The gift of speaking in tongues

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I’ve been curious about this subject lately. It’s one of those things in the bible that I kind of forget about sometimes. I usually associate it with charismatic Pentecostals and the like as this seems to be more prevalent with their services. It seems a much rarer occurrence within the Catholic Church for some reason…Or is it?

How can you tell if a person is REALLY speaking in tongues? Does the gift of tongues “take over you” unintentionally, or is it something that a person does voluntarily? Is it something that anyone can try or, seeing as it’s called the “gift” of tongues, God gives it to a select few, just like many other gifts like the gift of prophesy, the gift of healing, etc?

Bonus question: Are there any saints who are known for having the gift of tongues?

My older sister said she was trying to pray with tongues and said it’s a really powerful experience. Any advice for her in regards to that? How can she tell if the gift is genuine?

Thanks in advance 🙂
 
I think speaking in tongues originally was meant the apostles could be understood by people who didn’t speak their native language ( and whose language they didn’t speak) kind of a miraculous universal translator. Mark 16:15-18 Specifically says, speaking in NEW tongues, which I see as a different (human) language. The only example I’ve ever heard about seemed very contrived. I am trying hard to not offend anyone, this is just my opinion…
 
Crusaderbear said:
I think speaking in tongues originally was meant the apostles could be understood by people who didn’t speak their native language ( and whose language they didn’t speak) kind of a miraculous universal translator. Mark 16:15-18 Specifically says, speaking in NEW tongues, which I see as a different (human) language. The only example I’ve ever heard about seemed very contrived. I am trying hard to not offend anyone, this is just my opinion…
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Yep. People today seem to misinterpret it. I know a woman who claims to speak in tongues. I asked her what her words meant and she said she didn’t have the gift of understanding 🤷

So how is speaking in tongues a gift of the Holy Spirit if nobody knows what you’re saying?
 
If one person speaks in tongues at a charismatic meeting…someone must interpret. If everyone is speaking in tongues at once, there is no need of interpretation.
 
Regina7 said:
Yep. People today seem to misinterpret it. I know a woman who claims to speak in tongues. I asked her what her words meant and she said she didn’t have the gift of understanding 🤷

So how is speaking in tongues a gift of the Holy Spirit if nobody knows what you’re saying?
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Precisely!
 
**
St. Paul addressed the issue of speaking in tongues in the 13th & 14th Chapter of 1 Corinthians. He was not speaking about a regular human language but what is called glossolalia.

[Glossolalia or (speaking in tongues) is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables that lack any readily comprehended meaning, in some cases as part of religious practice.]

AND, Paul makes the comment that only two are three are supposed to speak in a religious meeting if there is someone to interpret. But before we denigrate it, in Chapter 14 verse 2 it says; 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.**

He says that in a Church meeting it is much better to prophesy so that many are edified,

BUT, he also says in verse 18;***“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all;” ***And, in verse 39 "… and do not forbid speaking in tongues;…"
 
The rest of the story…Corinthians 14 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

So speaking in tongues is not meant for human understanding?

Wow, I learned something.
 
DesertSister62 said:
**
St. Paul addressed the issue of speaking in tongues in the 13th & 14th Chapter of 1 Corinthians. He was not speaking about a regular human language but what is called glossolalia.

[Glossolalia or (speaking in tongues) is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables that lack any readily comprehended meaning, in some cases as part of religious practice.]

AND, Paul makes the comment that only two are three are supposed to speak in a religious meeting if there is someone to interpret. But before we denigrate it, in Chapter 14 verse 2 it says; 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.**

He says that in a Church meeting it is much better to prophesy so that many are edified,

BUT, he also says in verse 18;***“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all;” ***And, in verse 39 "… and do not forbid speaking in tongues;…"
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Ok, help me out. To preface, I’m not trying to be rude.

So speaking in tongues isn’t meant to be for us, but for God? But if the person speaking has no clue what they’re saying, then how is that for God?
 
Please note that there are two separate Holy Spirit gifts which employ tongues.

The common gift is praying to God in tongues. It is not necessary to eavesdrop when an individual is personally praying to God.

