Speaking in tongues

[coco2]

I know there is some controversy around this, but I don’t really want this to be a discussion pro or con, I just want to ask people who speak in tongues a few questions. The first time you speak in tongues, does it just happen, and you are surprised when it does? OR is it more like you just open your mouth and start to make sounds on your own and let the Holy Spirit direct it? I’m confused about that. Thanks!

 

[AndrewRuki]

Peace be with you Brother/sister.

I have written/started a few threads on this subject and will be happy to provide some answers to you. there are chances, however, that another may reply you with a completely different answer. Be open to all, discern what is right.

Having said that, I will reply you.

I received this amazing gift when I was at ‘an all time low’ in my life. I was at a prayer meeting, and the presenter (well known and supported by Catholic bishops) said “When you can go no lower in your life, ask the Lord to take over.” I thought this was the best time to do so, and I did just that.

When he said, “let’s all stand and praise the Lord”, I stood up too. When I started praising, however, something was not right. When I finished praising I asked myself “What (on Earth) did I just say?” I did not understand myself. I thought let’s see what happens the next time, and the same thing happened. Again and again these words that new no language (I speak quite a few) came out of my lips.

Later, when my wife heard me, she said that I had received this amazing gift.

Many years and lots of research later, I can tell you this: there is no way to Force this gift on yourself, nor can anyone on Earth promise it to you. Nor can one say “I will keep making a noise until I receive the Gift of Tongues”.

It is the will of the Holy Spirit to grant this, if He sees fit. I hope and pray that He sees it fit to give this to you, if it is according to His will.

Dominus vobiscum.
Andrew

 

[Regina7]

Peace be with you Brother/sister.

I have written/started a few threads on this subject and will be happy to provide some answers to you. there are chances, however, that another may reply you with a completely different answer. Be open to all, discern what is right.

Having said that, I will reply you.

I received this amazing gift when I was at ‘an all time low’ in my life. I was at a prayer meeting, and the presenter (well known and supported by Catholic bishops) said “When you can go no lower in your life, ask the Lord to take over.” I thought this was the best time to do so, and I did just that.

When he said, “let’s all stand and praise the Lord”, I stood up too. When I started praising, however, something was not right. When I finished praising I asked myself “What (on Earth) did I just say?” I did not understand myself. I thought let’s see what happens the next time, and the same thing happened. Again and again these words that new no language (I speak quite a few) came out of my lips.

Later, when my wife heard me, she said that I had received this amazing gift.

Many years and lots of research later, I can tell you this: there is no way to Force this gift on yourself, nor can anyone on Earth promise it to you. Nor can one say “I will keep making a noise until I receive the Gift of Tongues”.

It is the will of the Holy Spirit to grant this, if He sees fit. I hope and pray that He sees it fit to give this to you, if it is according to His will.

Dominus vobiscum.
Andrew

Interesting. Did anyone understand you?

I’m honestly not trying to be disrespectful to anyone, but what I dont understand is how speaking in tongues is a gift when, to everyone present, including yourself, it’s just gibberish. Wasn’t the biblical use of tongues so that all people (regardless of language) could hear the Gospel? Being able to speak the gospel is a gift no doubt, but if modern-day tongues is just gibberish…then I don’t get it. This comment is not directed at Andrew. All people I know who speak in tongues have no clue what they are saying…nor does anyone else.

 

[AndrewRuki]

Interesting. Did anyone understand you?

Interesting that you asked. I see no disrespect in your question.

I cannot reply this without sounding like I am bragging. However, I if brag, I will brag of the Lord.

I was thrilled that I received the gift of tongues. So thrilled, in fact, that I asked and prayed for the gift of Interpretation of Tongues. The Lord saw fit to grant me my request and I started to understand. The words I heard were from my mother tongue, which NO ONE in a western country could ever know. I had to translate these words in to English and write them down.

