Speaking In Tongues?

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I may be in the wrong forum to present this topic, but I’ll take a chance.

I have a wonderful landlord who is a pastor of an Apostolic Pentecostal Church. He often attempts to explain to me the gift of Glossolalia , or speaking in tongues, which I believe is a gift of the Holy Ghost, given certain practical applicable circumstances, that was a gift of the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost given to Mary and the Apostles in the Upper Room. This I know to be a biblical truth. I never argue the point with him, as he is firmly established in his belief system, and I respect his age and wisdom.

However, why is it necessary today, as most persons have heard of Christ, in every language possible, that one must believe this to be an essential gift of the Holy Ghost? Why is it not included in the Church’s list of the 7 gifts? My landlord claims that speaking in tongues is essential for salvation. He does not recognize any other beliefs as being legitimate in their baptismal process, and denies the Trinity (which no amount of explaining, best I am able, to illustrate that Catholics believe in ONE GOD). He maintains we believe in THREE!

I often have serious doubts and the discernment of spirits comes to my mind in such matters. I have witnessed these types of manifestations in my younger days when I studied the occult and parapsychology, particularly the practices of spiritualists and mediums and the various methods of hypnosis they are known to use on their clients. During those days, I had attended some various denominations that practice Glossolalia and it made me rather uncomfortable.

Here are some questions:
  1. When the congregation is speaking in tongues, and one member, for instance, is speaking fluent Chinese, how is it that the “interpreter” translates this, (usually by proclaiming some bible verse or religious ideal) but does not know the language themselves, nor the dialect? What do you say if you are aware they are NOT speaking any known language, or babbling in imitation of a certain language?
  2. What are the psychological aspects of such individual or group manifestations, as they are suspiciously akin to the phenomena of “mass hysteria” and subliminal suggestion/hypnosis?
  3. When the Apostles, and Mary, were given the gift, did it mean that they actually spoke foreign languages, or that they spoke eloquently? I would imagine that both would be helpful, but from my understanding they spoke Aramaic and Hebrew, but needed to speak Greek in order to get their points across. I may be confused here. This is my understanding of what the purpose of Pentecost was, and it seems very logical for their situation at the time.
I am not in doubt here of the many gifts that the Holy Ghost is capable of giving to us, as He would see fit and would be His Holy Desire and Pleasure.

I am of a nature though, that the Holy Ghost would only give a gift if it were beneficial to our own Salvation, such as the 7 gifts recognized by the Church. Where would speaking in tongues come into this plan, and why?

Thanks for any help.
 
There is a difference between GIFTS and FRUITS of the Holy Spirit. Please see my previous post here.

In regards interpretation of tongues, this is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. See 1Cor 12:7-10. It is not the same like speaking another language where all phonetic sound is clear and precise. According to 1Cor 14:2, it is the mystery of the spirit that was spoken, however our flesh and mind can only comprehend so little in comparison. In verse 14, it is said that our spirit that prays, not our understanding.

The gifts of speaking in tongues is the most visible gifts and, believe me, people even sometimes try to fake it to show that they have the gift. Who is to judge them? Well, we humans certainly cannot. Some people can get overwhelmed by the experience. Not to sure on how to answer your question number 2.

In regards to the Pentacost, besides the gift of tongues, the Holy Spirit also gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4). I think this utterance that is perceived as different languages. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

In the end, our salvation is none other by God’s grace and unless we keep a close friendship with God, no matter how many gifts we have, it is useless.

God Bless…

PS: A quote from Blessed Mother Teresa
There is only one God and He is God to all; therefore it is important that everyone is seen as equal before God. I’ve always said we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Catholic become a better Catholic.
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On judgment day, we are not going to be asked which religion we belong to, but what we have done to make people around us get closer to God and His law.

God Bless
 
St. Paul called speaking in tongues the least of the gifts.
The greatest of gifts is love. “If I have the voice of angels, but have not love I am a noisy gong.”
The gift of tongues is indeed a gift of the Holy Spirit.It is not the only gift. Whatever gifts we may have or manifest, we are called to walk humbly with our God.
 
