It is common for individuals to experience new supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit called charisms after receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.  These charismatic gifts are different from the traditional seven gifts from Isiah 11 mentioned earlier.  Where the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Isiah 11 lead each of us to personal sanctification, the charismatic gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12 and other places are gifts of service to other people for the building up of the Church.  Charisms are given to all of us to assist us in the mission every Christian has been given to proclaim the gospel and advance the Kingdom of God.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church states “charisms are to be accepted with gratitude by the person who receives them and by members of the Church as well” (12).  It is our responsibility after being baptized in the Holy Spirit to discern which charismatic gifts the Holy Spirit has given to us and to develop those gifts in service to others.  The Holy Bible mentions or describes charismatic gifts in many areas only a few of which are referenced below.  One of the most commonly referenced passages of sacred scripture describing charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit is 1 Corinthians 12.

“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.   To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. – 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NRSV)

“Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” – Romans 12:6-8

“Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins.  Be hospitable to one another without complaining.  As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.  Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  – 1 Peter 4:8-11

“And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” - Ephesians 4:11-12
In 1 Corinthians 14 St. Paul tells us “Pursue love, but strive eagerly for the spiritual gifts, above all that you may prophesy”.  After giving us a list of various charismatic gifts and telling us to use them in charitable love in service to our neighbor in 1 Corinthians 12 & 13, St. Paul tells us to desire these spiritual gifts.  He points out that these gifts are necessary for the building up of the Church by strengthening and encouraging both current Christians as well as non-believers.  There are many charismatic gifts listed in sacred scripture and observed throughout the ages, however a selected few are described and presented below. 
 

Prophecy

The gift of Prophecy is a supernatural communication from God to a believer or group of believers.  The purpose of prophecy is to promote spiritual growth and development by building up, encouraging, exhorting and or consoling believers in effort to bring them closer to God and His plan.  Prophecy can be in the form of a warning or correction to an individual, but is always from the mind and heart of God for building up the individual and the Church.  Prophecy most often comes in the form of visions, words and thoughts.  It is always necessary for the group of believers present to discern the prophetic message given as the Holy Bible says “test everything; retain what is good” (1 Thess 5:21).
 

Word of Knowledge

The charismatic gift of Knowledge also known as word of Knowledge is a supernatural download of facts either past, present or future that an individual had no previous natural knowledge of.  This gift is a supernaturally imparted word from God usually given to help the believer minister to someone in need.  An example of word of knowledge would be for a counselor to receive a word or vision about traumatic events in a patient’s past that are causing adverse behavior or health problems.  With this specific knowledge the therapist can now administer the specific therapy and prayer needed to bring the person to healing.  Another example could be seeing or hearing the word “headache” when standing next to a stranger at the grocery store.  Telling the stranger that you know they have a headache and God wants to heal it would open them up to letting you pray for them and bringing them into a closer relationship with God. 
 

Word of Wisdom

The charismatic gift of Wisdom is different from the traditional gift of wisdom from Isiah 11.  Where the traditional gift of Wisdom from the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit is oriented toward our personal advancement in holiness, the charism of Word of Wisdom is a supernatural insight that God gives in a situation in how to minister to or help another person.  An example would be receiving a supernatural download from God on exactly which manner, intensity and timing to provide therapy to a person who is in a delicate situation of emotional pain and therapeutic need.  This gift is God giving the believer the wisdom in how to effectively help a person in each specific situation.
 

Gift of Tongues

“In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groaning.  And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.” – Romans 8:26-27

“For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to human beings but to God, for no one listens; he utters mysteries in spirit.” – 1 Corinthians 14:2
“Whoever speaks in a tongue builds himself up” - 1 Corinthians 14:4

“Now I should like all of you to speak in tongues” -  1 Corinthians 14:5

“I give thanks to God that I speak in tongues more than any of you, but in the church I would rather speak five words with my mind, so as to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.” – 1 Corinthians 18-19

The gift of tongues is one of the most common manifestations after being baptized in the Holy Spirit but is also one of the most misunderstood.  Tongues can be described as a spontaneous and inspired utterance by the Holy Spirit where we use our voice according to the Spirits prompting.  There are at least two types of speaking or praying in tongues.  The first type is like that seen at Pentecost where people from different lands each heard the apostles talking to them in his own native language.  A second type of tongues is what is called “praying in the Spirit” or your very own “prayer language”.  Some of the observed benefits of praying in tongues include deliverance from evil spirits, inspirations, refreshment of body and soul, revival, wisdom and victory in times of spiritual warfare (13).

Participants in the Charismatic Renewal believe that God gives the gift of praying in an “unknown tongue” to anyone who seeks it.  When a person receives this new prayer language they usually don’t understand what they are saying but we know it is the Holy Spirit within the soul as St. Paul says coming “to the aid of our weakness; for we don’t know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexplicable groaning”.  St. Paul also says “whoever speaks in a tongue builds himself up” and this provides evidence for the gift of tongues being a gateway gift to the discerning and development of other charisms that God have given to each individual. 
 