Some years ago, I was standing in front of a gentleman at a prayer meeting and he started praising in Tongues. I kept quiet and wrote down all he said. Later I met him and shared with him what I wrote down. He, rather abruptly, said thank you and went away. He met me later on, with his wife by his side and tears in his eyes saying “I was praying to God to tell me what I say when I pray in Tongues. We were both convinced that it was gibberish, until you shared with me what you wrote. Please show it to us again.”

I did so, and we all (three) share a beautiful time together, thanking the Lord for this. If the Lord did not choose me, He would have chosen another. As He chose me, I must use it to edify the Church.

I hope this answers your question.

Dominus vobiscum.

 

[Tomdstone]

When you speak in tongues do you speak in a recognized language?

 

[SuS33]

I wish to know about this subject too. I had two dreams (or maybe visions?) where I spoke many languages at the same time, it felt so weird, and since I only actually speake two languages, I only understood these two, but felt that I was speaking others which I did not understand. I didn’t give it much though then but later I started thinking that I could’ve been speaking in tongues!

I’d really like to know what people experience when they do speak in tongues.

 

[AndrewRuki]

Peace be with you Brothers/sisters.

I feel like I am hogging this thread. However, I love this subject and cannot stop praising God for such a gift.

Tomdstone.
I only hear what is said in my mother language (first language), which is not English.

SuS33.
A vision of speaking in Tongues? That is a first that I have heard. All I can say is “Amazing what God has shown you”.

the experience of speaking in Tongues, the first few times, I felt a strange phenomenon (I hope I can use that word, here). Once I stopped praising in Tongues, I felt that I was frozen and could not move for a few seconds. However, with a little effort, I soon could. My research in to this subject shows that some control centre(s) in the brain are relaxed during this time, hence send no signals. This is what would have caused the ‘freeze’ I experienced. Still, I did not ‘freak out’, it was enjoyable, relaxing and peaceful.

I hope I make sense.

Dominus vobiscum.

Andrew

 

[SuS33]

SuS33.
A vision of speaking in Tongues? That is a first that I have heard. All I can say is “Amazing what God has shown you”.

Dominus vobiscum.

Andrew

The first dream is when I saw Jesus and when I spoke to him It sounded as if I was speaking many languages at the same time, but I only understood two, my mother tongue and English, it was so weird but I didn’t think of it much untill later, i was at a very low point in my life, and it was when Jesus came to me and I spoke to him, after few days I came back home. I was sorta lapsed and did not care about the church or even God. But he brought me home praise his name! The second one was few months later when I felt (I didn’t see) my late grandmother, I was in a dark cave and I could only hear her voice, she said she was ok and that she was with her loved ones, but she was not with Him yet! (Him as in Jesus). She told me to keep praying. Funny thing is I heared her speaking in many languages, I answered her the same way, and again I only understood English and my mother tongue, and my grandmother barely spoke English when she was alive.

 

[mikekle]

I have never experienced this unfortunately, but I have seen a few people get touched by this gift, it was in a Pentecostal church I was a member of about 15 yrs ago, I stayed about a year and then came back to the CC. I realize some say its fake and gibberish, but it is not,… other people cannot understand what you are saying, but thats not the intent.

There is also ‘something in the air’ around these people, those people were definitely not faking it,

I think it says something that Ive only seen in this someplace other than in the CC, Ive never seen anything remotely close in the CC, that Pentecostal church was very devout imo, from what I saw, those people actually lived their faith, they were not content to just physically be at mass for one hour each week, I saw them strike up conversations with complete strangers out in public, telling them about God, inviting them to their church, etc. I have never once seen anyone from my current catholic church do this…NOT ONCE!

 

[Dorothy]

I have never experienced this unfortunately, but I have seen a few people get touched by this gift, it was in a Pentecostal church I was a member of about 15 yrs ago, I stayed about a year and then came back to the CC. I realize some say its fake and gibberish, but it is not,… other people cannot understand what you are saying, but thats not the intent.