Thanks for your help.I hope my question was not too involved. I tried not to be vague. Maybe I am attempting to get a “logical” explaination where there is none. It may be more of a faith question.

Please forgive any sense of “judgement” you may have encountered, as this is not my intention. My intention is to understand the phenomenon, to the best of what is able to be known, and gain insights to the further understanding of it.

Your answer was very helpful, but I need more details than just scripture passages, which is was already considered and understood in the initial research process, but does not consider the overall aspects of the phenomenon itself.

It would seem that scripture is too often cited without references, out of context, or at worse, isolated personal scripture interpretations. Consequently, this is why the Apostolic Pentacostal Church (among others), and it’s offshoots, exist today.
 
Tartini said:
Thanks for your help.I hope my question was not too involved. I tried not to be vague. Maybe I am attempting to get a “logical” explaination where there is none. It may be more of a faith question.

Please forgive any sense of “judgement” you may have encountered, as this is not my intention. My intention is to understand the phenomenon, to the best of what is able to be known, and gain insights to the further understanding of it.

Your answer was very helpful, but I need more details than just scripture passages, which is was already considered and understood in the initial research process, but does not consider the overall aspects of the phenomenon itself.

It would seem that scripture is too often cited without references, out of context, or at worse, isolated personal scripture interpretations. Consequently, this is why the Apostolic Pentacostal Church (among others), and it’s offshoots, exist today.
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Pentecostal churches such as the Apostolic Pentecostal church began because the gifts their members received were not recognized by the mainline Protestant churches to which they belonged. They began these new churches because they had been excommunicated.
Unlike Catholics, they did not have the support of Tradition to help them understand what they had received. These churches were often comprised, at least in the beginning, by individuals with little educational background, including scriptural background. It is important to keep this in mind and avoid judging how they developed.
I appreciate that you do not want to use scripture passages that have been taken out of context.

I do not have the gift of the interpretation of tongues. In reading the post by MACHIU, I would say that he has pretty much described the gift. The interpreter does not translate what has been said based on sudden knowledge of the other language. The best way to state this perhaps is by putting forth a scenario.
During a prayer meeting, I begin to sing in tongues. I do not understand a single word. At the end of my song, there is a pause. Another prayer group member begins to speak as the words come into his/her mind. This is the interpretation of what I said.
 
Tartini said:
I may be in the wrong forum to present this topic, but I’ll take a chance.

I have a wonderful landlord who is a pastor of an Apostolic Pentecostal Church. He often attempts to explain to me the gift of Glossolalia , or speaking in tongues, which I believe is a gift of the Holy Ghost, given certain practical applicable circumstances, that was a gift of the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost given to Mary and the Apostles in the Upper Room. This I know to be a biblical truth. I never argue the point with him, as he is firmly established in his belief system, and I respect his age and wisdom.

However, why is it necessary today, as most persons have heard of Christ, in every language possible, that one must believe this to be an essential gift of the Holy Ghost? Why is it not included in the Church’s list of the 7 gifts? My landlord claims that speaking in tongues is essential for salvation. He does not recognize any other beliefs as being legitimate in their baptismal process, and denies the Trinity (which no amount of explaining, best I am able, to illustrate that Catholics believe in ONE GOD). He maintains we believe in THREE!

I often have serious doubts and the discernment of spirits comes to my mind in such matters. I have witnessed these types of manifestations in my younger days when I studied the occult and parapsychology, particularly the practices of spiritualists and mediums and the various methods of hypnosis they are known to use on their clients. During those days, I had attended some various denominations that practice Glossolalia and it made me rather uncomfortable.

