Speaking in Tongues

[gh4]

I was raised United Church of Christ. Very traditional. Never even heard of the word charismatic in that church!

Married a man whose father was a Pentecostal minister. Went to my FIL’s church several times. This man scared the heck out of me. And he spoke in tongues all the time during the service, on and on and on, I was just flabbergasted by it back then.

Then went to a number of different churches over the years. Finally became Catholic. I became friends with folks who were charismatic and went to a number of charismatic masses.

I still have trouble with believing that people can pray whilst speaking what sounds to me like gibberish. I have never seen anyone’s praying in tongues translated. Even in the charismatic catholic group that I was with, most didn’t really believe that most of those those who spoke in tongues were really speaking in tongues.

So bottom line, I believe that it can happen. I don’t believe that everyone can do this, no matter what those tv evangelists tell everyone. I don’t believe that it is something to be taken lightly by anyone. I don’t really understand it, and I find that I do tend to avoid those things that I cannot understand.

This is what I don’t understand about it: If speaking in tongues is so very special and God loves it, then why can’t more people do this? Wouldn’t God want everyone to speak his special language? Are those who speak in tongues more special and more devout, more spiritual, more holy than I am? If not, then why would God or anyone else bother to have a special language that only his very special believers can understand??? If it’s a language, there should be a rhythm about it, it should be ‘repeatable’ and it should be able to be translated by those who specialize in language. Why can it only be translated by those who “understand” it? Shouldn’t we all be able to understand it?

I’m not knocking those who believe in speaking in tongues. I am just trying to understand why it would be necessary.

 

[Lochias]

Just a quick thought about this.

I would hate to call this “lesser” or “higher” spiritual stage or development. A priest, leader of the community I am a member of, often says, that if a man at the baptism of the HS starts speaking in tongues, propheting, healing, making miracles… then he leaves the room and acts as a terrible person, withouth charity, without love, without good will - he puts down the meaning of his charisms.

"Everything must be done so that the church may be built up." (1Cor 14:26) Even the gifts that are for your growth, as the prayer in tongues can be used to pray for others - to build up the Church. Everything. Even the silence, “the dark night of the gifts” perhaps, when there are no great natural/supernatural aspects around the prayer. Everything is to build up the church.

So no, people who experienced the Charisms are not somehow supreme. It is all about the building up of the Church. And one can always do that, somehow, with the help of the Lord.

Some story to this: I go to the same church every friday, around 6 pm. Every week there is this old lady on a wheelchair, sitting in the front row, quietly, sometimes empty-handed, sometimes with glasses and a little paper with a prayer that she prays after she receives the Eucharist.
I can’t help myself, but I just admire her and I always think about what I have seen as a (part-time) charismatic, what I have heard, what gifts did I receive… all of this is just so tiny compared to this lady, sitting there, every friday. Maybe she is ill, maybe she has many other problems. But the peace that is around her! It is something amazing. Also her grandson who after Mass comes to her, asks her if she wants to go, and then he takes her away.
I do not think, that our faith is about the level of spiritual development, we are not searching for experience or some kind of enlightenment. But for love and salvation. And that is what charismatics are searching for, if they are truly sincere.

Good thoughts, thank you.

No, that is not what I meant. I meant that all of us are on a path to union with God in Heaven hopefully. I do think there are stages of development on that path, just as there are in our physical/psychological growth here on earth. I don’t think it is a matter of arrived/not arrived, more of a process of growing. And we grow in different ways. Tielhard du Chardin talked about differentiation and becoming more separate, more individual as we mature. He used that example probably out of his biologic point of view. The doctors of the Church also describe growth and individuation.

So God may select different “paths” for us and each of us grow along those paths. I don’t think we can judge others paths or their place upon it. That is what spiritual direction helps us to do for ourselves.

I probably still have not said it well, but I did not mean a judgemental comment, more a recognition that we are all on a journey and we need to help, not judge.

You’re just fine…I didn’t mean to come off as possibly sounding accusatory, either…I could have worded my post a little better. Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut, I appreciate it, and the work that you do for our Mother Church.

 

[grannymh]

Just a quick thought about this.