There is also ‘something in the air’ around these people, those people were definitely not faking it,

I think it says something that Ive only seen in this someplace other than in the CC, Ive never seen anything remotely close in the CC, that Pentecostal church was very devout imo, from what I saw, those people actually lived their faith, they were not content to just physically be at mass for one hour each week, I saw them strike up conversations with complete strangers out in public, telling them about God, inviting them to their church, etc. I have never once seen anyone from my current catholic church do this…NOT ONCE!

It would be good if you could go to a Catholic Charismatic Conference when they have one near you…or if you are willing to travel a bit. They have excellent speakers that are very inspiring. I’m remembering in particular Alex Jones, who I believe was Pentecostal but strongly felt something was missing in his church.

He did some research and found that the Catholic Church is the Church Jesus founded. He converted and many from his church followed him in. That is the short story of his testimony.

The charismatic gifts (including speaking in tongues) are not the be-all and end-all of our sanctification.
They should lead to a deeper interior prayer life and purification in us. But, they can certainly be a powerful “jump-start” of the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

 

[DebChris]

I received my charism within the Catholic Church at a retreat center. Actually I sing when I pray in tongues whereas I have no natural talent for singing.
I even tried taping my voice the day after I received my gift–no change in my natural voice.
I do not have the gift of interpretation, but the words I have sung while praying in tongues have been interpreted by others who do have that gift.
I have faced situations in my life where I have been unsure of what I wanted or the best course of action to take. So it is the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who prays for me and through me to better know God’s Will.

 

[unstoppable_II]

Interesting. Did anyone understand you?

I’m honestly not trying to be disrespectful to anyone, but what I dont understand is how speaking in tongues is a gift when, to everyone present, including yourself, it’s just gibberish. Wasn’t the biblical use of tongues so that all people (regardless of language) could hear the Gospel? Being able to speak the gospel is a gift no doubt, but if modern-day tongues is just gibberish…then I don’t get it. This comment is not directed at Andrew. All people I know who speak in tongues have no clue what they are saying…nor does anyone else.

Yes, so what is its purpose?

 

[cjforJesus]

Yes, so what is its purpose?

I think there is a biblical passage that says it is for unbelievers,when someone does not know how to pray.

I am still a little skeptical because it does sound like gibberish and the only time I ever heard someone they were actually yelling in tongues.

However there is a youtube video demonstrating a scientific analysis.People speaking in tongues were given an MRI of the brain and it seemed to show that the area of the brain controlling language was not active. It appears that they are not at all in control and their voice box,tongue and lips are being used but they do not seem to be using their brains .

 

[fred_conty]

AndrewRuki, you said,

Some years ago, I was standing in front of a gentleman at a prayer meeting and he started praising in Tongues. I kept quiet and wrote down all he said. Later I met him and shared with him what I wrote down. He, rather abruptly, said thank you and went away. He met me later on, with his wife by his side and tears in his eyes saying "I was praying to God to tell me what I say when I pray in Tongues. We were both convinced that it was gibberish, until you shared with me what you wrote. Please show it to us again.

Briefly, what was your interpretation that you shared with them that pleased them?

The reason I ask is that I have heard so much about this yet I have never heard of anyone with this gift to actually tell anyone what the interpretation meant.

 

[Regina7]

AndrewRuki, you said,

Briefly, what was your interpretation that you shared with them that pleased them?

The reason I ask is that I have heard so much about this yet I have never heard of anyone with this gift to actually tell anyone what the interpretation meant.

Andrew, I’d love to hear this too. I’m quite intrigued.

 

[unstoppable_II]

I think there is a biblical passage that says it is for unbelievers,when someone does not know how to pray.

I am still a little skeptical because it does sound like gibberish and the only time I ever heard someone they were actually yelling in tongues.

However there is a youtube video demonstrating a scientific analysis.People speaking in tongues were given an MRI of the brain and it seemed to show that the area of the brain controlling language was not active. It appears that they are not at all in control and their voice box,tongue and lips are being used but they do not seem to be using their brains .