Here are some questions:
  1. When the congregation is speaking in tongues, and one member, for instance, is speaking fluent Chinese, how is it that the “interpreter” translates this, (usually by proclaiming some bible verse or religious ideal) but does not know the language themselves, nor the dialect? What do you say if you are aware they are NOT speaking any known language, or babbling in imitation of a certain language?
  2. What are the psychological aspects of such individual or group manifestations, as they are suspiciously akin to the phenomena of “mass hysteria” and subliminal suggestion/hypnosis?
  3. When the Apostles, and Mary, were given the gift, did it mean that they actually spoke foreign languages, or that they spoke eloquently? I would imagine that both would be helpful, but from my understanding they spoke Aramaic and Hebrew, but needed to speak Greek in order to get their points across. I may be confused here. This is my understanding of what the purpose of Pentecost was, and it seems very logical for their situation at the time.
I am not in doubt here of the many gifts that the Holy Ghost is capable of giving to us, as He would see fit and would be His Holy Desire and Pleasure.

I am of a nature though, that the Holy Ghost would only give a gift if it were beneficial to our own Salvation, such as the 7 gifts recognized by the Church. Where would speaking in tongues come into this plan, and why?

Thanks for any help.
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Jesus the Word Incarnate. Satan fears Him. Satan also fears the power of our words. Our words were given to us by God to praise Him and pray and give Him glory. If we are babbling about non-sensical things. These are not words. And, because it is not words it cannot perform the task God ordained our mouths to perform.

As long as we are saying anything other than a praise, pray, or giving glory to God we are pleasing to Satan. Everything about God is orderly, unified, and non-chaotic. Evil is by its very non-naturalness disorderly and chaotic.

If the mouth is making chaotic and disorderly sounds it is inherently not directed at God and what is not directed at God is in itself fundamentally evil.

No. The gift of tongues is like that of the priests that I’ve met who can speak 9 languages fluently. Have you ever wondered why so many priests can speak so many languages. It’s because of God. That is the gift of tongues.
 
Jimzz12 said:
Jesus the Word Incarnate. Satan fears Him. Satan also fears the power of our words. Our words were given to us by God to praise Him and pray and give Him glory. If we are babbling about non-sensical things. These are not words. And, because it is not words it cannot perform the task God ordained our mouths to perform.

As long as we are saying anything other than a praise, pray, or giving glory to God we are pleasing to Satan. Everything about God is orderly, unified, and non-chaotic. Evil is by its very non-naturalness disorderly and chaotic.

If the mouth is making chaotic and disorderly sounds it is inherently not directed at God and what is not directed at God is in itself fundamentally evil.

No. The gift of tongues is like that of the priests that I’ve met who can speak 9 languages fluently. Have you ever wondered why so many priests can speak so many languages. It’s because of God. That is the gift of tongues.
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I am sorry you feel this way. I wonder though, if you heard someone speaking in tongues and it was in-fact a very rare dialect of Chinese or an very rare dialect of an African language, which you think is just babble of course, and then someone spoke out an interpretation, would you just assume that there is a babbler and a liar at the church meeting?
 
I know an ex nun who joined some pentacostal church and didn’t believe I was a true charismatic because I didn’t speak in tongues. Many varying viewpoints out there in pentacostal and other Christian Church’s. Which is a shame, because it can at times give spiritual gifts a wrong name, it has also caused many Catholics to view these gifts with suspician and those with certain spiritual gifts with suspician.

One of my colleagues speaks in tongues apparently. She is an AOG. Yet she seemed concerned I sometimes do praying of the hands.

In some of the Pentacostal gatherings I’ve witnessed, many talk about speaking in tongues and interpreting, yet in Catholic Charismatic circles I’ve only ever witnesed praying in tongues. Could someone give me some feedback on if they have witnessed speaking in tongues in Catholic circles? and explain to me the difference to praying in tongues as opposed to speaking in tongues?
 
kyria said:
I know an ex nun who joined some pentacostal church and didn’t believe I was a true charismatic because I didn’t speak in tongues. Many varying viewpoints out there in pentacostal and other Christian Church’s. Which is a shame, because it can at times give spiritual gifts a wrong name, it has also caused many Catholics to view these gifts with suspician and those with certain spiritual gifts with suspician.

One of my colleagues speaks in tongues apparently. She is an AOG. Yet she seemed concerned I sometimes do praying of the hands.

