Charismatic Testimonials ... from formerly Traditional Catholics

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Sciptures suggest speaking in tongues may be a valid manifestation of H.S. upon a new Christian … as a means of inspiring other unbelivers/believers present. Worked this way at Pentecost – for example. Paul said however that while he had spoken in tongues many times in past … he considered it one of the ‘lesser’ of the gifts of H.S. Many today say it was a historical event … not of benefit in our modern age.

So, my question is : Have any ‘spirit filled’ Traditional Catholics here on forum, ever spoken in tongues, and can perhaps explain to the ‘Traditionalists’ how it affected you? Did it truly inspire others and bring Glory to the Lord ? If so … was it a one time event, or have you reexperienced the gift on later occasions ?
 
I consider myself a traditional Catholic (my definition of that is being faithful and obedient to Rome in all things) a member of the clergy, and Charismatic. Yes, I have prayed in tongues. I say this as fact, not brag. I do not do it for show, and in fact do it most often when alone. I have been Charismatic since the early 80’s. I have tried to explain to some in this forum what the Charismatic renewal is all about, but some are totally closed to that idea. And I mean totally. Is it for everyone. No it is not. not everyone is Benedictine, Franciscan, etc. Not everyone is clergy. There are many niches within the Church for people. This is part of the richness of the Catholic Church. I just wish all people would see it that way, instead of condemning that which they know nothing about.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
 
I was raised in a Charismatic household. I participated in Charismatic masses. I even began my life as a devouted Catholic as a Charismatic. But guess what. I grew up. I realize that the charismatic movement is focused on sensualism and on the self. The charismatic movement usually does not produce lasting fruit, but rather a weird emotionalism. Furthermore, the charismatic movement has not history in the Church. It is not found among the saints, not found Church doctrine, and, in fact, has its roots in a non-Christian community known as the United Pentacostal Church. This group does not even accept the Trinity. Given the negative results of the Charismatic movement, is absence from the lives of the Saints and the History of the Church, and its origins in a non-Christian Cult, I would think that Catholics should be fleeing from this movement back to the traditional faith of the Church. I sure did!!!
 
East_and_West said:
its origins in a non-Christian Cult, I would think that Catholics should be fleeing from this movement back to the traditional faith of the Church. I sure did!!!
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I truly value your experience here. But, did it not have its origins in the Church Universal @ Penecost ? Doesn’t its roots date from DAY 1 of our Catholic Faith ?

And … later, Paul himself acknowledges he had often spoke in tongues. I think we speak of SAINT PAUL in glowing terms even today.
 
The most faithful, faith-filled, obedient Catholics I know are involved in the Charismatic movement of the Catholic Church. :getholy:
*“Dear God, do You know the greatest grief one of Your creatures can bear? It is the thought that she can never love You enough. ” *- St. Gemma Galgani
 
BRB said:
I truly value your experience here. But, did it not have its origins in the Church Universal @ Penecost ? Doesn’t its roots date from DAY 1 of our Catholic Faith ?

And … later, Paul himself acknowledges he had often spoke in tongues. I think we speak of SAINT PAUL in glowing terms even today.
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Actually what happened at Pentecost was not the same thing as the Charismatic movement. Speaking in tongues was a phenomena in which no matter what language the speaker speaks, the hearer can understand. It is not the nonsensical mumbling of the modern charismatic movement.
 
Deacon_Ed_B said:
I consider myself a traditional Catholic (my definition of that is being faithful and obedient to Rome in all things) a member of the clergy, and Charismatic. Yes, I have prayed in tongues. I say this as fact, not brag. I do not do it for show, and in fact do it most often when alone. I have been Charismatic since the early 80’s. I have tried to explain to some in this forum what the Charismatic renewal is all about, but some are totally closed to that idea. And I mean totally. **Is it for everyone. No it is not. ** not everyone is Benedictine, Franciscan, etc. Not everyone is clergy. There are many niches within the Church for people. This is part of the richness of the Catholic Church. I just wish all people would see it that way, instead of condemning that which they know nothing about.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
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Well, I’ve heard quite the contrary. CCR is here for everyone, spanning across the whole spiritual spectrum, and even across rites. It isn’t a typical spiritual movement having its own formalized structure and hierarchy like other movements. It isn’t even a typical spirituality, because it can coexist with other spiritualities. You can’t be Benedictine and Franciscan at the same time, but, for example, you can be Charismatic and Benedictine at the same time. You can even like traditions like TLM etc… and be Charismatic at the same time.
 