I would hate to call this “lesser” or “higher” spiritual stage or development. A priest, leader of the community I am a member of, often says, that if a man at the baptism of the HS starts speaking in tongues, propheting, healing, making miracles… then he leaves the room and acts as a terrible person, withouth charity, without love, without good will - he puts down the meaning of his charisms.

When one considers that the classical gifts of healing and miracles are considered ministries which need preparation, discernment and mature faith, it is doubtful that their “use” would normally follow the baptism of the Holy Spirit. More likely, following the baptism of the Holy Spirit, there would be interest and desire to serve the Church in these ways. In that sense, one could say that the gifts of healing and miracles were given at the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Prayer, study, discernment would then follow. These classical Holy Spirit gifts of healing and miracles remained in the Catholic Church throughout the centuries, most often exhibited in the lives of the Saints.

The gift of prophecy in the vernacular can be exhibited when a person has the “desire” to repeat God’s message in a psalm or Scripture reading, etc. The gift of prophecy is also used as insight regarding a special way of building up the Church. Here is where discernment is needed.

There are two different Holy Spirit gifts which use Tongues. First, there is the common (available to all) gift of praying in Tongues to God. Normally, this will follow the religious experience of baptism in the Holy Spirit. Please note that this gift is not some kind of sign or badge of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Often, the ability of the prayer gift is not exercised until later. This may sound odd. But often the gift of praying in tongues is manifested in the privacy of taking a shower. The gift of praying in Tongues can be received at any time without the religious experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The second gift which employs Tongues is part of the classical list mentioned by St. Paul. This second gift of “speaking in Tongues” involves giving God’s message to the group in attendance with the specific purpose of building up the Church. It does require the presence of someone who has the gift of interpretation. Discernment is also needed.

“Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” (1Cor 14:26) Even the gifts that are for your growth, as the prayer in tongues can be used to pray for others - to build up the Church. Everything. Even the silence, “the dark night of the gifts” perhaps, when there are no great natural/supernatural aspects around the prayer. Everything is to build up the church.

So no, people who experienced the Charisms are not somehow supreme. It is all about the building up of the Church. And one can always do that, somehow, with the help of the Lord.

Some people believe that there are hundreds of “gifts” or “works” which are used to build up the Church. This is the basic concept of the Mystical Body of Christ. Some people serve as humble door keepers…or greeters in a Church lobby who direct people to the bathrooms.

Some story to this: I go to the same church every friday, around 6 pm. Every week there is this old lady on a wheelchair, sitting in the front row, quietly, sometimes empty-handed, sometimes with glasses and a little paper with a prayer that she prays after she receives the Eucharist.
I can’t help myself, but I just admire her and I always think about what I have seen as a (part-time) charismatic, what I have heard, what gifts did I receive… all of this is just so tiny compared to this lady, sitting there, every friday. Maybe she is ill, maybe she has many other problems. But the peace that is around her! It is something amazing. Also her grandson who after Mass comes to her, asks her if she wants to go, and then he takes her away.
I do not think, that our faith is about the level of spiritual development, we are not searching for experience or some kind of enlightenment. But for love and salvation. And that is what charismatics are searching for, if they are truly sincere.

This is an example of sainthood. After she dies, please honor her on November 1st, the Feast of All Saints.

 

[grannymh]

This is what I don’t understand about it: If speaking in tongues is so very special and God loves it, then why can’t more people do this? Wouldn’t God want everyone to speak his special language?

Years ago, I was taught to place myself at a scene in Scripture. For example. The birth of Jesus or standing at the foot of His cross. I would imagine what it would be like. Did I feel joyful and thankful for this tiny Babe held by His Mother? Did I feel deep sorrow, yet thankful for Jesus’ Salvific act which opened the gates of heaven?

Personally, I like imagining Jesus at the Last Supper, Chapter 14, Gospel of John. I could listen to Jesus saying: “I will not leave you orphans;” a hundred times and then ask Him to repeat this promise because it is so comforting. Another comforting promise is: The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in My name–He will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. …"

I can imagine the apostles huddled in the upper room when “suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind …” Acts 2: 1-4. No doubt, I would be under a table. With hands over my ears, I would still hear these changed men “speaking in different tongues as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.”
Within the confines of this room, the apostles felt the Holy Spirit enable them to proclaim their praise of the Almighty God. In their humility, they yielded to the Holy Spirit Who formed their sounds of prayer. This Pentecost moment is when the gift of praying in Tongues was given to the Catholic Church.

