New Catholic Needs Guidance

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Hi everyone,

I am a former Pentecostal converted to Catholicism. Since my conversion I thought I laid some of my fundamentalist beliefs at the baptismal font. Or, so I thought.

Tongues. Speaking in tongues.

I thought that Catholics didnt practice this or condone it. Then, I found out a small prayer group had formed at my parish and were engaging in the practice. Actually, it has now turned into Tuesday night Bible Study - no homily no mass - just a regular charismatic church service in the basement.

My husband was invited to a Men`s Retreat for our local area. Come to find out they also speak in tongues during the liturgy.

I feel that these things are a matter of private prayer. I do not believe they are necessary for salvation as my Pentecostal background dicates. Coming from such a background I dont understand why Catholics are so caught up in it.

I am very worried my parish will become like the pit I drug myself out of once before :((

Can someone explain this phenom to me? And, how it relates to Catholic teaching?
 
I’m another ex-Pentecostal neophyte Catholic and I was reading about this early on in my conversion. It looks as if the Catholic Church never quite stopped speaking in tongues but never required it and doesn’t intend to start requiring it. A person’s experience here has nothing like the potential effect it has in a Pentecostal church, where a strong personality or exciting story can quickly start a denomination or invent a doctrine and spread it. If you read any of the stories of visions and revelations and see how carefully the Church checks them out, you will see a big difference. There is no place in the world more careful to check out everything.
 
Hi Kuppus__,

Speaking in tongues dates from the first days of Christianity. St. Paul speaks of it at length, says not to forbid it but to regulate it. He says that it “edifies” those who thus speak.

All in all, St. Paul is not enthusiastic about it; for him it is something secondary, not an essential part of Christianity.

So there is nothing to be suprised at all in this, but you should in no way feel obligated to be part of it. If only you can take full advantage of the sacraments of the Church, you will have achieved something outstanding in your spiritual life.

Verbum
 
There is a Charismatic movement in the Catholic Church. The previous posters have stated the Catholic position quite well.

I believe, and correct me if I am wrong, that Pentecostals require speaking in tongues as evidence that one has received the Holy Spirit and are thus saved. The Catholic Church rejects that as did Paul.
 
foundthelight said:
There is a Charismatic movement in the Catholic Church. The previous posters have stated the Catholic position quite well.

I believe, and correct me if I am wrong, that Pentecostals require speaking in tongues as evidence that one has received the Holy Spirit and are thus saved. The Catholic Church rejects that as did Paul.
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Yes, this is what I am looking for help on.

The Charismatic movement says that speaking in tongues is evidence of the Holy Spirit. The Catholic Church believes this happens during the sacrament of Baptism. And, at confirmation we are sealed with the Holy Spirit.

I would like to learn more about this aspect of my Catholic faith. Can anyone direct me to a good study? I have a few Scott Hahn books already, does anyone know if he or another apologist has any good reading material?
 
The modern Catholic Charismatic renewal goes back to the mid to late 60’s. I believe Ralph Martin and Father Michael Scanlon were some of the early leaders in the movement. I was raised in that environment but prefer a more quiet reverent spirituality.
 
search on the Spirituality forum for Catholic Charismatic Renewal. bear in mind that many people share misinformation about this spiritual movement within the Church, approved by the Popes. This is an orthodox Catholic spirituality as long as it is expressed in full communion with Church teaching and discipline. It is NOT the Pentecostalism having its roots in American fundamentalist Protestantism of the early 1900s.

The way to join such a group is with a Life in the Spirit Seminar given by presenters approved by the bishop at a local parish.

Just because a form of spiritual expression is not attractive to me, I have no experience with it, or it does resemble the devotions I prefer, does not automatically make it illicit, wrong, strange, weird or unorthodox. Fr. George Montague and Kilian McDonald are two orthodox Catholic writers on this topic. The first would be my first suggestion for an author to guide someone interested in exploring the CCR.
 
Hi Kuppus__,

The Catholic Church believes this happens during the sacrament of Baptism. And, at confirmation we are sealed with the Holy Spirit.

I would like to learn more about this aspect of my Catholic faith. Can anyone direct me to a good study?

The way I read this, you don’t want more infor about the charismatic movement but on the role of the Holy Spirit in our spiritual life. Right?

To start with you could read what the Catechism of the Catholic Church has to say : scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s2c3a8.htm

There is also an inexpensive book at

catholiccompany.com/catholic-books/1003623/Come-O-Holy-Spirit/?category=300

Verbum
 
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