Praying in tongue

[alitaptap]

What is the Catholic Church’s stance on praying in tongue?

 

[JRKH]

From HERE

I don’t believe that the Catholic Church has an official stance on speaking in tongues. In recent years its approach to this phenomenon seems to have been one of cautious acceptance, with an emphasis on the “cautious.”

Peace
James

 

[alitaptap]

From HERE

I don’t believe that the Catholic Church has an official stance on speaking in tongues. In recent years its approach to this phenomenon seems to have been one of cautious acceptance, with an emphasis on the “cautious.”

Peace
James

James,

Thanks for the link. Please read this A “Catholic” Charismatic Extravaganza for your comment.

 

[JRKH]

James,

Thanks for the link. Please read this A “Catholic” Charismatic Extravaganza for your comment.

To be honest, I don’t have any comments about the article.
It is old (1997) and obviously written by someone who does not agree with the Charismatic movement - or with pentacostals - or indeed with anything that is not Catholic.

Would you be interested in talking with a Charismatic Catholic on the boards here?

Peace
James

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Every time that I have seen it done, it seems like those doing it are just speaking gibberish.

I am not saying that a genuine form does not exist, just that I don’t think that I’ve ever seen it, OK?

 

[NPC]

I don’t think one can rule out the possibility of it being a genuine manifestation of the Holy Spirit, given that it is Scriptural - the Apostles of course were given different gifts from the Holy Spirit. However, what some people point out is that while the Apostles spoke foreign languages, they were languages that those to whom they were to preach could understand. It wasn’t merely a gift to the individual Apostle - it was a gift that helped them to bring Christ to the whole world

There is also the idea that all Catholics speak in tongues, because they are part of the one Body of Christ - the Church - which speaks all languages. It is an interesting concept; indeed it shows us that the gifts given to the Apostles by the Holy Spirit are still bearing good fruit throughout the world two thousand years on.

As JRKH said, it is a “phenomenon” which has been cautiously accepted - I would agree that it’s something which should be approached with caution. I don’t doubt that people receive many gifts and graces from the Holy Spirit, but some gifts seem to be much more difficult to discern than others.

 

[alitaptap]

Would you be interested in talking with a Charismatic Catholic on the boards here?

Yes, please.

Those who want to say something about Charismatic and Charismatic movements, please go ahead.

I guess that we all have a personal prayer language to communicate with God. Some people say it in tongues, others through novena, rosary, etc. Some worship Him through dance, songs, etc. More importantly, for us Catholics, the Eucharist being the highest form of worship.

 

[alitaptap]

I found an article written by the late Fr. William Most, SJ.

Errors of Charismatics

The classic passage on charismatic gifts is in 1 Cor chapters 12 and 14. Although St. Paul does not use our technical terms, we can still find what he means.

Grace in general is any gift from God to man. There are two large categories: sanctifying and charismatic. The sanctifying graces are aimed at making the recipient holy. They include habitual (also called sanctifying) grace, and actual graces. Habitual grace does make the recipient holy; actual graces are aimed at that.

Charismatic graces are not aimed at making the recipient holy: they are for some other benefit, usually for the community. There are two groups, ordinary (the gift of being a good parent, good teacher, etc. These are given widely and freely) and extraordinary: the gift of tongues, of healing, of doing other kinds of miracles, etc.
READ MORE

 

[JRKH]

Yes, please.

Those who want to say something about Charismatic and Charismatic movements, please go ahead.

I guess that we all have a personal prayer language to communicate with God. Some people say it in tongues, others through novena, rosary, etc. Some worship Him through dance, songs, etc. More importantly, for us Catholics, the Eucharist being the highest form of worship.

I contacted my friend and she is currently on vacation but will check in when she returns next week.

Peace
James

 

[Willy_Jose]

What is the Catholic Church’s stance on praying in tongue?

Hi kabayan,
You asked for the Church’s stance and as far as I know, Vatican II’s Lumen Gentium addressed the issue (of charisms) in general. There is an identical thread which I responded to and I will just cut and paste. Pagpalain ka ng Diyos.

Here is from Vatican II - Lumen Gentium, Sec 12.

*It is not only through the sacraments and the ministries of the Church that the Holy Spirit sanctifies and leads the people of God and enriches it with virtues, but, "allotting his gifts to everyone according as He wills,(114) He distributes special graces among the faithful of every rank. By these gifts He makes them fit and ready to undertake the various tasks and offices which contribute toward the renewal and building up of the Church, according to the words of the Apostle: “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to everyone for profit”.(115) These charisms, whether they be the more outstanding or the more simple and widely diffused, are to be received with thanksgiving and consolation for they are perfectly suited to and useful for the needs of the Church. Extraordinary gifts are not to be sought after, nor are the fruits of apostolic labor to be presumptuously expected from their use; but judgment as to their genuinity and proper use belongs to those who are appointed leaders in the Church, to whose special competence it belongs, not indeed to extinguish the Spirit, but to test all things and hold fast to that which is good.(116)

*"He distributes special graces among the faithful of every rank. By these gifts He makes them fit and ready to undertake the various tasks and offices which contribute toward the renewal and building up of the Church, according to the words of the Apostle: “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to everyone for profit”. — I guess that answers your first question.

“Extraordinary gifts are not to be sought after, nor are the fruits of apostolic labor to be presumptuously expected from their use” — I guess this answers your second question.

“…but judgment as to their genuinity and proper use belongs to those who are appointed leaders in the Church, to whose special competence it belongs” . — The special competence to judge the genuinity and proper use of charisms (like tounges) belong to the appointed Church leaders.

 

[akhoang]

Here are 3 references to speaking in tongue mentioned in the Bible:

1. In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. (Romans 8:26)
2. Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray to be able to interpret. (Corinthians 14:13)
3. With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones and also for me, that speech may be given me to open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel…(Ephesians 6:18-19)

Please read Corinthians 14 to see what Jesus teaches about the gift of tongue:
usccb.org/nab/bible/1corinthians/1corinthians14.htm