Later in Chapter 10 of Acts, Gentiles in the home of Cornelius received the Prayer Tongues gift. “The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God.” When we re-read Acts 10: 30-44, we understand the commitment of these Gentiles. And we agree with their desire to praise, thank, and glorify God.

In Chapters 12 and 14 of 1 Corinthians, St. Paul sets the people of Corinth straight not only in regard to the original gift of Prayer Tongues but also in regard to subsequent gifts of the Holy Spirit. At this point, some people tend to think that praying in Tongues was only meant for the early centuries of Catholicism.

Returning to the idea of meditating on the Last Supper, Pentecost, and the conversion of Cornelius, this is what I learned.

First, praying in Tongues is special because it helps a person to set aside the world with its expectations and then to concentrate on God. The foundation for Tongues is humility. We have to yield to the power of the Holy Spirit. The benefit of that is that the Holy Spirit uses our speech mechanism to form sounds of prayer which, in a way, clarify our intentions according to the will of the Father.

Realistically, the “intention” of God is not for some special kind of language. The “intention” of God is for us to reach out to Him.

“Come to Me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11: 28-30

Following Pentecost, Catholics prayed the Our Father, Sacrament rituals, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as recorded in the New Testament and in the writings of the early Church Fathers. We know from St. Paul that people also prayed in Tongues. We know from 1 Corinthians and history that abuses occurred and eventually heresies crept in. The promise of the Holy Spirit (Chapter 14, Gospel of John) was kept so that today we have the Catholic Deposit of Faith. We know from history that God, through His saints, gave us many avenues of prayer. Whether or not the practice of praying in Tongues persisted is not the point. The real point is that God continued to call us to pray.

So far, so good? Please do not hesitate to comment.

In 1967, the Holy Spirit, in His wise guidance of the Catholic Church, renewed the gift of praying in Tongues.
nsc-chariscenter.org/AboutCCR/
This was a renewal not a replacement of other forms of prayer/spirituality.

This renewal was not a badge or sign of superiority; it was a call to a form of prayer which had existed at the beginning of Catholicism. The renewal of Prayer Tongues was a call to personal commitment to Christ. This renewal reflects the modern need for flat out humility.

Unfortunately, the pride that existed in Corinth still exists. Consequently, abuses exist. My usual response to news of serious abuses is to suggest that the observer report them to the pastor, diocesan vicar for spiritual life, and/or the bishop. Most “abuses” are related to pride or misunderstandings and a pastor or a charismatic leader can handle them appropriately.

It is important to view Prayer Tongues in the full context of Catholicism. Personally, I think that the best response to learning about Prayer Tongues is to look at one’s own life. Am I doing the best I can when reaching out to God? How am I participating in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? When was the last time I received the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

And – what kind of prayer is the most comfortable for me? God loves us as the individual who we are. The purpose of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is to invite people to renew their own individual lives. There are people who attend the Catholic Life in the Spirit seminar who find that their spiritual life has been enriched without ever praying in Tongues. There are people who use Prayer Tongues as an introduction to their favorite mode of prayer, for example, the Liturgy of the Hours. With proper information, people can choose to pray in Tongues or not. Personally, I believe that praying in Tongues while in heavy traffic is better than road rage.

I am at the limit for an individual post… I look forward to more specific questions about Prayer Tongues.

 

[ThomasMartin]

I was raised United Church of Christ. Very traditional. Never even heard of the word charismatic in that church!

Married a man whose father was a Pentecostal minister. Went to my FIL’s church several times. This man scared the heck out of me. And he spoke in tongues all the time during the service, on and on and on, I was just flabbergasted by it back then.

Then went to a number of different churches over the years. Finally became Catholic. I became friends with folks who were charismatic and went to a number of charismatic masses.

I still have trouble with believing that people can pray whilst speaking what sounds to me like gibberish. I have never seen anyone’s praying in tongues translated. Even in the charismatic catholic group that I was with, most didn’t really believe that most of those those who spoke in tongues were really speaking in tongues.

So bottom line, I believe that it can happen. I don’t believe that everyone can do this, no matter what those tv evangelists tell everyone. I don’t believe that it is something to be taken lightly by anyone. I don’t really understand it, and I find that I do tend to avoid those things that I cannot understand.

