“Burning  Bush” Experiences

“Oh, if only…unanimous and fervent prayers could be raised to Heaven in every part of Christendom, as they were one in the Cenacle [upper room] of Jerusalem for a rekindling of the Divine Spirit” Blessed Elena Guerra”.  

Many testimonies have arisen about “Burning Bush” Experiences, which is an invitation “to return to the Cenacle” in adoration and intercession. A return not of nostalgia, looking for the beginning experiences of the CCR but with a servant’s heart, a maturity, with a heart understanding what it is to experience the power of the Spirit and His gifts in prayer, in united contemplation of the Eucharistic mystery.  Our challenge is to intercede beyond what is so often our normal scope of prayer – family, friends, our group or community to incessant adoration and where we may intercede by means of the Spirit with great fervor for the renewal of the Church, full Christian unity and the conversion of sinners, a renewal of society and thereby “a renewal of the face of the earth, uniting ourselves with the intentions of the Holy Father.

The Burning Bush Initiative desires to help the people of God experience a Pentecost not only of a moment or a day, but a permanent Pentecost, according to the intuition of Blessed Elena Guerra who, at the end of the nineteenth century, urged Pope Leo XIII to lead the Church back to the Cenacle/Upper Room of Jerusalem, for the Church to be enlightened again and again and burn like a Burning Bush. It is a response to Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter, Novo Millennio Ineunte, “As this millennium begins, allow the successor of Peter to invite the whole Church to make this act of faith, which expresses itself in a renewed commitment to prayer” and the Holy Father’s invitation and encouragement at the, Solemn Vespers of Pentecost 2004, “Thanks to the Charismatic Movement, many Christians, men and women, youths and adults, have rediscovered Pentecost as a living and present reality in their daily life. I desire that the spirituality of Pentecost be spread in the Church, as a renewed thrust of prayer, holiness, communion and proclamation…  sincerely desire that this initiative lead many to rediscover the gifts of the Spirit, which have their source in Pentecost”, (see ICCRS newsletter, special issue July/August 2004). 

This initiative had spread throughout the world, in Europe, Far East, Africa, the Americas etc., since it’s beginning during Easter in Rome, 1997. The call of the “Burning Bush” contains a common vision that has many varied applications by the various structures responding to it, whether it is parishes, or on diocesan or citywide level, or ecclesial movements or new communities. The Holy Spirit’s leading has been varied and different in the concepts of the “Burning Bush” Pentecost Novena and “Burning Bush” Events, with each experience having its own uniqueness.

Europe
It was first in Europe where the promotion of the “Burning Bush” Pentecost Novena intensely began, with three groups responding to the call for Pentecost in 2001, Renewal in the Spirit (RnS), Italy; the National Service Committee (NSC) of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) in Austria and  St. Leu, a French Parish in Paris. All groups have continued now for the last 4 years. In the European ICCRS-conference in Czestochowa (Poland, 2002), we had an intercession workshop with testimonies from each country, where they shared their 2001-2002 experiences of the “Burning Bush” Pentecost Novenas. It was the testimony of the Bologna group of RnS that was given. Also Belgium and Germany began their nationwide promotion of the Pentecost Novena in 2002, as well as other countries. In Poland, the call of “Burning Bush” was launched December 2003, at the VII Charismatic Forum organized by the Jesuits’ groups of Lodz and with the publishing of the book by Kim Kollins, Burning Bush, Return to the Upper Room. At Pentecost 2004, they gathered in the church every evening for adoration that lasted 2 hours. Since, there are four CCR groups in the parish, the different groups would lead the adoration and intercession. There was at least 400 people present every evening. The European CCR National Service Committees have linked together since 2003 in a united effort to promote the Pentecost Novena in each country.  

Youth 
The German CCR Young Council implemented the “Burning Bush Experience” into their youth work in 2004, at their “Jump”, youth conference. They organized “Burning Bush” Prayer Vigils at their leaders' gatherings before hand and during their conference held a “Burning Bush” Tent of Prayer event (night and day). At their fall, youth leaders meeting, they deepen the theme of the Burning Bush call and initiated a “Burning Bush” prayer campaign called Operation Trailblazer 2005, for the CCR National Conference and the World Youth Day. 

America
The Holy Spirit has inspired others in a similar context, i.e. - an upcoming event will be held in Miami this Pentecost, 2005 Cenacle of Prayer of America. During this Year of the Eucharist, a “return to the Cenacle” is planned, where 40 hours of Eucharistic adoration and intercession for America, including an Eucharist procession through downtown Miami. It will end with a grand celebration of Pentecost “to invoke upon ourselves and upon the entire church, an abundant outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit” Pope John Paul II invitation to Pentecost Solemn Vespers, 2004). It will include the USA, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America, all responding to the Holy Fathers invitation “I invite individuals, communities and ecclesial groups…to strengthen s through prayers the spiritual bond between all American Catholics”.(Ecclesia in America,76)  (www.nsc-chariscenter.org ) 

For this reason, I also say to you: "Open yourselves with docility to the gifts of the Holy Spirit! Receive with gratitude and obedience the charisms that the Spirit does not cease to offer! Do not forget that all charisms are given for the common good, that is, for the benefit of the whole Church!" Pope John Paul II, Pentecost Vespers, 2005

Kim Catherine-Maire Kollins, 2005

Various testimonies that have been listed can be found in greater depth at www.iccrs.org - under European sub-committee or www.burningbush.beatitudes.org , for RnS , www.rns-italia.org