I have recently been blessed with the gift of speaking in tongues. Because this speech with God sounds so strange, many people consider those with this gift possessed. I tried speaking in tongues once but failed. Later, I asked God to fill me with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and tried once more. Much to my surprise, a new language was cascading from my mouth. I was so happy. How does the church stand on this, and what do you think about it?

God Bless!

In HIS Service, Daniel.

-- Daniel Burnett (DanielDudeWHS@aol.com), March 15, 2003

Answers

Daniel, I recommend this thread for this Catholic forum's most in-depth conversation about this topic. [I agree with Chris Butler's conclusions on that thread. Not everyone else does, though.]

John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), March 15, 2003.

Dear Daniel,

The Church fully supports the work of the Holy Spirit in all its aspects, including the charismatic gifts. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the Holy Spirit "works in many ways to build up the whole Body", and includes among those ways "the many special graces (called charisms) by which he makes the faithful 'fit and ready to undertake various tasks and offices for the renewal and building up of the Church'". (CCC 798) The Catechism further describes and approves these gifts, stating that "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."(CCC 2003) The charisms are so firmly supported in both sacred Scripture and sacred Tradition that the Church could not do less than fully support and approve them. That having been said, charisms are open to the possibility of misuse, abuse, and falsification, and when used publicly must always be used in submission to the discernment of spiritual authority.

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), March 15, 2003.

+bump+

-- Anna <>< (flower@youknow.com), March 15, 2003.

I beleive in praying in tongues. It has worked in my life. If you would like, please see my website, www.geocities.com/teensinfaith/index.html Please sign the guestbook and tell me what you think

-- Shelby Kell (teensinfaith@yahoo.com), March 20, 2003.

Hey Shelby. I can speak in tongues too. Watch...

Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti; Crux Sancto Sit Mihi Lux; Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux; Vade Retor Satana! Non Suade Mihi Vana; Sunt mala Quae Libas. Ipse Venena Bibas.

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), March 20, 2003.

Wow, Emerald, I wish I could pray like that...:)

-- Anna<>< (flower@youknow.com), March 20, 2003.

Actually, I can't. I had two years of latin, but at the time, I generally stared out the window dreaming about something else. I actually graduated; my wife still can't figure that one out, and neither can I. I think they felt sorry for me. Or something.

lol!

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), March 20, 2003.

You know, as soon as someone looks up what that means, I'll probably lose half of my fan club.

I would hate to see that person get truncated. haha!!!

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), March 20, 2003.

The cross of the blessed saint of the father; The cross may have been confirmed as the light; The non-dragon may be to me the leader; The shallow places go and think Satan! The nons urge me empty; They are the evils which you nibble. Himself the poison you may drink.

Close?? :-)

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), March 20, 2003.

The Cross of Holy Father Benedict; May the Holy Cross by my light; May the dragon be not my leader; Be gone Satan! Entice me not with deceits. What you offered is evil; Drink your poison yourself.

It is off the Saint Benedict medal, which is the most indulgenced metal in the Catholic Church when it is blessed by a Benedictine monk with a certain excorcism prayer.

I happened upon the medal and wore it because it looked interesting, and found out later what metal represented.

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), March 21, 2003.

The first letter of each of the latin words is in the medal:

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), March 21, 2003.

Speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Ghost. Paul talks of the manifastion of this gift in 1 Cor 14. and its also mentioned in Acts.It is the "sign" that all true believers where baptised in the Holy Ghost to the unbelievers of Pauls' time. But, anyone that is a witness to this prayer form must be aware that there can be serious problems with "speaking in tongues" As Paul states, there are two forms of tongues..1. those spoken in private to God and only God understands the language and 2. Those prayers spoken to "edify" unbelievers and to give prophecy. Paul and scripture further states that this gift can be abused and can be counterfited by the Devil. Tongues must be spoken and be interpreted and only two or three are to be speaking at the same time. Woman also seem to be forbidden to speak in tongues. Paul states that much confusion comes when this gift is abused. No one can "try to speak" in tongues. Only the Holy Ghost can manifest himself this way. And no one can speak in tongues at his will..only the Holy Ghost can promt this. The scriptures do seem to state that when "all is brought to perfection, the gifts of tongues, prophecy etc will stop". So, anyone in this movement should be very careful they are in the true Holy Ghost baptism and not in something satanic.

-- david (queckie1@aol.com), April 09, 2003.