This is what I don’t understand about it: If speaking in tongues is so very special and God loves it, then why can’t more people do this? Wouldn’t God want everyone to speak his special language? Are those who speak in tongues more special and more devout, more spiritual, more holy than I am? If not, then why would God or anyone else bother to have a special language that only his very special believers can understand??? If it’s a language, there should be a rhythm about it, it should be ‘repeatable’ and it should be able to be translated by those who specialize in language. Why can it only be translated by those who “understand” it? Shouldn’t we all be able to understand it?

I’m not knocking those who believe in speaking in tongues. I am just trying to understand why it would be necessary.

"If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?" 1Cor 12:17

I would use this verse from St. Paul’s letter to Corinthias as an answer for why doesn’t everyone speak in tongues. People are always somehow gifted by God and He does not give gifts to people just like that, or just because they deserve it (because they’ve reached some sort of spiritual level) - He always gives them when they are necessary for building up the Church. The priest I talked about earlier has never had any “special” charismatic gifts, but I respect him more that most of the people I know - he builds up the church, through gifts given to him by God, even if these gifts are not as visible as for example tongues.

The Mystery of the Body of Christ and the mystery of the actions of the Holy Spirit is in progress. I wish it would be simplier or easier to explain, but this is as close to the reality as I can get.

"For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit." 1Cor 14:1

This is as an answer for why we not always translate the tongues into our language. There are two kinds of tongues - praying and speaking. Praying is a mystery from God to God, our interal expression throught the work of the Holy Spirit. Speaking is some sort of message given to the community, to the Church, by God, to be interpreted by someone who has the gift of interpretation.

 

[Ohana]

Good Post Thomas Martin. I am not going to copy as it is so long, but certainly recommend that all read it.

I think one of the problems is that people react with such glee when they receive the gift and frankly, they should. It is wonderful. It is like finally getting that difficult passage in a piano piece, or finally becoming proficient with a quadratic equation (not me!). It feels at first like an achievement.

The difference of course is that tongues is a gift, nothing we have done to get there, nor anything we can do to improve. It is truly the Spirit’s work in us and through us. For myself, if there was any “work” to be done on my part to receive this gift it was in stopping trying to receive it (that is after I got comfortable with the idea at all - subject of another post ) and instead just realizing and expressing my willingness to have this gift. This took coming to trust the Holy Spirit and surrendering to His will, not easy for a recovering control freak like myself. We are such “do-ers”,

My prayer before praying in tongues is “Not me Lord, but You through me. I am not worthy, but I am willing for you to use me as you choose.” or something to that effect. Praying in tongues is truly not something we should take pride in, rather to take comfort in, to help us more fully surrender to Our Lord, and to realize more deeply that we are so completely dependent upon his providence.

 

[Aussiegal]

Good Post Thomas Martin. I am not going to copy as it is so long, but certainly recommend that all read it.

I think one of the problems is that people react with such glee when they receive the gift and frankly, they should. It is wonderful. It is like finally getting that difficult passage in a piano piece, or finally becoming proficient with a quadratic equation (not me!). It feels at first like an achievement.

The difference of course is that tongues is a gift, nothing we have done to get there, nor anything we can do to improve. It is truly the Spirit’s work in us and through us. For myself, if there was any “work” to be done on my part to receive this gift it was in stopping trying to receive it (that is after I got comfortable with the idea at all - subject of another post ) and instead just realizing and expressing my willingness to have this gift. This took coming to trust the Holy Spirit and surrendering to His will, not easy for a recovering control freak like myself. We are such “do-ers”,

My prayer before praying in tongues is “Not me Lord, but You through me. I am not worthy, but I am willing for you to use me as you choose.” or something to that effect. Praying in tongues is truly not something we should take pride in, rather to take comfort in, to help us more fully surrender to Our Lord, and to realize more deeply that we are so completely dependent upon his providence.

Really well explained Ohana
God often teaches us to be patient and to wait upon the Lord. We may indeed recieve, but not always in our time…but in HIS.
It’s as you said, all about surrendering and trusting he knows our needs as well as our desires…which is sometimes easier said than done.

 

[gh4]

Ok, this is why I don’t believe that anyone speaks in tongues.