antimon said:
Well, I’ve heard quite the contrary. CCR is here for everyone, spanning across the whole spiritual spectrum, and even across rites. It isn’t a typical spiritual movement having its own formalized structure and hierarchy like other movements. It isn’t even a typical spirituality, because it can coexist with other spiritualities. You can’t be Benedictine and Franciscan at the same time, but, for example, you can be Charismatic and Benedictine at the same time. You can even like traditions like TLM etc… and be Charismatic at the same time.
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When I say it is not for everyone, I mean you do not have to be Charismatic to be saved. Just like you don’t have to be in any particular religious order to be saved, and before anyone jumps up here I am not equating the Charismatic renewal with any religious order. One of the ways we measure the truth of a movement is by its fruits. It encourages Eucharistic Adoration, regular and frequent attendance of the mass and reception of the sacraments. Daily recitation of the rosary and more. Its like Jesus said, why would Satan heal, the sick, make the lame walk. This was in Jesus’ time. Why would Satan encourage Eucharistic adoration, mass and sacraments. HE WOULD NOT. There are many devotions and ways of life that all point to this. The Focolare movement, the Guadalupanas, The A.C.T.S community, Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy. All point to Jesus.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
 
I can’t say I ever was Traditional Catholic. I jumped from Novus Ordo Catholic to Eastern Catholic with an interest in Traditional Catholicism briefly in between.

But in any case, I have had experience with the Catholic Charismatic movement. Before I was even once involved in the Charismatic Catholic movement, I remember reading a book on the saints in which it mentioned several saints as having spoken in tongues. I can’t remember who it was exactly. A medieval saint I believe. I never spoke in tongues, even though I was prayed over to receive that gift… oh well. 🙂
 
Madaglan said:
I can’t say I ever was Traditional Catholic. I jumped from Novus Ordo Catholic to Eastern Catholic with an interest in Traditional Catholicism briefly in between.

But in any case, I have had experience with the Catholic Charismatic movement. Before I was even once involved in the Charismatic Catholic movement, I remember reading a book on the saints in which it mentioned several saints as having spoken in tongues. I can’t remember who it was exactly. A medieval saint I believe. I never spoke in tongues, even though I was prayed over to receive that gift… oh well. 🙂
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And this does not mean that you are any less Catholic because.of it. An elderly priest friend of mine, whom I believe to be a most holy man of God, has been Charismatic since the early 70’s when this all started. He explains it all this way. We do not receive the Charismatic gifts with the baptism of the Spirit. We receive them with sacramental Baptism and Confirmation. These are gifts of the Holy spirit that we all receive. It is simply a matter of being taught how to use and manifest those gifts. He is one of the most unpretentious and unassuming people I know. Simple, direct and Spirit filled with love of Jesus and Mary.

You are correct in saying that saints have prayed in tongues. I gave a scriptural quote for this, but nay sayers explained it away. Its like the saying, “If you don’t have faith, no amount of explanation is good enough. If you have faith, no explanation is necessary.” That seems to fit pretty darn good here.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
 
Deacon_Ed_B said:
Its like Jesus said, why would Satan heal, the sick, make the lame walk. This was in Jesus’ time. Why would Satan encourage Eucharistic adoration, mass and sacraments. HE WOULD NOT. There are many devotions and ways of life that all point to this. The Focolare movement, the Guadalupanas, The A.C.T.S community, Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy. All point to Jesus.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
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Wasn’t that more about Satan working directly against demons and evil spirits? Had it been the Devil which was calling upon other demons to vacate people he would have been working against himself. But wouldn’t it be just like Satan to try to corrupt something which has always been about worship of God into something which gratifies his intents? I don’t think your argument is a sound basis for saying that the Devil would never encourage people to go to things which seem to give glory to God, certainly not if he thought he could turn it to his advantage. A lot of schismatics have justified their actions on a similar basis, and such division is surely not what God wants of us.

I’m not saying that the Charismatics are such a movement, just that we must be careful not to ignore what might otherwise be obvious. I don’t know how others see it but I have always interpreted the ‘speaking in tounges’ to mean speaking with all those listening hearing it in their own language. On the other hand I have read somewhere of people who may have been possessed speaking apparent gibberish. We can’t really form views on the basis of these acts because God’s power is unlimited and the Devil is willing to attempt to corrupt any goodness.

I have never participated in any Charismatic activities, nor have I read up on it in great depth. I have met a few people who have been involved with Charismatic groups and have tried to introduce various things to other groups/Masses we were involved with. Its not something that I have a personal affinity with and I don’t particularly like the attitude/ethos, whatever you want to term it. Although if others find it helpful and it is in accordance with Church teachings then obviously I have no problem with them continuing, its just not something I want to be part of.
 