In some of the Pentacostal gatherings I’ve witnessed, many talk about speaking in tongues and interpreting, yet in Catholic Charismatic circles I’ve only ever witnesed praying in tongues. Could someone give me some feedback on if they have witnessed speaking in tongues in Catholic circles? and explain to me the difference to praying in tongues as opposed to speaking in tongues?
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I knew an individual who belonged to the Assembly of God. Although he attended services every Sunday and often on Wednesdays, he never received the gift of tongues. The questioning of his faith simply because he did not pray in tongues was very painful.
The gift of tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit. It is an outward manifestation of God at work in a person’s life. The interior changes, the continued conversion of the heart, is much more important. Not praying/speaking in tongues does not mean a person is not close to God.
I heard a story one time about an individual who even after his Baptism in the Holy Spirit did not pray in tongues, or so he thought. He did not realize he was praying using American Sign Language.
The common way that I have seen/experienced praying in tongues during a prayer meeting starts with one individual and everybody’s voice joining and then dissipating. A single voice will speak (or in my case sing) and another person repeat in English what was said. Sometimes the words spoken may be a prayer. It could be a prophecy, a word of encouragement (not a prediction of the future).
You may hear the term prayer language to indicate when a person is praying in tongues. This can be done privately. I often sing as I walk. The gifts we are given are under the control of the individual. I generally stop when another person approaches, just as I might do as I pray the rosary while walking in order to greet that person.
 
kyria said:
I know an ex nun who joined some pentacostal church and didn’t believe I was a true charismatic because I didn’t speak in tongues. Many varying viewpoints out there in pentacostal and other Christian Church’s. Which is a shame, because it can at times give spiritual gifts a wrong name, it has also caused many Catholics to view these gifts with suspician and those with certain spiritual gifts with suspician.

One of my colleagues speaks in tongues apparently. She is an AOG. Yet she seemed concerned I sometimes do praying of the hands.

In some of the Pentacostal gatherings I’ve witnessed, many talk about speaking in tongues and interpreting, yet in Catholic Charismatic circles I’ve only ever witnesed praying in tongues. Could someone give me some feedback on if they have witnessed speaking in tongues in Catholic circles? and explain to me the difference to praying in tongues as opposed to speaking in tongues?
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Thomas Merton used to say that Christians, who practice as Catholics believe seem to have a certain understanding of prayer. But, Christians, who do not practice as Catholics believe, excercise as though how we pray is a completely foreign notion. I’ve heard Scott Hahn say very similar things, where he said he had to totally re-invent how he thought about his prayer struggle in relationship to God.

My experience with the Charismatic movement started around 15 or 16 years of age. I reluctantly embraced it. It just seemed disordered. But, like so many other things once you get used to it you use it. So, I did the tongues thing… ‘prayed’ constantly ‘in tongues’. This went on for more than a few years. Eventually I realized I had forgotten the most basic things. I did not know any formal prayers. When I decided to try praying the rosary, I had to Google the ‘Our Father’ and the ‘Hail Mary’ and even the ‘Glory Be’. As a form of penance I decided to learn them in Spanish. So for a while I knew them only in Spanish. I still do not know the Creed in English, nor the Salve Regina, or that final prayer thing, or even the Fatima Ejaculation.

I am firm in believing the Charismatic thing is to blame. It diverted me from the path well-trodden with assurity. I am not the only one who feels this way. In fact, I am beginning to encounter quite a few men in real life and online who feel as though they have been robbed of their spiritual young adulthood. Because of the Charismatic thing, I am now behind the 8-ball playing catch-up.

There are many distractions in the spiritual life. And, we weak fleshed men and women fall asleep while our spirits cry on to be joined to Jesus praying in the garden. He prays there still.
 
You make an interesting statement here. I was not really thinking much of the Catholic charismatic movement originally, but now that you bring it to my attention, I am glad you did. Your experiences are important in light of the question,now that you mentioned it. I probably should have included it in my assessment of the phenomonon and asked something in the lines of how Catholics who practice the gift, use it, and why…

I always believed that the Catholic charismatic movement was a offshoot result of the abuse of V-ll directives, and a free-for-all movement that (for some reason) was tolerated. I don’t know it there are many charismatic catholic churches still around, as I have heard little from them, or their followers ultimately either left the Catholic church, or came back.