Dear David,

It is true that speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Ghost. It is also true that there can be serious problems (abuses) with "speaking in tongues", or any other public manifestation of the Spirit. Also true - there are two distinct forms of tongues (as well as several variations of each). However, only public tongues (spoken aloud in an assembly) requires an interpretation, and in that situation God provides it. Private tongues does not require interpretation. I know of no scriptural injunction against women praying or speaking in tongues, and my long experience in Catholic charismatic communities indicates that this simply is not true. None of the common charisms are restricted to members of one sex. You say that "no one can speak in tongues at his will ... only the Holy Ghost can prompt this". Again, that is true of specific delivered to the assembly, but it is not true of private tongues. Private tongues, as described in Romans 8:26-27 and other places in scripture, is a gift of personal prayer which an individual can use at will, either alone or in communal prayer. As you said, the scriptures do state that "when all is brought to perfection, the gifts of tongues, prophecy etc will stop". However, as long as the physical world and the Church exist, there will not be perfection. Therefore the charisms of the Holy Spirit will remain in the Church until the end of time.

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), April 09, 2003.

Put very simply, Paul had a strong dislike for women. No tongues, no speaking during worship. No teaching. In fact, he says men would really be better off not marrying at all. And wives should always be subservient to their husbands. (I think he was Taliban.) Until Paul started writing his letters with his mysoginistic ideas, women had played an extremely important part in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Note that when Paul sends greetings to women in various churches, they are usually older "mother" types.

-- Brenda Robinson (robinhoodtx2001@ev1.net), February 17, 2004.

It is hardly surprising that those in leadership positions in the various local churches, both male and female, were generally mature older Christians.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), February 18, 2004.

When "speaking in tongues", does the speaker know the meaning or translation of what he or she is saying?????????

-- Mark Advent (adventm5477@earthlink.net), February 21, 2004.

No, he/she does not. However, sometimes another person present is given a sense of the message being spoken in tongues - an "interpretation" of the tongues. This of course is only one of several distinct forms of the gift of tongues. More commonly tongues is simply a form of prayer, either communal or personal, and in these cases no interpretation is involved.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), February 22, 2004.

Did this happen prior to the 1960s and before the barmy charasmatic renewal people?

-- Hugh (hugh@inspired.com), February 28, 2004.

Yes, the Apostles were prior to the 1960's.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), February 29, 2004.

But the Apostles were given the gift of having others *understand* them. To me then "speaking in tongues" would be someone who started speaking of Christ and having people of different languages all understand him, and thus learn the Gospel. I can't believe God would give a Gift to someone that was not only unintelligible to them, but to everyone. What is the point of that? Faith is about bringing us closer to the Truth, IMO. Babbling unitelligibly seems more like the work of the Devil, distracting someone from real prayer while making them feel happy, or to use today's readings, taking the bread NOW, rather than putting up with hunger and rocks which would eventually REALLY bring us closer to God.

Like it says in Mat 6:

"The followers of Jesus are not pray as the pagans do, babbling on with their many words, but are instead to pray with confidence knowing that their Father knows what they need before they ask"

Babbling on without understanding is probably unBiblical (to use our Protestant friends' phrase) as we are to really pray to the Father for what we need, with our joy, our tears, and our trust. NOT go "bo bo muccala bucolorur marzipanus shoobolouboboo" and expect that anyone other than some screeching demon would benefit from it.

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.cam), February 29, 2004.

it looks like all of you need a fresh touch of the Holy Ghost. you need to pray for guidance from God, and ask His Spirit to comfort you. Remember, the devil is the author of confusion. (and by the way, im totally sold out for God. i believe in ONENESS, baptism in JESUS NAME!!!! the ONLY NAME!!!!, and BAPTISM OF THE "REAL" HOLY GHOST "with the evidence of speaking with other tongues" AS THE SPIRIT GIVES YOU THE UTTERANCE!!!. if ya dont understand it, think and pray about it, GOd will reveal to you the truth!!!!!

-- kyle (buckweet0684@aol.com), March 01, 2004.

Dear Rev Paul

Yes, the Apostles were prior to the 1960's.

Well done, I fell into that one.

I am sorry, but speaking in tounges is a distraction and is the result of mass hysteria... I have seen it. We have the blessed sacrament which should be our focus of adoration and each other who are a focus of love. Speaking in tounges is self-centric and serves absolutely no purpose whatsoever.

God bless

Hugh

-- Hugh (Hugh@inspired.com), March 01, 2004.

the blessed sacrament is something man-made. worship isnt. it comes from GOD and he deserves it. i hope you are worshipping God in spirit and in truth

-- kyle (buckweet0684@aol.com), March 02, 2004.

I don't understand worship is certainly something that man does, so to me it is man made... anyway, if you truely speak in toungs there will be someone present who will understand what you are saying. If there isn't I would be suspect.

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), March 02, 2004.

The Blessed Sacrament is NOT something manmade. No man on earth has the power to change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of the Living Christ unless that power is specifically provided to him by God. It was GOD who said "This is My Body - This is My Blood - DO THIS in remembrance of Me". And it is God who makes that same sacrament possible today.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), March 02, 2004.

Im not religious but was jesus black?

-- Justin (TwiztidDoss@hotmail.com), March 19, 2004.