What are Charisms? The word “charismatic” comes from the Greek word for “gift.”  There are many charisms, and God distributes them differently to different people.  The Bible, in 1 Corinthians 7:7, shows us that everyone “has a particular gift (charisma) from God, one of one kind and one of another.” Romans 12:6-8 lists gifts of Prophecy, Ministry, Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Leadership, and Mercy.

The Church teaches about charisms in the catechism.

They have a purpose:  Through the charisms, the Holy Spirit makes the faithful fit and ready to undertake various tasks and offices for the renewal and building up of the Church.

They are good: Whether extraordinary or simple and humble, charisms are graces of the Holy Spirit which directly or indirectly benefit the Church, ordered as they are to her building up, to the benefit of men, and to the needs of the world.

We must welcome them: Charisms are to be accepted with gratitude by the person who receives them and by all members of the Church as well. They are a wonderfully rich grace for the apostolic vitality and for the holiness of the entire Body of Christ, provided they really are genuine gifts of the Holy Spirit and are used in full conformity with authentic promptings of this same Spirit, that is, in keeping with charity, the true measure of all charisms.

They must be discerned: It is in this sense that discernment of charisms is always necessary. No charism is exempt from being referred and submitted to the Church’s shepherds.  “The role of the church’s shepherds is not indeed to extinguish the spirit but to test all things and hold fast to what is good,” (1 Thessalonians 5:12, 19-21) so that all the diverse and complementary charisms work together for the common good.

They are to be used: St. John of the Cross gives insights into the wise, humble and helpful use of charisms.

What charism has the Lord given you? How do you live this charism? Do you use it with humility and generosity, for the service of all, or you use it to denigrate others? Have you, perhaps, neglected or forgotten it?