I cannot see the disruptive mood in which speaking in tounges could enhance solemnity of the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass. Don’t get me wrong, I do recognize V-ll and the value of some of it’s changes, but tend to be wary of some of those changes due to their protestant influences (and as a result of their disasterous results, I try only to attend only traditional latin masses). If you want to be a Catholic, be a Catholic. Not half of a Catholic who practices protestant actions because they want to be “modern”.

Thanks for your informative comment.
 
Tartini said:
You make an interesting statement here. I was not really thinking much of the Catholic charismatic movement originally, but now that you bring it to my attention, I am glad you did. Your experiences are important in light of the question,now that you mentioned it. I probably should have included it in my assessment of the phenomonon and asked something in the lines of how Catholics who practice the gift, use it, and why…

I always believed that the Catholic charismatic movement was a offshoot result of the abuse of V-ll directives, and a free-for-all movement that (for some reason) was tolerated. I don’t know it there are many charismatic catholic churches still around, as I have heard little from them, or their followers ultimately either left the Catholic church, or came back.

I cannot see the disruptive mood in which speaking in tounges could enhance solemnity of the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass. Don’t get me wrong, I do recognize V-ll and the value of some of it’s changes, but tend to be wary of some of those changes due to their protestant influences (and as a result of their disasterous results, I try only to attend only traditional latin masses). If you want to be a Catholic, be a Catholic. Not half of a Catholic who practices protestant actions because they want to be “modern”.

Thanks for your informative comment.
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Do not write off the Charismatic Renewal which is recognized in the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults as a legitimate movement of the Holy Spirit. I did not know what the Charismatic Renewal was until I found myself a part of it.
If anything, my involvement in the Renewal has strengthened my understanding of my Catholic Faith. It has instilled a greater love of the Church and its Sacraments. There is quicker conviction of sin and more frequent recourse to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The Charismatic Renewal since its beginning has submitted to Rome and in turn received continued Papal blessing and encouragement. Each of us is called to be open to whatever gifts God chooses to give us.

The prayer group that I most often attend is an intercessory prayer group. It meets on Monday nights to pray for the needs of the Church, the parish, and the community. Many of its members attend daily Mass and pray the rosary daily.
The Charismatic Renewal is not separate from the Church as a whole. Its members are an integral part of parish life.

When I first became a part of the Renewal, I drove 50 miles one way to attend weekly meetings at the retreat center.One person with whom I worked would remark every Friday, “I know where you were last night.” He had rejected the Faith yet recognized my own experience.

Not only was I attending the meetings, I was also going on frequent retreats and conferences. Many of these retreats were silent retreats held at a Franciscan retreat center. I was in a car accident that took away my vehicle while headed to the Franciscan center. While we may spend time on the mountain top, attending retreats and going to conferences, God also calls us to work in the vineyard. My accident meant no more prayer meetings or retreats for a very long time, until I moved to where I now live.

Every meeting, with the first charismatic group to which I belonged, included a teaching about the charisms or some other aspect of the Christian faith. There were often guest speakers such as Thea Bowman or Abbot Garrett from Pecos. The leadership always came early and prayed before the meetings. There was fellowship and food afterward.
As with everything, there must be balance in life. We are called to place God at the center. It is not our attending prayer meetings or praying in tongues that assures our place in heaven. The question God will ask is “How much did you love?”

“It is not the one who cries ‘Lord,Lord’ who enters the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of the Father.” The gifts I have received make that possible.
 
Is speaking in tongues something the Church officially recognizes?

As embarrasing as it is to admit here, I’ve been skeptical about tongues and always thought of that as a protestant thing. I hope this doesn’t offend anyone.
 
dnomyaR said:
Is speaking in tongues something the Church officially recognizes?

