears, until they started falling; I knew I've had somewhat of this kind of experience before with some people who have gone out of their way to assure me, not really verbally, that I can rely on them even in the darkest, ugliest moments of my life. I did a bit of blubbering sounds, which were actually not intelligible, but I knew I didn't make much loud sounds for everybody else to hear. There was no need for feigning at all --- I was fully aware all through out. It is far from being an over-rated case of hypnotism. I allowed myself to get into this spiritual experience.
All the time, I heard around me several people being struck one way or another by the Holy Spirit, but I didn't dare watch. It actually didn't matter, first of all because we were instructed not to watch others in the room while the baptism of the Holy Spirit was taking place. And I think it made sense to concentrate on my self first, as this was my first experience of this kind of spiritual seminar.
Was it actually an honest-to-goodness authentic spiritual experience? Yes!
Using the inspiration I received from this experience, I wrote another reflection article which focused more on its connection with the Roman Catholic religion. It's titled "Reflections: On Catholicism" ; you'll read more on the religion I've been practicing as far as I can remember. There are currently 18 other articles found under the same title. Please feel free send feedback on my
Curious to attend in a seminar of such kind? I attended a Catholic Life in the Spirit Seminar, the major difference of which is the veneration afforded the Blessed Virgin Mary (the BVM)---the prime example of allowing God's grace to flow through one life according to God's plan. Remember, the BVM could have very well decided not to let God's will be done to her, i.e. aborting the Holy Child, but since the BVM actually acceded to God's will through the archangel Gabriel (I wrote about this archangel, here), the "Word becoming flesh" actually did happen. If you're in NYC, connect (by doing a google on these groups) by reaching out, or even just checking out the following communities:
Pictures above: the first one---after the sacrament of reconciliation, we washed our hands, and proceeded to light a candle. A pray-over for each of those participants interested took place. The second one--A souvenir key chain I got, which depicts "The Cross of the Renewal."
Announcement: Life in the Spirit Seminar
October 9 & 10, 2010 8:30am to 5:00pm
Incarnation Parish Church
8943 Francis Lewis Blvd., Queens Village, NY 11428
718 4658534
click on the title for more...
understood more clearly in the days to come. Let me just share the experience now. I didn't really turn histrionic, not even extra dramatic at all, while we're being baptized by the Holy Spirit ---I closed my eyes practically all through out the period when each one of the 40 + participants were being baptized in the Holy Spirit---I opened my eyes when I heard group singing (as I thought the process was over; nobody's giving a queue at all), then I abruptly closed by eyes again.
This second time that I did keep my eyes closed, I experienced the Holy Spirit. There was a cool breath from somewhere, gushing slowly on my face. I actually was feeling warm before this, being always having clammy hands. At least 3 persons, including a priest, laid hands on me, and prayed over me, during the first time that I had my eyes closed.
In my case, the experience of the Holy Spirit's presence was all about having been enveloped by a great hug by someone who has known me for a long time, like I was being assured I got a most loving company, and I didn't really need to feel lonely, nor feel like I'm ever alone. This prompted my senses, and knew I started having my eyes welling into tears, until they started falling; I knew I've had somewhat of this kind of experience before with some people who have gone out of their way to assure me, not really verbally, that I can rely on them even in the darkest, ugliest moments of my life. I did a bit of blubbering sounds, which were actually not intelligible, but I knew I didn't make much loud sounds for everybody else to hear. There was no need for feigning at all --- I was fully aware all through out. It is far from being an over-rated case of hypnotism. I allowed myself to get into this spiritual experience.
All the time, I heard around me several people being struck one way or another by the Holy Spirit, but I didn't dare watch. It actually didn't matter, first of all because we were instructed not to watch others in the room while the baptism of the Holy Spirit was taking place. And I think it made sense to concentrate on my self first, as this was my first experience of this kind of spiritual seminar.
Was it actually an honest-to-goodness authentic spiritual experience? Yes!
Using the inspiration I received from this experience, I wrote another reflection article which focused more on its connection with the Roman Catholic religion. It's titled "Reflections: On Catholicism" ; you'll read more on the religion I've been practicing as far as I can remember. There are currently 18 other articles found under the same title. Please feel free send feedback on my
Curious to attend in a seminar of such kind? I attended a Catholic Life in the Spirit Seminar, the major difference of which is the veneration afforded the Blessed Virgin Mary (the BVM)---the prime example of allowing God's grace to flow through one life according to God's plan. Remember, the BVM could have very well decided not to let God's will be done to her, i.e. aborting the Holy Child, but since the BVM actually acceded to God's will through the archangel Gabriel (I wrote about this archangel, here), the "Word becoming flesh" actually did happen. If you're in NYC, connect (by doing a google on these groups) by reaching out, or even just checking out the following communities:
Sunday (1:00 pm) El Shaddai Catholic Charismatic Prayer Community
Most Precious Blood Church, Long Island City, NYC
Monday (7:30 pm) St. Sebastian Charismatic Prayer Group
St. Sebastian Church, Woodside, NYC
Tuesday (7:30pm) Immaculate Conception Prayer Group
Immaculate Conception Church, Jamaica, NYC
Tuesday (7:30pm) Family for Christ Prayer Group
Presentation of Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Jamaica, NYC
Wednesday(7:30pm)Sacred Heart Prayer Community
St. Joaquin Church, Cambria Heights
Thursday (7:30pm)Light of Christ Prayer Group
St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church, Flushing, NYC
Friday (7:30pm) Mary Mother of the Divine Healer
St. Gerard Majella Church, Jamaica, NYC
Friday (7:30pm) The Vine and the Branches Prayer Community
Incarnation Church, Jamaica, NYC
Friday (7:30pm) St. Paul the Apostle Prayer Community
St. Paul the Apostle Church, Corona, NYC
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| From LSS |
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| From LSS |
October 9 & 10, 2010 8:30am to 5:00pm
Incarnation Parish Church
8943 Francis Lewis Blvd., Queens Village, NY 11428
718 4658534
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