The interplay between charisms and sacramental grace forms a crucial aspect of Christian spirituality, particularly within the Catholic church. Charisms, the spiritual gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit, are meant to build up the Church and serve the common good. These gifts, ranging from wisdom and knowledge to healing and prophecy, are not limited to charismatic or Pentecostal movements but are accessible to all believers. However, the Catholic Church teaches that the efficacy and vitality of these charisms are inherently dependent on sacramental grace—the grace received through the sacraments, which sustains and nourishes the spiritual life of the faithful. The Catholic Church teaches that charisms, or spiritual gifts, are essential for the life and mission of the Church, but they must be exercised in harmony with the sacramental grace received through the Church’s sacraments. As the Catechism states, “Grace is first and foremost the gift of the Spirit who justifies and sanctifies us. But grace also includes the gifts that the Spirit grants us to associate us with his work, to enable us to collaborate in the salvation of others and the growth of the Body of Christ, the Church.” There are sacramental graces, gifts proper to the different sacraments. There are furthermore special graces, also called charisms after the Greek term used by St. Paul and meaning “favour,” “gratuitous gift,” “benefit.” Whatever their character – sometimes it is extraordinary, such as the gift of miracles or tongues – charisms are oriented toward sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the Church. They are at the service of charity which builds up the Church.” (CCC 2003). Without this sacramental foundation, charisms risk becoming disconnected from their Divine source, rendering them spiritually barren. Thus, the assertion “Charisms without sacramental grace is dead” accentuates the requisite relationship between these two graces, emphasizing that for charisms to flourish and fulfil their purpose truly, they must be rooted in the life-giving grace of the sacraments.
Understanding Charisms
Charisms, derived from the Greek word “charismata,” refer to spiritual gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit to benefit the Church and the world. These gifts, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, include wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. They are diverse and intended to build up the body of Christ, serving the common good. The Second Vatican Council affirmed that the Holy Spirit distributes special graces, or charisms, “among the faithful of every rank” to equip them for various tasks and offices that contribute to the renewal and building up of the Church. These charisms are not limited to certain groups but are given to all the faithful to serve the common good. As Pope John Paul II explained, “Whether they be exceptional and great or simple and ordinary, the charisms are graces of the Holy Spirit that have, directly or indirectly, a usefulness for the ecclesial community, ordered as they are to the building up of the Church, to the well-being of humanity and the needs of the world.” However, as I mentioned earlier, the Church teaches that charisms must be exercised in harmony with the sacramental grace received through the Church’s sacraments. As the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stated in their letter (“luvenescit Ecclesia”) to the Bishops of the Catholic Church regarding the relationship between hierarchical and charismatic gifts, “The authentic charisms, therefore, come to be considered as gifts of indispensable importance for the life and mission of the Church. The church’s teaching constantly recognizes the essential role of pastors in the discernment of the charisms and their ordered exercise within the ecclesial communion.” Also, according to the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith’s letter to the bishops of the Catholic Church in some aspects of the Christian meditation in 1989, they explained further that “charisms are not the same things as extraordinary (“mystical”) gifts” and that “the distinction between the ‘gifts of the Holy Spirit’ and ‘charisms’ can be flexible.”
The Role of Sacramental Grace
Sacramental grace is the grace conferred by the valid and fruitful reception of the sacraments. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) states that sacraments are “efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us” (CCC 1131). These sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, the Holy Eucharist, penance, etc) nourish and sustain the spiritual life of believers, drawing them closer to God and enabling them to live out their faith more fully. Therefore, charisms without sacramental grace would be “dead” because they would lack the foundation of sanctifying grace and the guidance of the Church’s pastors. As St. Paul wrote, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Cor 12:7), and the Church’s role is to discern and order the exercise of these gifts for the building up of the Body of Christ.
The Interdependence of Charisms and Sacramental Grace
To comprehend why charisms without sacramental grace are considered dead, we must recognize the inherent connection between these spiritual realities. The Catechism explains that 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” (CCC 800). However, this vitality and holiness are sustained and deepened through sacramental grace. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul emphasizes that love (agape) is the greatest of all gifts, surpassing even the most extraordinary charisms. He writes, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1). Sacramental grace, particularly through the Eucharist, nurtures this divine love within us, enabling our charisms to bear authentic and lasting fruit.
Biblical Foundations
Scripture provides numerous examples of the interplay between charisms and sacramental grace. In the Acts of the Apostles, we see the early Church living out this dynamic relationship. The apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, exhibit remarkable charisms such as speaking in tongues and performing miracles (Acts 2:4, 43). However, their ministry is deeply rooted in the sacraments, especially the breaking of bread (the Eucharist) and prayer (Acts 2:42). Furthermore, in the Gospel of John, Jesus teaches about the necessity of abiding in Him to bear fruit: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (John 15:4). Sacramental grace is the means by which we abide in Christ, the true vine, and thus allows our charisms to flourish.
Charisms for All Believers
It is essential to understand that charisms are not restricted to charismatic or Pentecostal Christians. The Catholic Church teaches that every baptized person has received charisms, as the Holy Spirit distributes these gifts according to His will (1 Corinthians 12:11). Pope John Paul II emphasized this inclusivity, stating, “The Church, in its institutional and charismatic dimension, is ordered to the holiness of all its members. Every member of the faithful has a place in the Church and contributes to its mission” (Christifideles Laici, 55).
The Danger of Charisms Without Sacramental Grace
When charisms are exercised without the grounding and nourishment of sacramental grace, they risk becoming self-serving or even harmful. Detached from the source of divine life, these gifts can lead to pride, division, and confusion. Paul cautions against this in 1 Corinthians 14, urging the Corinthians to exercise their charisms with order and love, always seeking the edification of the Church. In the case of the Corinth church, despite the numerous charisms they possessed, they were not bearing fruit possibly because their charisms were not being exercised in harmony with the sacramental life of the Church. The sacraments provide the grace and guidance necessary for charisms to be fruitful and build up the Body of Christ. Without this foundation, the charisms would remain “dead” or ineffective. Vatican II, Lumen gentium 12 warns, “Extraordinary gifts are not to be sought after. Nor are the fruits of the apostolic labours to be measured by the number of charisms, nor by their extraordinary character, but by the conformity with the will of God” (CCC 2003). Sacramental grace ensures that our charisms align with God’s will and serve the true mission of the Church.
To conclude, we need to be reminded that the relationship between charisms and sacramental grace is important for the life and mission of the Church. Charisms are powerful gifts from the Holy Spirit, intended for the edification of the body of Christ and the world. However, without sacramental grace, these gifts lose their efficacy and can become spiritually barren. The sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and sacrament of reconciliation, nourish and sustain our spiritual lives, enabling our charisms to bear fruit in love and service. As Catholics, we are called to embrace both charisms and sacramental grace, recognizing that they are not mutually exclusive but deeply interconnected aspects of our faith.
