Spiritual Experiences

[Creo41914]

Hi all.

So, I’m a convert to the Catholic faith from the church of Christ, an extremely fundamental group. They deny a lot of things that occur in scriptures as things of the past. For example, spiritual gifts and experiences such as speaking of praying in tongues. So, I have a decently long history of not believing in such things.

But, since I have become Catholic, I have had interactions with more charismatic Catholics, even at my campus ministry. Granted, I know not everything that people do is genuine, but some people I believe truly do have spiritual gifts.

My question is why have I not yet experienced something like this? Or will I even? I know that it doesn’t make me less of a Christian because I’ve never prayed in tongues. I just am curious as to why that may not happen to me. Could it be that my philosophical and more studious personality just simply isn’t inclined to such occurrences? I’m more of a person that can open the scriptures and talk with people about Jesus and His Church, often surprising myself with what I am able to say and explain. I feel like that might be more of the way the Spirit moves in me. Anyway, just thought I’d throw that out there for some thoughts!

Peace In Christ.

 

[Casilda]

Hi all.

So, I’m a convert to the Catholic faith from the church of Christ, an extremely fundamental group. They deny a lot of things that occur in scriptures as things of the past. For example, spiritual gifts and experiences such as speaking of praying in tongues. So, I have a decently long history of not believing in such things.

But, since I have become Catholic, I have had interactions with more charismatic Catholics, even at my campus ministry. Granted, I know not everything that people do is genuine, but some people I believe truly do have spiritual gifts.

My question is why have I not yet experienced something like this? Or will I even? I know that it doesn’t make me less of a Christian because I’ve never prayed in tongues. I just am curious as to why that may not happen to me. Could it be that my philosophical and more studious personality just simply isn’t inclined to such occurrences? I’m more of a person that can open the scriptures and talk with people about Jesus and His Church, often surprising myself with what I am able to say and explain. I feel like that might be more of the way the Spirit moves in me. Anyway, just thought I’d throw that out there for some thoughts!

Peace In Christ.

You answered your own question. Speaking or praying in tongues is listed as one of the gifts of the spirit. You may or may not have or get this gift, but you do have a special gift of saying and explaining Scripture.

 

[Karen107]

You answered your own question. Speaking or praying in tongues is listed as one of the gifts of the spirit. You may or may not have or get this gift, but you do have a special gift of saying and explaining Scripture.

 

[janiruchan]

I’ve had many spiritual experiences…but it’s not a thing to be sought about to make you feel like a Christian, although it actually increases one’s faith given it’s from the Holy Spirit.

If we rely on spiritual experiences, we cannot possibly please God. This is usually the beginners mistaker (especially for me in prayer). When I turned to the faith, I was desperate to know God and to be more spiritual. During prayer, at times I would seek the “feel” good feeling/experience (or consolation)…However, many times I also experienced terrible darkness/ emptiness (desolation). This somehow discouraged me to pray. That’s why feelings/experiences are not really the measuring cup for spirituality. Doing the will of God is. Spiritual experiences are good in so far as they lead to God…but if you are striving for perfection in the ordinary thigns by doing the will of God (whether it feels spiritual or not)—I dont think there is a necessity to speak in tongues or foreign languages or to levitate etc…(They are only necessary in so far as to lead others to the faith).

As Saint Paul would say: “Even if I can speak in tongues, have all the knowledge, have faith as high as the mountains but do not love (in my deeds and actions), then my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell, my knowledge and faith accounts for nothing…” Love is still the greatest of all the spiritual gifts.

.

 

[Blue_Rose]

I’ve had many spiritual experiences…but it’s not a thing to be sought about to make you feel like a Christian, although it actually increases one’s faith given it’s from the Holy Spirit.

If we rely on spiritual experiences, we cannot possibly please God. This is usually the beginners mistaker (especially for me in prayer). When I turned to the faith, I was desperate to know God and to be more spiritual. During prayer, at times I would seek the “feel” good feeling/experience (or consolation)…However, many times I also experienced terrible darkness/ emptiness (desolation). This somehow discouraged me to pray. That’s why feelings/experiences are not really the measuring cup for spirituality. Doing the will of God is. Spiritual experiences are good in so far as they lead to God…but if you are striving for perfection in the ordinary thigns by doing the will of God (whether it feels spiritual or not)—I dont think there is a necessity to speak in tongues or foreign languages or to levitate etc…(They are only necessary in so far as to lead others to the faith).