As embarrasing as it is to admit here, I’ve been skeptical about tongues and always thought of that as a protestant thing. I hope this doesn’t offend anyone.
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A legitimate question is not something to be embarrassed about.

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. (Acts 2:1-4)

CCC2003 Grace is first and foremost the gift of the Spirit who justifies and sanctifies us…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 ae at the service of charity which builds up the Church

Yes, the gift of tongues mentioned in Acts and the Epistles of Paul is officially recognized and accepted as a legitimate gift of the Holy Spirit by the Catholic Church. It is not the only means by which the Holy Spirit works in the life of the individual. When a person prays in tongues, it is the Holy Spirit who prays through him/her especially during those times when we do not know how to pray. It helps with the process of discernment when seeking direction concerning which course of action to take.

In its discussion on prayer, the US Catholic Catechism points to Thes. 5:17 in which we are called to pray always. “Parish missions, retreats, and spiritual movements such as Cursillo and Charismatic Renewal have helped many to begin the journey of prayer and have led people onward to meditation and contemplation.”
 
DebChris said:
Do not write off the Charismatic Renewal which is recognized in the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults as a legitimate movement of the Holy Spirit. I did not know what the Charismatic Renewal was until I found myself a part of it.
If anything, my involvement in the Renewal has strengthened my understanding of my Catholic Faith. It has instilled a greater love of the Church and its Sacraments. There is quicker conviction of sin and more frequent recourse to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The Charismatic Renewal since its beginning has submitted to Rome and in turn received continued Papal blessing and encouragement. Each of us is called to be open to whatever gifts God chooses to give us.

As with everything, there must be balance in life. We are called to place God at the center. It is not our attending prayer meetings or praying in tongues that assures our place in heaven. The question God will ask is “How much did you love?”

“It is not the one who cries ‘Lord,Lord’ who enters the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of the Father.” The gifts I have received make that possible.
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I hope I am not coming across as being too conservative in my views, as I totally agree with you here. That being understood, however, I cannot subscribe to the saying “to each his/her own”, as that would be condoning indifferentism and liberalism. I could safetly say “whatever keeps your boat from sinking” and be much more comfortable, as this entails that you are at least still part of the Church.

It is not my place to say what is right for some is right for others.

In my experiences in such matters, it was a good thing that the traditional mass be more widely available, as the new liturgy changes were starting to make me uneasy with the whole of the Church. These changes are highly acceptable under the certain conditions and that they maintain a certain solmnity and the whole reason for the Sacrifice of the Mass.

Currently, things seem to be changing for the good, the abuses of liturgy are slowly being weeded out, more persons are returning to Mass, and I feel they will continue to do so if there is some order maintained. One must look realistically on the changes brought about by V-ll, and make a decision for themselves.

The diversity of what we consider as proper, when it comes to worship, or prayer, is a factor that seems to be the regining thought of the modern world. But let us remember that just because everybody is doing it, does not make it right, and that if few are doing it, it does not necessarly make it wrong. It is where the whole ideal of Faith comes in. This seems to be the balancing point today. The members of the Catholic Church are, and will always be, united. If one rite or the other can help to foster a persons salvation, than so be it. To feel otherwise would make one guilty of pride and close-mindedness to the feelings of others. How one practices their faith can be very psychological, which was one of the considerations of speaking in tongues in my orginal post (question #2.)
 
I recently began to speak in tongues. I read that you just simply have to do it. For many years i thought that if it is God’s gift for me, then the Holy Spirit will just “take me over” and make it happen.

But I took a step of faith combined with hope…and did it. I only pray this way in private for now. My belief in it isnt really established…but i have faith and hope. I have heard that this type of prayer is supposed to be the Spirit praying through us and for us in ways that we cant really express with our own language. Our true needs and pains are poured out to God in a better way. Thats my understanding.

I can also say that it is “cathartic”. After i pray in tongues, my heart feels lighter, as if I’ve truly gotten something off my chest. I really do feel like I’ve prayed a better prayer. Im not really thinking about the words, just letting my heart do the talking.

