Speaking in Tongues

[claire0202]

I’ll try and describe my personal experience with resting in the Spirit - only because much of what “The Falling Phenomenon” article suggests wasn’t part of my experience (though I dont doubt the truth of it for many).
I attended a 7 week, weekly group meeting where members of our parish learned about various topics related to the Holy Spirit. One of our Parish priests was present for all of them. The meetings culminated in a Mass where we also received a Sacramental (oil) and were prayed over. The primary gift of the Spirit that I remember anticipating was the gift of tongues. I was very defensive about the topic because, like Byzgirl, I had heard some bad things about non-Catholic groups and a lot of craziness. We all prayed heavily during the week leading up to the final Mass. I was praying for some of the people who were in my small group and they were praying for me as well. I had basically resolved in my prayer time that if I didnt receive the gift of tongues I was content with the many blessings that God had given me in life - most especially the gift of faith. Im pretty sure I fealt resolved that I wasnt going to be receiving any such gift - and I was perfectly fine with it! Well, the day rolled around for the big Mass. My work day was incredibly busy - I missed lunch and dinner and had a migraine! I had no time to change from my work clothes (sportcoat, tie, etc) and was late getting there. I really couldnt believe that this is how it was gonna go down - me feeling horrible and not really up for it. Everyone was singing and I wanted to simply sneak in to the back with my wife, but one of the instructors informed me -as I attempted to enter his row - that you had to stay with your group. My group, of course, was in the front pew! I immediately decided I’d go to the outside of the aisle rather than dead center. As I attempted to weasel my way in I noticed the woman on the end was lost in tears…I really couldnt interupt her to make room for me to sit down. Some people motioned to me - with smiles, of course, to sit…in the front center! What could I do but comply. At this point I caught a glimpse of an icon of the sacred heart and I somehow decided to make this the focus of my prayers. I held my hands much like you do when receiving Communion, but I held them against my chest as a physical gesture to open my heart to God. That was my prayer. “I open my heart to you” and stuck with it the whole time. I hate being the “first in line” so to speak because Im not a good listener and I basically hate following unwritten directions. I knew there was gonna be some sort of format and I just wanted to concentrate on “opening my heart” and nothing else. The time came for the blessing, and I was confused over whether we were gonna be prayed over or whatever immediately the blessing or if I was supposed to return to my pew or whatever - I didnt want to be bothered by such distractions! As “fate” would have it, I was the first in line for the oil Sacramental, and I vaguely remember approaching with my hands offering my heart and my Priest making the sign of the Cross on my head and I felt…weird…like something was happening but I wasnt sure what. One of the instructors simply said, “Relax Phil, its the holy Spirit” and I remember consciously thinking, “what does he mean relax - I feel fine”. But as I was thinking that thought I started falling backwards. I ended up laying on the floor and felt a number of experiences. The important point, however, is that I had no expectation of any such event occuring. I was still thinking that I was going to be prayed over and that that would be the time I might speak in tongues or whatever. I remained where I was for some time perfectly comfortable and at peace. I was tempted to believe it wasnt a genuine experience. I also felt an incredibel closeness to all the people that I had been praying for and our Priest. Many other people had a relatively common experience, but none of them were the first to go and none in the state of mind I was in and without any expectations. I simply had no conscious expectation of any such event.

 

[claire0202]

My experience of Speaking in tongues was as a result of a 7 week “Life in the Spirit Seminar” I had started several before but had never been on the Holy Spirit weekend (when everyone prays for the gifts of the Holy Spirit) Once again I was going to miss it - I had booked a holiday in spain. The Holy Spirit day was I believed to be Pentecost sunday so before going on holiday I said all the Holy Spirit prayers thinking I might experience something at Mass on sunday, On the Saturday I was meant to be going to a family celebration in the evening but all day I felt very down, as though a heavy weight was pressing on me. An hour before we were due to leave I still felt bad so decided to go into another room to pray about it. ~~I have no idea what I prayed but I suddenly found myself speaking in tongues & I felt such joy it was indescribable. I t lasted about 5 minutes & then I got up, got ready 7 went out. When I returned to UK i spoke to my Spirit Group. It seems the Holy Spirit day had been Saturday not Sunday & everyone had been praying for me at the very time I received the gift of tongues. I now speak in tongues during my private prayer. It is such a gift! No need to remember words, no need to put prayers in to words. You know God knows & will do it for you in HIS language, I was a skeptic, Now I am a believer! Experiencing is believing.