If they do, it means that they are much better than I am. That they are much closer to God than I am, that they have done something spiritually so much better than I have done.
And that means that I will never make it to heaven in a million years because I am not good enough. So is this how we perceive our God? That he picks and chooses who he loves best and who gets to heaven no matter what and to prove this they have a special language??

It really is something that I feel is repulsive. God loves you better because why? And he doesn’t love me enough to make me part of his special group who have a special language that only his very special people can speak and understand?

Because if this is how it is, there’s no reason for me to be good and go to church because I’m not going to ever get the chance to go to heaven. There’s no reason for me to peruse the bible, there’s no reason for me to love my Lord, because he doesn’t love me enough to make me part of his chosen few who have that special language that only they and he understand. My wonderful priest is so unholy that he doesn’t speak in tongues, so one of God’s own isn’t good enough or special enough to speak or pray in tongues???

Is that how it really is???
Prove to me that it is, or that it’s not.
I’m a show me kind of gal and I’ve never yet been shown a good reason to think that this is anything more than people who want attention.

Not trying to be nasty or evil. I just want proof and to understand.

I’m not the only one who thinks this way.
Many people perceive speaking in tongues as a bit odd and some think it’s downright faking from people who want and need attention and have some issues. And honestly those people I know at this point in my life who speak in tongues (or at least say that they speak in tongues) are people who are very needy and who like to be the center of attention and who live in a ME ME ME ME ME ME kind of world. It seems like they can turn it on or off at will.

 

[grannymh]

Ok, this is why I don’t believe that anyone speaks in tongues.

If they do, it means that they are much better than I am. That they are much closer to God than I am, that they have done something spiritually so much better than I have done.

May I respectfully ask if you are from Corinth?
If you are, please check out St. Paul’s letter to your ancestors, especially his teachings on the Mystical Body of Christ.

It really is something that I feel is repulsive. God loves you better because why?

snip

Is that how it really is???
Prove to me that it is, or that it’s not.
I’m a show me kind of gal and I’ve never yet been shown a good reason to think that this is anything more than people who want attention.
Not trying to be nasty or evil. I just want proof and to understand.

Part of my education was in the Show-Me State. Part of my journalism experience there was that if I wrote that the grass was green, I had to have handy my report of when I last checked.

To begin.

My post 44 was in response to these questions found in your post 41. “This is what I don’t understand about it: If speaking in tongues is so very special and God loves it, then why can’t more people do this? Wouldn’t God want everyone to speak his special language?”

The proof you wish has to start at the beginning. I provided that beginning or foundation in post 44. May I please have your response. Thank you.

Blessings,
granny

The human person is worthy of profound respect from the moment of conception.

 

[gh4]

May I respectfully ask if you are from Corinth?
If you are, please check out St. Paul’s letter to your ancestors, especially his teachings on the Mystical Body of Christ.

Part of my education was in the Show-Me State. Part of my journalism experience there was that if I wrote that the grass was green, I had to have handy my report of when I last checked.

To begin.

My post 44 was in response to these questions found in your post 41. “This is what I don’t understand about it: If speaking in tongues is so very special and God loves it, then why can’t more people do this? Wouldn’t God want everyone to speak his special language?”

The proof you wish has to start at the beginning. I provided that beginning or foundation in post 44. May I please have your response. Thank you.

Blessings,
granny

The human person is worthy of profound respect from the moment of conception.

I don’t buy it. Sorry. I think it’s all fake. there is no way to prove it. So either it’s fake or some of us are doomed because we can’t do it.

 

[Lochias]

I don’t buy it. Sorry. I think it’s all fake. there is no way to prove it. So either it’s fake or some of us are doomed because we can’t do it.

That’s not what the post granny is referring you to says at all. I’m not a staunch believer in speaking in tongues either, but if you go back and read the post, granny explains it all very clearly, and why not everyone is given that particular gift (if it’s legitimate…I’m still hung on that one, but for me, the jury’s still out).

 

[grannymh]

I don’t buy it. Sorry. I think it’s all fake. there is no way to prove it. So either it’s fake or some of us are doomed because we can’t do it.

There seems to be a terrible misunderstanding.