You can see the limitations of language just from this post…I cant really desribe it!

One definited thing that has moved me more towards full belief…my mind doesnt really wander when i pray in tongues!
 
Tartini said:
I hope I am not coming across as being too conservative in my views, as I totally agree with you here. That being understood, however, I cannot subscribe to the saying “to each his/her own”, as that would be condoning indifferentism and liberalism. I could safetly say “whatever keeps your boat from sinking” and be much more comfortable, as this entails that you are at least still part of the Church.

It is not my place to say what is right for some is right for others.

In my experiences in such matters, it was a good thing that the traditional mass be more widely available, as the new liturgy changes were starting to make me uneasy with the whole of the Church. These changes are highly acceptable under the certain conditions and that they maintain a certain solmnity and the whole reason for the Sacrifice of the Mass.

Currently, things seem to be changing for the good, the abuses of liturgy are slowly being weeded out, more persons are returning to Mass, and I feel they will continue to do so if there is some order maintained. One must look realistically on the changes brought about by V-ll, and make a decision for themselves.

The diversity of what we consider as proper, when it comes to worship, or prayer, is a factor that seems to be the regining thought of the modern world. But let us remember that just because everybody is doing it, does not make it right, and that if few are doing it, it does not necessarly make it wrong. It is where the whole ideal of Faith comes in. This seems to be the balancing point today. The members of the Catholic Church are, and will always be, united. If one rite or the other can help to foster a persons salvation, than so be it. To feel otherwise would make one guilty of pride and close-mindedness to the feelings of others. How one practices their faith can be very psychological, which was one of the considerations of speaking in tongues in my orginal post (question #2.)
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It is unfortunate that “charismatic renewal” is seen as synonymous with “liberalism” since that is not the case. It is definitely not a matter of “doing your own thing,” but of submitting to the will of God. That includes submission to the Church.
If you get a chance, you may want to attend a FIRE rally. FIRE stand for Faith, Intercessory Prayer, Repentance, and Evangelization. The last time I was able to attend, the Mass was concelebrated by the bishops of two different dioceses including my own. My bishop is definitely not known for liberal views. During one of the talks, the speaker mentioned the priest who brought him back into the church. While the priest’s name was not mentioned, I knew he was talking about a former pastor of mine known for his conservatism. Priests are available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation through the event.
Many of those now being called to the priesthood come out of the Charismatic Renewal. Individuals who come into the Renewal come from different levels of understanding of the Catholic Faith from minimal to priests and religious who have committed their life to Christ.
I see your original question about tongues as that of the Carmelite nun who questioned the need for the gift, “I don’t know whether or not this is from you, Lord, but if it is, how can I refuse?”
 
we have a charismatic prayer group for young adults in my parish and we just finished what is called a “Life in the Spirit Seminar” where people pray for and receive a greater release of the Holy Spirit in their souls. One girl in our group just received the gift of praying in tongues and has just may I say, come alive in her faith like never before since then. She seems so light and free. She also wants to evangelize so much more and pray more (all kinds of prayer btw). What I have found in case after case of those who have been baptized in the Spirit and pray in tongues is that they are given a greater grace than they previously had to serve Jesus. After all, isn’t that the very claim of the charismatic renewal? That this grace can strength all who will be open to the Holy Spirit, and all of His help?

In my life as well, tongues has become a great strengthening to my faith. Search for what the church teaches about glossalalia… tongues are for real!

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
 
OMG/: The gift is not of speaking in Tongues the gift is to the one who can interpet that is the most important gift. But the Holy Spirt will give us all kinds of gifts for each of us thay are all different in where ever the Spirit leads us.

God Bless us all
 
it is true that St. Paul says that when a person interprets the tongues spoken, it is like a form of prophecy (hearing from God). Also, there is a kind of tongues that needs no interpretation. It is mentioned by Paul when he says:

“He who speaks in a tongues edifies himself…” 1 Cor 14:4

prayer tongues builds up a person who prays in that way. Not all tongues need to be interpreted for them to be useful.
 
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