Birmingham Catholic Charismatic Conference July 29th & 30th, 2011
Our Lady of Sorrows Family Life Center
The Spirit and the Bride Say Come,
Even So, Come, and Lord Jesus
By Dolores Milazzo-Hicks
In our image of this year’s conference the Bride is reaching out through the power of the Holy Spirit for her Bridegroom, this picture portrays the longing in the heart of the Church for Christ return, to come quickly. This captures the scriptural theme for this year’s Catholic Charismatic Conference 2011 that comes from The Book of Revelation chapter 22:17, “The Spirit and the Bride say come, even so Come Lord Jesus.”
For some of us who have never examined the prophetic call of this powerful verse I thought it was important that we meditate on the deep meaning of our own call to see our Lord face to face.
(1)The Bride is the church who, in reply to Christ’s Promise (cf.22:12), ardently desires and prays for his coming. The Holy Spirit inspires the prayer of the Church, the voices of both Church and Spirit fusing in a single cry. Every Christian is invited to join in this prayer and discover in the Church the gift of the Spirit, symbolized by the water of life (cf.21:6); this gift allows the Christian to taste in anticipation the good things of the Kingdom. The language of this verse reminds us of the liturgical dimension of the Church with its prayer and celebration of the sacraments. Revelation 22:17 reference notes from the faculty of Theology of the University of Navarra. Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate, Jose Maria Escriva, founder.
(2)The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, Come! And let him who is listening say, Come! And let everyone come who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened]; and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come, take, appropriate, and drink the water of Life without cost. Revelation 22:17 (Amplified Bible)
We too are immersed in the water of life, we long to be strengthened and uplifted by the Holy Spirit. Brides look forward to the day of union with their beloved Bridegrooms. Our love grows in anticipation of His second coming when at last we will enter into the banquet, our communion with the Beloved. That will be a glorious day when we will say with the whole Church, Maranatha, Even so, Come Lord Jesus.
Our speakers include Fr. J. Michael Wrigley, Priest - Administration of St. Barnabas Church, Birmingham, Al. for the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama. Fr. Wrigley holds a PhD in Sociology. While in seminary he met Fr. Robert DeGrandis, who encouraged him in healing ministry. Shortly after ordination his desire to minister to the sick became a reality through the formation of St. Raphael Healing Prayer Apostolate. He is active in Charismatic Renewal, Cursillo.
Johnnette S. Benkovic is Founder and President of Living His Life Abundantly International, Inc., a Catholic evangelization apostolate with outreaches in television, radio, print, and Internet communications. She is also Founder of Women of Grace, a Catholic apostolate for Christian women that features a number outreaches including conferences, curricula, study groups.
Sr. Miriam O’Callaghan, T.O.R., was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. She worked as an accountant and tax consultant with Price Waterhouse Cooper in Dublin and traveled extensively before moving to the U.S. in January 2006. She is currently a professed sister with the Franciscan Sisters T.O.R. a charismatic community of religious sisters based in Toronto, Ohio.
Sr. Maria Teresa Tortorice, T.O.R. grew up in McCalla, AL. She is a 1998 graduate of John Carroll Catholic High School, and attended Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio where she received a BA in Theology and Religious Education. She taught at Holy Family High School. In 2003 she joined the Franciscan Sisters T.O.R. of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother.
Birmingham Catholic Charismatic Conference, July 29th & 30th, 2011 will be held at Our Lady of Sorrows Family Life Center, 1728 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, AL 35209. For more information call 205-426-1797 / 205-999-8947. To register by Email: ccrob@catholic.org or Online : www.catholiccharismaticrenewal.org.