I referred you to post 44 as the beginning of the proof you requested.
Surely, you are not saying that the Last Supper, Pentecost, and Chapter 10 of Acts are fakes. I suppose you could exclude Chapter 10 of Acts…but the Last Supper and Pentecost contain some key Catholic doctrines regarding the Holy Spirit

I can understand how people who like to be the center of attraction are very annoying. That is why when learning about the gift of Prayer Tongues, it is far better to learn first about the Giver of the gift, the Holy Spirit, Himself.

Would you please take another look at post 44?

 

[gh4]

I’m sorry, I’ve been rude. And for that I apologize. I still have troubles believing this.

Why are some people so special that they can do this? And why are some of us so un-special that they can not do this? Bottom line. Why some and not others???
Doesn’t that mean that God has favorites?

 

[Lochias]

I’m sorry, I’ve been rude. And for that I apologize. I still have troubles believing this.

Why are some people so special that they can do this? And why are some of us so un-special that they can not do this? Bottom line. Why some and not others???
Doesn’t that mean that God has favorites?

If I understand correctly, the gist is that speaking in tongues does not elevate anyone beyond the others. Some speak in tongues, some sing at Mass, some console the weary, some pray for others, and on and on. The charisms that are commonly seen as Protestant in nature are not the only charisms. Different gifts for different people, as God sees fit.

Granny, does that about cover it?

 

[grannymh]

I’m sorry, I’ve been rude. And for that I apologize. I still have troubles believing this.

Why are some people so special that they can do this? And why are some of us so un-special that they can not do this? Bottom line. Why some and not others???
Doesn’t that mean that God has favorites?

If I were in your shoes, I probably would feel the same way. However, I have been fortunate in that I have looked deeply into the Catholic Charismatic Renewal first out of sheer curiosity and then to find answers to people’s questions. I am still looking for answers.

Technically, the gift of Prayer Tongues is available to all – with a huge catch. One needs to first understand what this gift entails. Looking at people as special or un-special violates St. Paul’s teaching on the Mystical Body of Christ. So that “special” road needs to be abandoned immediately. We cannot begin to understand the gift of Prayer Tongues if we lose sight of the fact that Jesus hung bleeding on a cross for all of us.

Seriously, post 44 is important. Especially this:

Realistically, the “intention” of God is not for some special kind of language. The “intention” of God is for us to reach out to Him.

“Come to Me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11: 28-30

 

[grannymh]

If I understand correctly, the gist is that speaking in tongues does not elevate anyone beyond the others. Some speak in tongues, some sing at Mass, some console the weary, some pray for others, and on and on. The charisms that are commonly seen as Protestant in nature are not the only charisms. Different gifts for different people, as God sees fit.

Granny, does that about cover it?

It is truly correct that speaking in tongues does not elevate anyone beyond the others. Thank heavens other people sing at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because my granddaughter said, after hearing me sing, that I would be expelled from music class.

What you are describing is the Mystical Body of Christ. Christ needs all of us. He does not need all of us in the choir. Thank heavens!

 

[gh4]

Seriously, post 44 is important. Especially this:

Realistically, the “intention” of God is not for some special kind of language. The “intention” of God is for us to reach out to Him.

“Come to Me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11: 28-30

It doesn’t say “come to Me LOUDLY and speaking gibberish”
It doesn’t say “come to me in the middle of mass loudly and calling attention to yoursefl while you do so”

I pray and I go to God in prayer, and in the Eucharist. I don’t need to shout it out, I don’t need to speak crazy words that not a single person can understand. I do it quietly and I do it as privately as I can. And honestly, I want others to do that as well. I don’t need them to be loud about or demonstrative about it, just do it quietly. I have no idea why someone would be loud and vocal and call all kinds of attention to themselves. That makes no sense to me at all.

 

[grannymh]

That’s not what the post granny is referring you to says at all. I’m not a staunch believer in speaking in tongues either, but if you go back and read the post, granny explains it all very clearly, and why not everyone is given that particular gift (if it’s legitimate…I’m still hung on that one, but for me, the jury’s still out).

When I give information about speaking in Tongues, it is not with the intention of getting someone to believe in them. I simply want the person to have the information in order to make an informed choice. By the way, I really loved the original episodes of “Law and Order.” May I present my case?

There are two legitimate Holy Spirit gifts which employ Tongues. I assume that you are referring to the common gift (available to all) of praying in Tongues. I cannot directly answer your question about why not everyone is given that particular gift. My first guess is that a person has to have a sincere relationship with God in order to receive this gift.