 

[po18guy]

I was a skeptic, Now I am a believer! Experiencing is believing.

Amen! God, the Author of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, is timeless and His gifts are for all seasons, all times, all nations and all peoples. Why do we so often store these gifts in a box marked “Biblical times”? He exists through all ages and is here with us today!

 

[Philthy]

Paul writes this because isn’t required for salvation. Tongues is just a tool of communication that helps people who don’t believe in Christ understand in their own language. If people put to much attention to it they are mistaken.

Tongues is a gift to encourage the faithful. I dont have the gift, but I am encouraged in my faith by offering worship to God with people who do.
Putting too much attention on it is definitely a problem. Our focus is to remain on the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord and the reality of what He accomplished for us in time and eternity. In light of this reality, all of life should be viewed through the lens of love. For if we have faith, works, tongues, and good music but have not love, then we have nothing.

 

[Philthy]

My experience of Speaking in tongues was as a result of a 7 week “Life in the Spirit Seminar” I had started several before but had never been on the Holy Spirit weekend (when everyone prays for the gifts of the Holy Spirit) Once again I was going to miss it - I had booked a holiday in spain. The Holy Spirit day was I believed to be Pentecost sunday so before going on holiday I said all the Holy Spirit prayers thinking I might experience something at Mass on sunday, On the Saturday I was meant to be going to a family celebration in the evening but all day I felt very down, as though a heavy weight was pressing on me. An hour before we were due to leave I still felt bad so decided to go into another room to pray about it. ~~I have no idea what I prayed but I suddenly found myself speaking in tongues & I felt such joy it was indescribable. I t lasted about 5 minutes & then I got up, got ready 7 went out. When I returned to UK i spoke to my Spirit Group. It seems the Holy Spirit day had been Saturday not Sunday & everyone had been praying for me at the very time I received the gift of tongues. I now speak in tongues during my private prayer. It is such a gift! No need to remember words, no need to put prayers in to words. You know God knows & will do it for you in HIS language, I was a skeptic, Now I am a believer! Experiencing is believing.

All glory and honor is His forever!

 

[Catholicc]

I don’t believe any of it. Tounges these days is just gobbldeygook that someone CONVINCES themselves is tounges

 

[po18guy]

I don’t believe any of it. Tounges these days is just gobbldeygook that someone CONVINCES themselves is tounges

Saint Paul addresses the gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 and 1 Corinthians 14. He teaches that tongues should not be spoken without someone to interpret. I think that is the main problem with it. Certain factions (Saint Paul spoke against factions) place too much emphasis on it, apparently deeming it a matter of pride if one “has the gift”. It receives a lot of publicity, both bad and good, because it is so dramatic and visible.

Now consider the gift of prophecy, which is to be preferred: It is that which builds up the church, which calls those present to a deeper faith, which can correct those who have gone astray, and is only occasionally concerned with the future. Who wants to watch this occurring? Nothing dramatic about it. It is, however, what we should be doing every day.

So, while tongues is a gift from God, it is very important that it be used as intended and not for personal edification, IMO.

 

[po18guy]

I don’t believe any of it. Tounges these days is just gobbldeygook that someone CONVINCES themselves is tounges

Read through 1 Corinthians 12 and 14. It remains just as valid today as it ever was. It is certainly misused, which is likely what you are objecting to. I object right along with you.