If God wanted humans to spread the Gospel, would He have them do it in a language virtually no one, not even the speaker, understood? :dts: I kinda doubt it.

 

[mikekle]

If God wanted humans to spread the Gospel, would He have them do it in a language virtually no one, not even the speaker, understood? :dts: I kinda doubt it.

You are right, when someone is ‘touched’ by this gift, it is not for long, from what I saw, usually under 20 minutes, then they go back to their normal voices, and spread the word.

I forgot to mention in my last post, that when this happens, the tone of their voice changes, a few times, I almost could not believe my ears, I had spoken to and heard these people many times before they were speaking in tongues, their voices were MUCH different, entirely different tone, this is something that cannot be faked.

I am been struggling with my beliefs for awhile, it seems imo, deep in my heart, from my previous experiences at the Pentecostal church, that is the ONLY place where I truly felt God was there, hard to describe, there was something in the air in that building, it was MUCH different than any catholic mass Ive been to, I mean, when I go to mass at my CC, I see people checking their watches, going thru the motions, can just tell they are waiting to get out of there.

The times I have went out to eat with fellow parishioners, or out in public somewhere in a group, I have NEVER once heard ONE person invite a stranger to the church, NEVER once heard ONE person go up to someone and start speaking to them about the bible, God, the catholic faith, etc. In fact, they dont even speak of these things among themselves, the topics are usually kids, jobs, houses, incomes, daily life things, etc. by looking at the group, it would be tough to tell they were a religious group. LOL

,

 

[unstoppable_II]

You are right, when someone is ‘touched’ by this gift, it is not for long, from what I saw, usually under 20 minutes, then they go back to their normal voices, and spread the word.

I forgot to mention in my last post, that when this happens, the tone of their voice changes, a few times, I almost could not believe my ears, I had spoken to and heard these people many times before they were speaking in tongues, their voices were MUCH different, entirely different tone, this is something that cannot be faked.
…

I’ve met only one person who claimed she could speak in tongues, but she never demonstrated it. I’m very skeptical about the whole idea.

 

[Regina7]

You are right, when someone is ‘touched’ by this gift, it is not for long, from what I saw, usually under 20 minutes, then they go back to their normal voices, and spread the word.

I forgot to mention in my last post, that when this happens, the tone of their voice changes, a few times, I almost could not believe my ears, I had spoken to and heard these people many times before they were speaking in tongues, their voices were MUCH different, entirely different tone, this is something that cannot be faked.

I am been struggling with my beliefs for awhile, it seems imo, deep in my heart, from my previous experiences at the Pentecostal church, that is the ONLY place where I truly felt God was there, hard to describe, there was something in the air in that building, it was MUCH different than any catholic mass Ive been to, I mean, when I go to mass at my CC, I see people checking their watches, going thru the motions, can just tell they are waiting to get out of there.

The times I have went out to eat with fellow parishioners, or out in public somewhere in a group, I have NEVER once heard ONE person invite a stranger to the church, NEVER once heard ONE person go up to someone and start speaking to them about the bible, God, the catholic faith, etc. In fact, they dont even speak of these things among themselves, the topics are usually kids, jobs, houses, incomes, daily life things, etc. by looking at the group, it would be tough to tell they were a religious group. LOL

,

You may feel God in the air at Pentacostal church, but he’s only TRULY present in Catholic Church. His body, blood, soul and divinity is actually there. Despite lazy or lackluster parishioners, how could you possibly leave that?

 

[Dorothy]

You may feel God in the air at Pentacostal church, but he’s only TRULY present in Catholic Church. His body, blood, soul and divinity is actually there. Despite lazy or lackluster parishioners, how could you possibly leave that?

I agree! And, instead of looking at seemingly disinterested parishioners, it is wise to focus on the Lord, His Mother, and the saints who are inspiration for us.

Exciting feelings come and go, but the deep peace and truth of Our Lord is always there.