From the Catholic Catechism Paragraph 2003:
“Grace is first and foremost the gift of the Spirit who justifies and sanctifies us. But grace also includes the gifts that the Spirit grants us to associate us with his work, to enable us to collaborate in the salvation of others and in the growth of the Body of Christ, the Church. There are sacramental graces, gifts proper to the different sacraments. There are furthermore special graces, also called charisms after the Greek term used by St. Paul and meaning “favor,” “gratuitous gift,” “benefit.” Whatever their character - sometimes it is extraordinary, such as the gift of miracles or of tongues - charisms are oriented toward sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the Church. They are at the service of charity which builds up the Church.”
I have prayed in tongues many times. I have heard languages that sound Hebrew, Spanish, etc. I have heard of people telling people that they were saying something in a particular language. But where does it say that all languages are to be defined by mankind? Even though the the original Penetcost involved many languages, there are many times(most for me actually) where I am interceding directly to the Father, to Jesus. If something is very urgent, prayer pours forth for quite sometime. This does not mean that I don’t speak to the Lord conversationally or pleadingly, or that I don’t implore Our Lady and the Saints, for I do.
In this individual prayer in the Spirit, I feel as if angels are hearing and carrying these words, and that the angels understand what is being said (as may the evil one or demons, making them flee). And I have reflected that some of these prayers, attended to by angels, are shielded from the evil one so that he cannot interfere, and what is being said may send him off in terror. If demons hear of our plans and prayers, they may try to mess with them depending upon the issue. However if they are shieIded from hearing them by the Almighty Power and Light of God, they can do less perhaps. In other words, it says, in the Light of Christ, get away all evil, and may that which I speak be to God and God alone. May my voice rise to Him in the light of the Holy Angels.
I can imagine what it might be like, to have an Angel of God, perhaps our own Guardian Angels, or Warring Angels, hearing the prayers, eying the devil, and looking at him, taking the prayers to God for action but the devil or demon being shielded from what is being said. Or the Angel could be looking at him, saying, “do you want to stick around here, buddy, because some more of my friends are coming?” (but in more beautiful angelic language of course). They certainly flee from Christ and his Holy Angels.
They certainly flee and fear the one who crushes their head, the Blessed Virgin Mary, as so many saints have told us, for example St. Louis de Montfort,St. Dominic, St. Anthony, St Francis and such. I would suggest that before anyone tries to judge the authenticty of the “jibberish” they hear, they be in pretty deep prayer and communion with the Holy Spirit, with God, with Jesus and all of the saints, and in communion with the Church’s teaching. John Paul II supported the Charsimatic ministry, and we see Pope Benedict basically citing what the Catechism lays forth on the issue. If these are gifts to build up the Church, how can we as mere laypersons try to tear it down?
It appears to me from what I’ve read many times there are a lot of intellectual interpretations on this issue, whereas those who speak experientially (I feel the Holy Spirit, burning as a fire, coming upon me as I write this) are not analyzing it but praying. May Jesus Christ be praised, now and forever!! And may we pray for one another, for we truly are brothers and sisters in Christ,we are One Body, there is One Vine, One Master. As Paul indicates, do we smash our foot because we don’t like that member of the body? God made us all and we all have gifts, given by God for the edification of th Church and for our salvation, for our families, for our friends. May we only pray to do His will,and to submit to the Holy Spirit, to Our Lord Jesus Christ and Our Father who are One. In Jesus Christ’s blessed Holy name we pray-Amen!
I think that you are taking a very narrow view of this gift. To be honest the there are two different types of tongues spoken of in the Scriptures. 1) Gift of “Other” Tongues and 2) Gift of Tongues or Tongues of Angels.
Gift of “Other” Tongues is the one expressed in the Book of Acts. It is primarily a missionary gift and from what I have heard it can at times be seen in action on the missionary fronts.
The Gift of Tongues or Tongues of Angels, which is the one that you are questioning, is discussed primarily in 1Cor Ch 12-14. This gift can be broken down into two subcategories: One is Prophetic Tongues which requires interpretation which for the edification of the Church as is the gift of prophecy. This one is not very prevalent today (I have only heard it once and it lead to my conversion to Catholocism) and the other is Praying in the Spirit which is for the edification of the individual. This is the most common type. This is where the Holy Spirit prays for you in groanings that you cannot understand. In other words, He prays for what you do not know what to pray for.
I myself do have the ability to Pray in the Spirit and it has edified my spiritual life over the years as it has with others. I can tell you that it is not gibberish as you call it. I can speak in gibberish and in the Gift of Tongues and the experiences are completely different. There are times when at mass that I will be praying to Christ within me after receiving the Blessed Sacrament and I realize that I have been praying in tongues.
Are there people out there that pretend? Probably. Are there people out there that Speak in the tongue of Devils. Most definitely. The best way in my opinion to determine if something is of God versus the Devil is the fruit that it bears.
God’s Peace.