Healing

“He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” – Luke 4:16-19

“beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth* with the holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” – Acts 10:37b-38

“He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” – 1 Peter 2:24

The gifts of healing involve a supernatural outpouring of God’s power resulting in the healing of a sickness or disease of the body or soul without the use of any natural or medical means (13).  Jesus spoke of the gifts of healing before He ascended into heaven when He said of those who believe in Him “they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:17-18).  Pope Benedict XVI in his book Jesus of Nazareth wrote “healing is an essential dimension of the apostolic mission and of Christianity in general” and described Christianity as a therapeutic religion of healing “when understood at a deep enough level healing expresses the entire content of redemption” (14) .  Healing people was a central part of the work Jesus did during His three years of ministry in preaching and teaching the Apostles.  The Holy Bible tells us that Jesus healed all who came to Him using a variety of methods such as laying on of hands, casting out demons, applying mud made out of spit and even healing people who were far away.  We read of the continuation of His healing work and confirmation of His promise to give us healing gifts in the Book of Acts where the Apostles perform many miracles and healing works in continuing the mission of Jesus in the Power of the Holy Spirit.  The charismatic gifts of healing are still very present today as Jesus continues to be the Healer working through His followers to minister His compassion and power to those in need.  When  Jesus heals people through healing prayer it builds up the Kingdom of God by strengthening, encouraging and evangelizing those who are healed as well as those who witness the healing.  The charisms of healing can bring all types of healing to those in need including physical, emotional, psychological and relationship based. 

The Fathers of the early Church left much documentation about how healing is part of our Catholic heritage.  The Early Church Fathers wrote extensively about how works of healing and the other charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit were the Lord’s powerful tools for evangelizing and converting much of the known civilization at that time.  Church historians have often noted that it was the charismatic gifts that helped evangelized a completely pagan Roman Empire that was hostile and murderous to the early Christians, transforming it into a Catholic civilization in the span of about 300 years.

Church Father St. Irenaeus, who died in 202 AD, wrote in witness to living the charismatic Christian lifestyle “those who are in truth His disciples, receiving grace from Him, do in His name perform miracles, so as to promote the welfare of other men, according to the gift which each one has received from Him. For some do certainly and truly drive out devils, so that those who have thus been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe in Christ, and join themselves to the Church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come: they see visions, and utter prophetic expressions. Others still, heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and they are made whole. Yea, moreover, as I have said, the dead even have been raised up, and remained among us for many years. And what shall I more say? It is not possible to name the number of the gifts which the Church, scattered throughout the whole world, has received from God, in the name of Jesus Christ”(15).

Similarly, St. Ciprian of Carthige who died in the year 248 AD wrote “By the grace of the Holy Spirit received in baptism we are given power in all purity to heal the sick whether of body or of mind, to reconcile enemies, quell violence, calm passions reprimand demons and force them to leave” (16).
 

Discernment of Spirits

“And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues.  They shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover.” – Mark 16:17-18

“Whoever sins belongs to the devil, because the devil has sinned from the beginning.  Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil.” – 1 John 3:8

“Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” - 1 Peter 5:8

The gift of Discernment of spirits is simply the ability to see or perceive the good of holy angels or evil spirits and their malicious activities upon a person or situation.  When Jesus was baptized He was led into the desert to confront satan, face temptations and emerge victorious.  This is an example of the same type of spiritual warfare we are all faced with.  There are evil spirits prowling about the earth looking for souls to devour.  One effect of baptism in the Holy Spirit is a deeper awareness of the spiritual battle we are all faced with (16).  We enter into spiritual warfare in a more intense way with a stronger manner of discerning evil spirits with a newer awareness of when and where they are at work in trying to disrupt the advancement of the Kingdom of God.  The gift of discernment of spirits helps us in the spiritual battle as we can pinpoint evil and pray against it with the power of the Holy Spirit and in Faith.  The main works of evil spirits in the world are to stir up hatred, hostility, fear, conflicts, sin and vice and every kind, and confusion of the mind in distorting the Truth of God.  God wants us to be rooted in His Truth and to rely on the authority we have from Jesus and in His Name to shatter and expose the lies, deception, temptations and tactics of the evil one.  Jesus has already defeated satan and the kingdom of darkness by dying for us on the Cross.  As the passages above from Mark 16 and 1 John 3 describe, Jesus living in us gives us the power and authority to be His ambassadors in enforcing the victory of His Cross.  Discernment of spirits gives us the spiritual vision we need to detect and destroy the cowardly devil wherever he tries to rear his pathetic and ugly head in our lives and the lives of those around us. 

“For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I want you to be wise as to what is good, and simple as to what is evil; then the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” - Romans 6:19-20

“And they sung a new canticle, saying: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; because thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God, in thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.  And hast made us to our God a kingdom and priests, and we shall reign on the earth.” – Revelation 5:9-10