Hi Mary Claire,
Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, the Preacher to the Papal Household, has written and spoken extensively about this topic. There are other notable authors and publications as well, but this article is a good starting point. I've included an excerpt (from the Catholic Charismatic Center website):
http://ccc.garg.com/ccc/articles/Cantalamessa/Cantalamessa_002.html
The Baptism in the Spirit is not a sacrament, but it is related to a sacrament, to several sacraments in fact - to the sacraments of Christian initiation. The Baptism in the Spirit makes real and in a way renews Christian initiation. The primary relationship is with the Sacrament of Baptism. In fact, this experience is called the Baptism in the Spirit by English-speaking people.
We believe that the Baptism in the Spirit makes real and revitalizes our baptism. To understand how a sacrament which was received so many years ago, usually immediately after our birth could suddenly come back to life and emanate so much energy, as often happens through the Baptism in the Spirit, it is important to look at our understanding of sacramental theology.
Catholic theology recognizes the concept of a valid but tied sacrament. A sacrament is called tied if the fruit that should accompany it remains bound because of certain blocks that prevent its effectiveness. An extreme example of this is the Sacrament of Matrimony or Holy Orders received in the state of mortal sin. In such circumstances these sacraments cannot grant any grace to people until the obstacle of sin is removed through penance. Once this happens the sacrament is said to live again thanks to the indelible character and irrevocability of the gift of God: God remains faithful even if we are unfaithful because He cannot deny Himself (see Timothy 2:13).
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TTM!
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first you laid in some paper, then you laid in a few sticks, then you laid in a the coals. Ahh the paper burned brightly, but it started the sticks, which burned hard and then started the coals which were the constant heat. That is the picture of our life and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The layers are in place, hands are laid, and the fires of the Holy Spirit are inflamed.