As Saint Paul would say: “Even if I can speak in tongues, have all the knowledge, have faith as high as the mountains but do not love (in my deeds and actions), then my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell, my knowledge and faith accounts for nothing…” Love is still the greatest of all the spiritual gifts.

.

I agree. I felt amazingly close to God at times in prayer and it feels like a Spiritual Experience each time but this doesn’t usually happen. I felt this often when I converted to the faith but less so now.
Don’t rely on Spiritual Experiences or feelings because God often seems to hide himself when he is there. If you are not careful, you could be led away.
We could also go through times of spiritual ‘dryness’ or ‘darkness’ at times too, as did many Saints.

 

[Ash_Wednesday]

I think it’s great that you have the gift to discuss and talk about scripture.

I’ve never had the gift of speaking in tongues and never felt drawn to the charismatic movement. That said, some of my Catholic peers I grew up with were really into that. A friend of mine in youth ministry apparently has the gift for speaking in tongues and I know he wouldn’t lie about it. I’ve never had an experience like that, but I’ve never felt distressed that I haven’t. I tend to be more of the quiet, philosophical type, drawn more to monasticism and quiet reading and contemplation, myself.

Everyone has gifts for serving God, we just don’t all have the same gifts.

 

[Tobias65]

You answered your own question. Speaking or praying in tongues is listed as one of the gifts of the spirit. You may or may not have or get this gift, but you do have a special gift of saying and explaining Scripture.

Teaching is an awesome Gift of the Spirit!

I may speak in tongues more than you all… but so what? I think that the Charismatic Movement has taken three steps back in recent years, because we over emphasized the Gifts of the Spirit while forgetting about the Fruit of the Spirit. Most Charismatic churches are now almost indistinguishable from their not-so-Charismatic counterparts.

Charismatic Christians are learning how to grow the Fruit of the Spirit; and also how to recognize the working of the Holy Spirit in some of the more traditional ways.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Hi all.

So, I’m a convert to the Catholic faith from the church of Christ, an extremely fundamental group. They deny a lot of things that occur in scriptures as things of the past. For example, spiritual gifts and experiences such as speaking of praying in tongues. So, I have a decently long history of not believing in such things.

But, since I have become Catholic, I have had interactions with more charismatic Catholics, even at my campus ministry. Granted, I know not everything that people do is genuine, but some people I believe truly do have spiritual gifts.

My question is why have I not yet experienced something like this? Or will I even? I know that it doesn’t make me less of a Christian because I’ve never prayed in tongues. I just am curious as to why that may not happen to me. Could it be that my philosophical and more studious personality just simply isn’t inclined to such occurrences? I’m more of a person that can open the scriptures and talk with people about Jesus and His Church, often surprising myself with what I am able to say and explain. I feel like that might be more of the way the Spirit moves in me. Anyway, just thought I’d throw that out there for some thoughts!

Peace In Christ.

I’ve never spoken in tongues, although I was at a prayer meeting at work this morning, and the only other (Catholic) chap there has spoken in tongues.

On the other hand I’ve had a fair number of other spiritual experiences, including my father turning up in my bedroom the night he died (and I was an atheist at the time!). I’ve mentioned this quite often on the forum.

I suppose it would be fair to say that particular experience is fairly rare.

It depends on God’s providence, your spiritual development, your personality, your other gifts and talents (God might be more interested in using your intellectual abilities), your motives, and a number of other factors.

I wouldn’t worry about it. But if you do want to speak in tongues, you’ll probably need to hang around charismatic circles on a regular basis. We have a small prayer group in our church. I *very rarely *attend, but on the few occasions I have, I’ve heard some of them speak in tongues.

But I’ve never heard anyone break out in tongues at “ordinary” mass, including the prayer group members. So it also depends on what the particular assembly is doing.