However, I cannot stress enough how much improvement that participating in a “Life in the Spirit” seminar can make in your faith life. Mine accelerated like I was going into hyperspace, if a metaphor is needed.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

I don’t believe any of it. Tounges these days is just gobbldeygook that someone CONVINCES themselves is tounges

Acknowledging that there might be fakers and delusionals, you might want to condsider the Holy Spirit in this. You are referring to prayer and praise to God as gobbledeygook.

 

[petitsourice]

Okay so some folks claim to speak in tongues; are there folks who can intrepret tongues? I’m asking because I’ve never heard of any.

Hello.

I was raised in both baptist + pentecostal faiths.

I have seen “interpreters” in pentecostal (and other non-denominational tongues churches) translate what’s being said.

 

[Catholicc]

Originally Posted by Catholicc
I don’t believe any of it. Tounges these days is just gobbldeygook that someone CONVINCES themselves is tounges

Read through 1 Corinthians 12 and 14. It remains just as valid today as it ever was. It is certainly misused, which is likely what you are objecting to. I object right along with you.

However, I cannot stress enough how much improvement that participating in a “Life in the Spirit” seminar can make in your faith life. Mine accelerated like I was going into hyperspace, if a metaphor is needed.

If it does happen, it would be a miracle. And like any miracle, I want to see it investigated by the Church. My guess is that 99.999% of the claims are false… …just like with claimed miracles.

As for life in the spirit: I don’t mean to put down what you are saying, but that phrase is theologically non-sensical. I mean, we are ALL spiritual beings and our every living moment is “in the spirit”. I fear that you are doing what many Pentacostals do, which is get themselves all emotionally juiced up and call that being “in the spirit”.

You want to be in the spirit? Be a good Christian. Thats about as “in the spirit” as you can get

Acknowledging that there might be fakers and delusionals, you might want to condsider the Holy Spirit in this. You are referring to prayer and praise to God as gobbledeygook.

No. Prayer and praise is fantastic. But babbling a bunch of mumbo jumbo and calling it tounges is not.

 

[guanophore]

I don’t believe any of it. Tounges these days is just gobbldeygook that someone CONVINCES themselves is tounges

It is curious that you would use this name as a login, yet reject the teaching of the Church you claim to espouse.

This is an example of that “cafeterial catholicism”, where a so called Catholic rejects whatever parts of Catholic teaching that don’t seem to fit with their personal experience.

 

[guanophore]

So, while tongues is a gift from God, it is very important that it be used as intended and not for personal edification, IMO.

But this IS one of the purposes of this gift!

It is especially helpful for people who do not know how to pray as they ought.

 

[guanophore]

If it does happen, it would be a miracle.

well, duh!

As for life in the spirit: I don’t mean to put down what you are saying, but that phrase is theologically non-sensical. I mean, we are ALL spiritual beings and our every living moment is “in the spirit”. I fear that you are doing what many Pentacostals do, which is get themselves all emotionally juiced up and call that being “in the spirit”.

You want to be in the spirit? Be a good Christian. Thats about as “in the spirit” as you can get

A lot of cradle Catholics never learned to do this. The Life in the Spirit seminar shows them how.

 

[po18guy]

But this IS one of the purposes of this gift! It is especially helpful for people who do not know how to pray as they ought.

Oops! Right you are! 1 Corinthians 14:4 “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.”

A case of gift confusion!

 

[po18guy]

If it does happen, it would be a miracle. And like any miracle, I want to see it investigated by the Church. My guess is that 99.999% of the claims are false… …just like with claimed miracles.

I cannot prove any miracle to you. You have to experience it for yourself. Remember the blind man in John 9? He received his sight from Christ, but the Pharisees did not believe him and questioned not only him, but his parents. Don’t let cynicism cloud your concept of the Lord’s power in each of us.

Nowhere in scripture or Church teaching does it allude to an expiration date for the presence of the Holy Spirit. He is with us today, waiting for the invitation, the opportunity to work through us. Why do you suppose that there is an official prayer to the Holy Spirit that begins: “Come, Holy Spirit…”? He does not work in us against our will. He awaits our invitation.