Freshman88 said:
That’s interesting. What language did you speak?
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***Romans 8:26-27 “The Spirit too helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in speech. He who searched hearts knows what the Spirit means, for the Spirit intercedes for the saints as God himself wills” *** Ask He who searches hearts. He can tell you.
Prayers & Blessings
Deacon Ed B
 
Deacon_Ed_B said:
***Romans 8:26-27 “The Spirit too helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in speech. He who searched hearts knows what the Spirit means, for the Spirit intercedes for the saints as God himself wills” *** Ask He who searches hearts. He can tell you.
Prayers & Blessings
Deacon Ed B
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I’m sorry but I don’t see the connection?

Anyway, what did you say? what language was it? did anyone understand you? I am curious, I do not come across many Catholics who claim to have spoken in tongues.
 
Freshman88 said:
I’m sorry but I don’t see the connection?

Anyway, what did you say? what language was it? did anyone understand you? I am curious, I do not come across many Catholics who claim to have spoken in tongues.
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The second sentence of the scriptural quote contains the answer. He who searches hearts is the Father. He knows what the Spirit said for he is omniscient. I on the other hand am not. I only can say that the Spirit prayed through me and for me to the Father. And this is the least of the gifts.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B.
 
Deacon_Ed_B said:
. I on the other hand am not.
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So you had no idea what you said? Was this because you were unconscious? if this is the case, how do you know you said anything? were there witnesses? what did they hear?

Or are you saying that you spoke in a language which only God understands? I thought the gift of tongues was to the gift to speak another language which others can understand? is there any support for the gift of tongues being in an non-human language?
 
East and West.
Actually what happened at Pentecost was not the same thing as the Charismatic movement. Speaking in tongues was a phenomena in which no matter what language the speaker speaks, the hearer can understand. It is not the nonsensical mumbling of the modern charismatic movement.

Of all the research I have done, It is logical to think that the “Speaker” is speaking in tongues, because you are hearing in “Your” lanugage. The MIRACLE is in the HEARING, not the speaking. When Paul and the other Apostles spoke on the Day of Pentecost, they spoke IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE; The Listeners HEARD or had it TRANSLATED spirtually , Not only that but they UNDERSTOOD the context, and sub context of what they were implying. Hence the huge conversion rate on that day… thousands!!!

Just a another thing, one of my priests went to a Charasmatic meeting, and said the Lords Prayer in Latin… It was “Translated” by another to ask to raise more money for the new car for the Pastor… go figure.🤷

Have not been in for a while… seems nothing has changed…👍
 
I’ve had times when my spoken prayers to Jesus seemed to flow w/o my conscious thought of what I was gonna say. Kind of like free association … coming forth. But, its always in English … and sometimes its slightly nonsensical, when I think back on what I just heard myself say.

Usually however, it does express the inner adorations of my spirit. Now, I wouldn’t consider this to be speaking in tongues. Its just me not thinking thru each thought I’m expressing.

So … I’m thinking speaking in tongues must be something else.

Anyone here that can give me/us your understanding of the gift and its efficacious effect on those around you ? Also, is it a gift that you can actively call to occur when you seek to speak in the tongue … or is it unpredictable and uncontrollable ?
 
Freshman88 said:
So you had no idea what you said? Was this because you were unconscious? if this is the case, how do you know you said anything? were there witnesses? what did they hear?
Or are you saying that you spoke in a language which only God understands? I thought the gift of tongues was to the gift to speak another language which others can understand? is there any support for the gift of tongues being in an non-human language?
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You are correct, I do not know what it is that I said. And yes, I was fully awake. As I said in a previous post, when I do pray in tongues I am usually alone, but not always. The gift of interpretation is given to some. Those that I know who have this, and they are few (that I know) do not speak in tongues. I am not saying this is so with all people. I am only saying I don’t know of any who do both. I do not know if this was a human or non human (to use your phrase) language. As I said I am far from omniscient. Because the last part of the quote says “The Spirit intercedes for the saints as God himself wills” , in no way means that I am call or consider myself to be a saint. The closest I could come to that is to say that I am a saint want-to-be. I say this knowing that the definition of a saint is one who has died and is IN HEAVEN. This is where I hope to be and pray that is where I will be when I die. As I said before I do not say any of this in brag and in fact am uncomfortable discussing it. I have said what I said only to show that our God works in ways that are beyond our understanding. I am comfortable with the Charismatic movement knowing that the present and prior pope both support it.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
 
This is not to endorse or criticize the Charismatic movement, but many of the first pro-life activists were Charismatic Catholics who had experience in the Civil Rights Movement. I wonder why that was the case (I really don’t know. Ideas, anyone?).
 
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