Speaking in tongues- RC only

[RileyG]

Have you met any Catholics that pray in tongues? I knew a former postulant from a woman's monastery that claimed she was given gifts from the Holy Spirit and could speak in tongues.

What is the Church's position on this?

 

[Michie]

Speaking in tongues has not been infallibly defined by the Church. We have a charismatic movement in the Catholic Church where some speak in tongues. The Church really holds no official position on it.

Some early Church fathers thought it was a one time thing and not something for today. But then that not a teaching. My observation is the Church is open to it either way. That’s why we have charismatic Catholics.

Whether you are someone that believes in the gift of tongues or not, this seems to be an area where one has freedom to practice it or not.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Have you met any Catholics that pray in tongues? I knew a former postulant from a woman's monastery that claimed she was given gifts from the Holy Spirit and could speak in tongues.

What is the Church's position on this?

I would say we are cautiously in favor of the whole charismatic thing. Well, there are some wild Protestant Pentecostal extremes that we would want to avoid. But then even other Protestant Pentecostals would want to avoid such extremes too.

 

[WarriorAngel]

Have you met any Catholics that pray in tongues? I knew a former postulant from a woman's monastery that claimed she was given gifts from the Holy Spirit and could speak in tongues.

What is the Church's position on this?

My priest said it's the fruits of which we measure.
And you know.... how I am so I have to say though it is a gift and tongues of healing are literally the Holy Spirit because I have been concerned so much with this...

Although it is an empty gift if you don't do it for love of others to edify them.
If you want self vain glory and it's not about the Lord's Glory.

As St Paul said, we're a noise if we do not have charity [love]

 

[fide]

Have you met any Catholics that pray in tongues? I knew a former postulant from a woman's monastery that claimed she was given gifts from the Holy Spirit and could speak in tongues.​

What is the Church's position on this?

The Church, proclaiming Holy Scripture, teaches this:

1Co 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.​

1Co 13:2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.​

1Co 13:3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.​

It is crucially important to seek to grow in holiness, and the perfection of charity. If we all did this, we would have much less wasted energy, fruitless curiosity, and empty busyness in the Church.

 

[WarriorAngel]

I would say we are cautiously in favor of the whole charismatic thing. Well, there are some wild Protestant Pentecostal extremes that we would want to avoid. But then even other Protestant Pentecostals would want to avoid such extremes too.

I know a former [my parents made me go] Pentecostal guy.
He is atheist and gets really agitated if you speak of the Lord.
I imagine the tongues [well it is outside the Church] were not edifying but the opposite because he still has a lot of issues from it. He became terrorized at the church..

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

I used to attend a charismatic service on Thursday evenings. It would start with a mass then a great long sermon and some spoke in tongues and gave prophetic words. I heard some of the best sermons from the guest priest that I ever heard. I enjoyed it.

 

[RileyG]

Thanks for all your answers.

 

[WarriorAngel]

I used to attend a charismatic service on Thursday evenings. It would start with a mass then a great long sermon and some spoke in tongues and gave prophetic words. I heard some of the best sermons from the guest priest that I ever heard. I enjoyed it.

I was looking for a charismatic Mass or priest but none to be found in Pa.
I was told it was 'not as popular' now.
I don't know why.

I even left a message with a charismatic nun but no return call.

 

[RileyG]

@WarriorAngel How can I receive this gift? Or is someone born with it?

 

[WarriorAngel]

@WarriorAngel How can I receive this gift? Or is someone born with it?

I have no idea.
It just is, I suppose.
The Lord gives all and any for the Body of His Church.
Can the hand say to the foot I do not need you...?
So He gives everyone something unique to them. Pray over how you may serve Him.

 

[RileyG]

I have no idea.
It just is, I suppose.
The Lord gives all and any for the Body of His Church.
Can the hand say to the foot I do not need you...?
So He gives everyone something unique to them. Pray over how you may serve Him.

Thank you.

 

[Bob Crowley]

I'm not active in any prayer groups at our parish, but I have heard some of them speaking in tongues - some time ago though.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Thanks for all your answers.

We’re you surprised by any of it?