Anyway, tongues is only one of the gifts. It’s dramatic, but it is only one of the many. Which one does the Holy Spirit want to awaken in you?

As for life in the spirit: I don’t mean to put down what you are saying, but that phrase is theologically non-sensical. I mean, we are ALL spiritual beings and our every living moment is “in the spirit”. I fear that you are doing what many Pentacostals do, which is get themselves all emotionally juiced up and call that being “in the spirit”.

And, just where did the Pentecostals get it? Yes, from the Catholic Church. It is their main claim to fame, but is only one part of the Catholic Church. Why not have the Holy Spirit AND the Eucharist? Why not, indeed!

You want to be in the spirit? Be a good Christian. Thats about as “in the spirit” as you can get

Certainly! But, our hardened hearts sometimes lock out the Spirit and we need a tune up of our spirituality.

No. Prayer and praise is fantastic. But babbling a bunch of mumbo jumbo and calling it tounges is not.

But, what if, in the judgment seat of Christ, you find out that the Holy Spirit gave you the gift of (pick one) and you realize that you failed to use it because you might look like a fool? Are we not called to be fools for Christ?

Experience it and you will be convinced. I was reluctant. I was hesitant. I am no more.

Christ’s peace.

 

[claire0202]

If it does happen, it would be a miracle. And like any miracle, I want to see it investigated by the Church. My guess is that 99.999% of the claims are false… …just like with claimed miracles.

As for life in the spirit: I don’t mean to put down what you are saying, but that phrase is theologically non-sensical. I mean, we are ALL spiritual beings and our every living moment is “in the spirit”. I fear that you are doing what many Pentacostals do, which is get themselves all emotionally juiced up and call that being “in the spirit”.

You want to be in the spirit? Be a good Christian. Thats about as “in the spirit” as you can get

No. Prayer and praise is fantastic. But babbling a bunch of mumbo jumbo and calling it tounges is not.

 

[claire0202]

" Prayer and praise is fantastic. But babbling a bunch of mumbo jumbo and calling it tounges is not".

For many years many devout Catholics prayed in Latin, They sang plain chant in Latin. They followed the Mass in Latin. etc. etc. Although some understood what they were saying many were just “lifting their hearts & minds in prayer” That is what I am doing when I pray in tongues, only for me personally (having been through the latin era) I feel even nearer to God in prayer when (& after) I pray in tongues, As I have said in a earlier post I would not have believed it until it happened to me ( received the gift of tongues) so I can understand others skepticism. All I can say is. “It’s true”

 

[Catholicc]

It is curious that you would use this name as a login, yet reject the teaching of the Church you claim to espouse…

I do not deny the Biblical basis for tounges, and I do not deny that this miracle may take place from time to time. I am just saying, from my observations, that a lot of what passes for “tounges” is just people making noise and SAYING it is tounges.

…This is an example of that “cafeterial catholicism”, where a so called Catholic rejects whatever parts of Catholic teaching that don’t seem to fit with their personal experience.

LOL. I am the most orthodox, conservative, faithful Catholic you will ever meet. Heck, if I had my way, we would resurrect the Papal States!! Again, to repeat what I just said: I do not deny the Biblical basis for tounges, and I do not deny that this miracle may take place from time to time. I am just saying, from my observations, that a lot of what passes for “tounges” is just people making noise and SAYING it is tounges.

 

[Penitant]

In the best case, the modern understanding of “speaking in tongues” is not a miraculous phenomenon, but a psychological one.

That is, it is a matter of separation of one’s emotion and intellect and using only one’s emotion. As such, it would strictly be limited to prayers of adoration. That is, it really can’t be used for prayers of confession, thanksgiving, or supplication, since all of those are inherently intellectual in nature (we have to know what it is we are confessing, saying thanks for, or asking for).

Of course, I would make the argument that it is always more effective to pray with more of one’s self rather than less, so praying with one’s intellect AND emotions is more effective than using only one’s emotions.

Pax Vobiscum,
Zach