The second gift which employs tongues is considered a ministry because this gift brings God’s message to the assembled group. This gift requires an interpreter.
 
Regina7 said:
Ok, help me out. To preface, I’m not trying to be rude.

So speaking in tongues isn’t meant to be for us, but for God? But if the person speaking has no clue what they’re saying, then how is that for God?
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Tongues requires the person to yield their speech mechanism to the Holy Spirit. When one prays to God in tongues, the person allows the Holy Spirit to pray in His sounds. It should be obvious that the Holy Spirit understands the person’s intentions and prays accordingly.
 
Regina7 said:
Ok, help me out. To preface, I’m not trying to be rude.

So speaking in tongues isn’t meant to be for us, but for God? But if the person speaking has no clue what they’re saying, then how is that for God?
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Basically, as I understand it, people who speak in tongues kind of just let the Holy Spirit speak through them; the person “speaking” doesn’t have anything that he/she is trying to communicate to God, but the Spirit takes these prayers in tongues and does what He pleases with them.
 
Regina7 posted;
Ok, help me out. To preface, I’m not trying to be rude.
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So speaking in tongues isn’t meant to be for us, but for God? But if the person speaking has no clue what they’re saying, then how is that for God?
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It’s very simple, really. Let’s say you want to pray for someone and you may pray with the very best of intentions but it might not really end up being for the best of the person, that’s where praying in tongues comes in. We allow the Spirit to pray through us for the best of the person or persons involved. We don’t have to understand what is being prayed for it to be of value to the person prayed for.

You really need to read the Chapters in 1 Corinthians to really understand. Paul says praying in tongues will edify** us. Look up the word edify and it means; To edify is defined as to instruct someone in way that enlightens them or uplifts them morally, spiritually or intellectually We don’t have to understand, we just need to let God use us in any way He wishes to. Or in other words, to be a tool in God’s hands…like St. Francis being an Instrument of God’s Peace!
*
 
roseproject said:
Basically, as I understand it, people who speak in tongues kind of just let the Holy Spirit speak through them; the person “speaking” doesn’t have anything that he/she is trying to communicate to God, but the Spirit takes these prayers in tongues and does what He pleases with them.
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This is a pretty good understanding.
When I first came into the Charismatic Renewal, I heard the story of a Carmelite nun who spent hours in contemplation. She already had a close relationship with Our Lord and really didn’t understand why she should desire the gift of tongues. In submitting to the gift, however, her response was, “But Lord, if it is from you why not?” Afterward she discovered that what before had taken hours to achieve in contemplative prayer now only took minutes.
While there is prayer in the assembly, there is also private prayer. As individuals we do not always know how to pray or what to pray for. Praying in tongues helps in the discernment process. Prayer is defined as the lifting up of hearts and minds to God. By allowing the Holy Spirit to control the prayer, it helps the individual to discern God’s Will especially in situations that are not so black and white. What does God want me to do in this particular situation at this time? Help me Lord to know what it is that You desire? The Adversary cannot interfere with this type of prayer since it is the Holy Spirit who is in control.
Since it is private and individualized prayer, what a person can control is when he/she starts and/or stops. Prayer in tongues is not always about petitioning God. It often starts as praise. I might be walking down the street praying and as I approach somebody stop until after we have passed each other and then continue praying.

St. Anthony of Padua is among the Saints known for speaking in tongues.
 
DesertSister62 said:
It’s very simple, really. Let’s say you want to pray for someone and you may pray with the very best of intentions but it might not really end up being for the best of the person, that’s where praying in tongues comes in. We allow the Spirit to pray through us for the best of the person or persons involved. We don’t have to understand what is being prayed for it to be of value to the person prayed for.
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Just to offer a bit of balance to this perspective, I submit the following quote from this article:
The great St. Teresa of Avila, who had so much experience with extraordinary gifts, would be horrified [at seeing people asking to receive the gift of tongues]. In her Interior Castle 6.9 she warns souls that when they learn or hear that God is giving souls extraordinary graces, “you must never ask or desire Him to lead you by that road.” She goes on to explain why: First, it shows a lack of humility; second, one leaves self open to "great danger because the devil needs only to see a door left a bit ajar to enter; third, “when a person has a great desire, he convinces himself he is seeing or hearing what he desires.” She adds that there are many holy people who have never had such things, and others who have them, and are not holy. This of course agrees with the warning of Our Lord Himself in Mt 7:22-23.
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The quote from the article beautifully summarizes my own opinions on all of this. The fact of the matter is that these gifts cannot be merited, and thus we should not go out of our way to attempt to acquire them. Moreover, they open us up to a sort of spiritual gluttony, wherein we perceive the spiritual life as being one of consolations and gifts and warm-fuzzies.