Second, the person has to be willing to yield to the power of the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that the Holy Spirit is going to give a person a new language per se.
The reason we often call Prayer Tongues a language is because at times it sounds like one with its cadence and inflections. Also, there are stories that in the early days of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, someone listening to Prayer Tongues would recognize words from an established foreign language. In any case, the prayer language is actually a series of sounds formed by the Holy Spirit. It is not unusual that a person will only have a few sounds at first.

Yielding to the Holy Spirit means that we give Him power over our tongue, lips, larynx, our entire speech mechanism. That in itself can be scary especially for control freaks. The good news is that we retain the ability to start and stop this prayer. I heard one person say that the Holy Spirit is always a gentleman. Yes, it is possible to pray silently in Tongues.

As for our rational, always on the go, brain, it, too, has to relax and let go of language memories, etc. It is o.k. if we keep our sounds quiet out of respect for others. It is o.k. even advisable that we talk in the vernacular to the Holy Spirit before Tongues. This way we let Him know the intention of our prayer, maybe throw in a few suggestions. The action of yielding to the Holy Spirit can be in silent words or it can be a brief decision. The bottom line is that we yield our own judgment to the Holy Spirit so that the Holy Spirit prays, using our speech mechanism, according to the will of God. Again, we can start and stop at any time. Does all this take practice?
Usually. There are exceptions. And one of the best places to practice is in the privacy of one’s shower.

To do all of the above takes humility. The same kind of humility that is ours when we say the Our Father. Is one way of praying better than another? Which way one prays is up to the individual. Often someone is so amazed at being able to use Tongues that she or he runs off at the mouth about how wonderful it all is. My only advice is to smile and be patient. Remember God has given you free choice as to how to pray to Him.

 

[Street_Grizzly]

BOTTOM LINE: Praying in tongues is a spiritual gift described in the bible. It is an extremely effective tool for praying for something when the Born Again believer does not know what to pray for.

DISCUSSION:
Many people do not understand praying in tongues because it is spiritual. It is spirit to spirit communication.

The lady you were referring to appears to have been led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 10:17) to pray for you; “Where 2 or more are gathered together I (Jesus) will be with them.” She was instructed to pray for you, but did not know what to pray for specifically, and you may not have wanted her to know . Also, you may not have known exactly what to pray for. Praying in tongues is God’s gift to address this problem. Through many years of observing praying in tongues, I can attest to the fact that it works, as I have seen many miracles come from it. It also appears that there may have been a 3rd person (Holy Spirit) present while you and the lady were praying. The History Channel demonstrated this in an episode on Kurian (sp.) photography, where the Holy Spirit appeared as a white cloud above the peoples heads as they prayed for a woman who had a serious kidney disease (left kidney) - and the woman was healed.

Praying in tongues is to be differentiated from “speaking in tongues,” (i.e., Pentecost), which allows Christians to witness to non-believers in their own tongue.

WHERE WE GO FROM HERE: I found it very helpful to read, and meditate on, one page of the bible a day before going to bed, starting from Genesis and reading through to Revelations.

 

[BluesPicker]

I don’t buy it. Sorry. I think it’s all fake. there is no way to prove it. So either it’s fake or some of us are doomed because we can’t do it.

The answer is a categorical   "YES "  some people, especially priests can pray and do pray in tongues.

   Your conclusion about being doomed is wrong  about being doomed if some validly pray in tongues.

 It is not that God Loves others more than some who can pray in tongues.  Not everyone has this particular Gift of the Holy Spirit. 

       It is equally wrong or even far worse  for those who have supposedly received  Charismatic Gifts of the Holy Spirit to  torment  other Believers by making the false declaration that  all the Christian Faithful have to be able to speak in tongues.   I say this because  I don't know what could possibly make a person think that if one can't speak in tongues they are doomed.

  We are not supposed to even desire Gifts of the Holy Spirit because to do so is a lack of faith the  He knows how to dispense    His  Gifts.   To taunt people can lead people into a lot of spiritual trouble because this could lead others to open themselves to demonic attack.

   But everyone is allowed to have personal beliefs but opinions shared should reflect Catholic Doctrine or  Theology.

Peace,
BP