I did not particularly like the event. I thought most of the talks were good, but the times of prayer I did not like.
(I’m sure you’ve gotten this critique!)
My biggest complaint for the event was that it felt like people placed the experience of the Holy Spirit over the Eucharist.
The procession was a weak procession with only 2 candles. Someone told me that the guy carrying the monstrance was chewing gum the entire time. No humeral veil for the benediction. A lack of attention to detail reveals a lack of care for the importance of the Eucharist.
The 20 minute dance party after communion during Mass also bothered me, because all reverence left the room. What’s the relationship between the Holy Spirit and reverence?
When the organization shut down the chapel on the last night, and those of us who were overwhelmed had nowhere to escape. The lack of attention to detail during the liturgies also pointed to a lack of care for the Eucharist.
Also having a protestant repeatedly reference the Eucharist, but at the same time his healings are what took many away from receiving the Eucharist, that was grating. Someone who placed a higher importance on healings than on the literal Body and Blood of Christ. (you are right that ecumenism is hard!)
So I would say that the overall fruit has been a distrust of the charismatic movement (placing subjective experiences of grace over objective experiences of the Sacraments), but at the same time I would say that I am more open to praying over people. So – the theoretical aspect of the talks good. The experiential aspect of the prayer session – less than good.
(sorry if this is too mean, I’m an introvert, so within 30 minutes of arriving, I felt pressured into having someone pray over me and they immediately wanted to know things that were very personal, and that put me in a bad mood the entire weekend (it was someone from my group that prayed over me))
No (although I am more proactive in offering to pray for people)
– Patrick Hake