The problem of praying for someone, but yet praying for things which are not best for them, can be overcome in ways which do not require unusual gifts, but which are rather mundane. Many of them involve simply offering our prayers through the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Just the other day, in the Office of Readings, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque reminded us:
In the course of every activity pray as follows: “My God, I do this or I endure that in the Heart of Your Son and according to His holy counsels. I offer It [The Sacred Heart of Jesus] to You in reparation for anything blameworthy or imperfect in my actions.”
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Other means can include consecrating ourselves to Jesus through Mary, and offering our prayers through her immaculate hands. Mary can purify both our intentions as well as the final ends of our prayers, and indeed, that’s precisely the role she fulfills today.

Again, while such gifts exist, let’s keep in mind that they must be tempered in the way St. Teresa of Avila recommended. I recommend the linked-to article above for more detail.
 
roseproject said:
I’ve been curious about this subject lately. It’s one of those things in the bible that I kind of forget about sometimes. I usually associate it with charismatic Pentecostals and the like as this seems to be more prevalent with their services. It seems a much rarer occurrence within the Catholic Church for some reason…Or is it?

How can you tell if a person is REALLY speaking in tongues? Does the gift of tongues “take over you” unintentionally, or is it something that a person does voluntarily? Is it something that anyone can try or, seeing as it’s called the “gift” of tongues, God gives it to a select few, just like many other gifts like the gift of prophesy, the gift of healing, etc?

Bonus question: Are there any saints who are known for having the gift of tongues?

My older sister said she was trying to pray with tongues and said it’s a really powerful experience. Any advice for her in regards to that? How can she tell if the gift is genuine?

Thanks in advance 🙂
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Don’t be dissuaded from seeking the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Would you turn down a gift offered from a lover? By the same token what man wants to be pursued because of the gifts that he can offer?
The non-Catholic Pentecostal churches do put a great deal of emphasis on the gift of tongues as a sign that a person has a relationship with God. A charism is by definition an extraordinary gift of the Holy Spirit.
Be assured that the Charismatic Renewal does in fact have the blessing of all the popes starting Pope Paul VI. Pope Francis, as bishop expressed some hesitation until meeting with charismatics. Pope Benedict XVI warned against spiritual pride reminding charismatics that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are indeed for the upbuilding of the kingdom of the God but at the same time calling all Catholics to be open to the gifts that God has for each of us.
Each of us has been given specific gifts, or charisms, as a result of our Baptism and Confirmation. Most of us have placed these gifts in the back of a closet and never used them. As we grow in faith we may draw on these gifts. The gifts of tongues is one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. St. Paul in his letters calls it the least of the gifts. If you are given a bicycle that you have never ridden, somebody may show you the first time how to use ride the bicycle. Learning how to use the gift of tongues can be likened to somebody showing you how to ride a bicycle for the first time. After that the Holy Spirit takes over. The same is true with the other Spiritual gifts. During Charismatic meetings, there may be somebody to help an individual recognize a gift as it is manifested for the first time. Do not stifle the Spirit!
It is unlikely when you walk into a Catholic Church that you will know who does or does not speak in tongues. You may only make this discovery during a charismatic meeting or conference. I did not know that both bishop was charismatic until I went to a FIRE rally concelebrated by him as well as the bishop from a another diocese. There were many priests available for confession. FIRE stands for faith, intercessory prayer, repentance, and evangelization. All the priests were charismatic.
The outward gift of tongues is not as important as where it leads you on your interior journey. None of the charisms are given because one person is spiritually better than another person.
 
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