I was looking for a charismatic Mass or priest but none to be found in Pa.
I was told it was 'not as popular' now.
I don't know why.

I even left a message with a charismatic nun but no return call.

My experience is that now it is both normalized and not made a big thing of. So a parish or a priest may be charismatic but you wouldn’t know from advertising. They aren’t hiding it but aren’t pushing it. Just trying to be live Catholics. So I suspect they are there underfoot somewhere.

@WarriorAngel How can I receive this gift? Or is someone born with it?

Just an opinion here. We aren’t born Christian but have to become Christian. Either by our parents bringing us to baptism and raising us in the faith or by learning of it and seeking out being baptized as an adult.

Spiritual gifts are given to those who want them and at the same time need them. First be a serious believing Catholic, which it appears you already are. Second, become a prayer warrior, that is a person serious about prayer and adoration even. I think you are on that track, but keep at it. Then spend about 1% of your prayer time asking God for more gifts. Then keep praying and see where it leads.

You are already in a relationship with the Holy Spirit because of your baptism. And your confirmation. So you already have some sort of gift or gifts that may be waiting fallow. They may not be the flashy ones, but that’s fine. Ask the Holy Spirit to clarify things for you.

We don’t NEED these gifts to be Catholic, but we might already have one or two and we might be given more.

 

[Sword of the Lord]

If there's not someone who understands the language and someone else to interpret, it's bogus.

 

[WarriorAngel]

We’re you surprised by any of it?

My experience is that now it is both normalized and not made a big thing of. So a parish or a priest may be charismatic but you wouldn’t know from advertising. They aren’t hiding it but aren’t pushing it. Just trying to be live Catholics. So I suspect they are there underfoot somewhere.

Just an opinion here. We aren’t born Christian but have to become Christian. Either by our parents bringing us to baptism and raising us in the faith or by learning of it and seeking out being baptized as an adult.

Spiritual gifts are given to those who want them and at the same time need them. First be a serious believing Catholic, which it appears you already are. Second, become a prayer warrior, that is a person serious about prayer and adoration even. I think you are on that track, but keep at it. Then spend about 1% of your prayer time asking God for more gifts. Then keep praying and see where it leads.

You are already in a relationship with the Holy Spirit because of your baptism. And your confirmation. So you already have some sort of gift or gifts that may be waiting fallow. They may not be the flashy ones, but that’s fine. Ask the Holy Spirit to clarify things for you.

We don’t NEED these gifts to be Catholic, but we might already have one or two and we might be given more.

I agree that we receive gifts in need.
And constant prayer over them to know what we are to do with such.
And moreover to use them for the Lord's glory and help for humanity.

 

[RileyG]

If there's not someone who understands the language and someone else to interpret, it's bogus.

Reminds me when St. Padre Pio could hear confessions in many languages other than his native Italian.

 

[Erose]

@WarriorAngel How can I receive this gift? Or is someone born with it?

The charismatic gifts are usually conferred by the laying on of hands by the prayer group, and much prayer. It isn’t a guarantee that you will receive any of the gifts, the Holy Spirit blows where He wills.

 

[Erose]

Before becoming Catholic back over 35 years ago, I was a member of the United Pentecostal Church. The local parish which I received instruction and the Sacraments had a Catholic Charismatic Prayer group, and it was very helpful for me in my transitioning into the Catholic faith. After experiencing the various gifts of the Spirit, it helped knowing that there where Catholics who experienced them; but they for them (us) where helps and not the sum total of the religious experience.

 

[Erose]

If there's not someone who understands the language and someone else to interpret, it's bogus.

That isn’t true. St. Paul speaks of the Tongues of men and of Angels. The first is for evangelization and the later is for personal and intercessory prayer.

1Cor 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I have become as sounding brass or a ringing cymbal.

1Cor 14:1 Chase after charity, be zealous for spiritual gifts; but rather that you may prophesy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no man hears. Yet by the Spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he who prophesies speaks to men for edification, exhortation and consolation. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but he who prophesies, edifies the church. 5And I would have you all to speak with tongues, but to a greater extent to prophesy. For greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks with tongues; unless perhaps he interprets, that the church may receive edification.