Speaking In Tongues

[GodsGrace]

I only ask b/c BR and I have a big debate over it. She thinks I'm faking as well as a friend of ours. But I've spoken in tongues, and it's like the biggest high in the history of human kind! This is the best kind of high. It doesn't hurt you or kill you, it makes you grow stronger in your faith and closer to Christ...

I want to know what you guys think!

[Paladin D]

I believe in the gift of tongues (the Catholic Church believes this as well), but I don't believe it's very widespread. And I'm not sure if I have it, so I'm not sure if I should vote 1 or 2.

[lizofhungry]

I have no doubt that the gift of toungs helps you grow spritually wether you have been a believer for 10 years or a day. Some people say that the gift is for people who do not believe so that they will believe, and others, like myself, asked for the gift because it's so beautiful. The most important thing is so not be afraid to use it. Use it by yourself or when in a prayer group...the devil has no idea what you are saying and that makes it even better. This gift is for God's ears only. How amesome is that?!

[Aloysius]

St Augustine once said somethin like, "The gift of tongues is gone from this world" because ppl just felt it needed to continue and were just babbling on nonsense

anyway, i believe that God pours out this gift when the Church needs it, such as the beginning of the Church (Pentecost) but it is not always present, nor is it necessary.

if it is done aloud, then it can and should only be done when there is someone to understand or interpret it. if it is done in the silence of the heart ("prayer language") only u and God truly know or need to know about it

so yes, of course i believe it. but it's not a necessary thing, it's something the Holy Spirit pours out when the Church is in crisis, and faith is low. therefore, it is completely plausible and very likely that God would pour it out upon us now, but i am wary if they do it without one to interpret. isn't there somewhere in the Bible that says it shouldn't be done unless theres an interpreter? i think so, but i donno where

so how am i gonna vote.... hmmmm..... i'll think about it

[Paladin D]

There should REALLY be at least two more options on that poll...

[geetarplayer]

I'm sorta between the first two choices. I believe it is the Spirit working through those people, but it's never happened to me.

-Mark

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

I voted no.

The apostles may have been given the gift of tounges, but I believe that it ended there. Or shortly after. What I'm trying to say is that I don't believe the speaking in 'spiritual' tounges exists today.

[Ellenita]

I believe it still exists today! Sometimes when I've been praying for someone really deeply I have found myself praying in tongues - it's not something I've asked for and it's happened spontaneously so I've always kind of assumed it's prayer about deeper spiritual stuff in that persons life that I don't know about. I have always felt very peaceful afterwards.

[Chastisement]

Speaking in tounges always causes me some cynism.

Singing in tounges proves to me it exists.

I mean, my goodness, it's quite amazing to have an entire group of people start singing, all in tune, all in pace, and finish at the same time, but using different forms of tounges.

My mum took me to a charasmatic mass last Saturday and wow, there was about 60 peopel all singing in tounges, perfectly ordered. My mum was also the praise and worship leader, she was also the vice president, and president of the regions National Catholic Women's group, so this sort of thing is not news to me.

I voted yes, and although I can't speak it, I can translate it.

[Qamidalash]

YES, I believe! Although it hasn't happened to me myself, I've been blessed to witness it happen during a few times of deep adoration to GG and two other friends. God is good! I hope and pray that someday I may reach that deep state of worship myself...

btw, the Holy Father can speak in tounges! That's soo amesome!

I voted for A.5!!

wanting it BAD,

Sarah

[BLAZEr]

The Church teaches that the gift of tongues is still present in the Church, but like the scriptures she warns that it can be misused. She also teaches that tongues do not imply that a person is holier or wiser or more prayerful or any other such good. They are gift of the Holy Spirit and are given to whomever the Spirit chooses for a variety of reasons.

I used to be afraid of people who spoke in tongues. I thought it was weird. But this very holy family that I used to pray the Rosary with one day out of the blue while we were praying asked me if I had ever prayed in tongues. They thought God wanted me to pray for that gift. I told them I was afraid of it so they prayed over me that God would "bind the spirit of fear." Then they told me to start praying audibly in English. Before I knew it, words were coming out of my mouth that I did not understand, but what I was saying with my heart I did understand. I did not get a "high" from it, nothing strange happened. In fact, it felt like one of the most ordinary experiences of my life. I don't think i could have created those utterances on my own.

Today I pray in tongues and it varies between three different styles. I'm not sure why that is, but generally its the same three different "tongues" I pray in. Sometimes I sing songs I don't know in a language I don't understand, but it never feels wierd.

However, whenever I pray in tongues (and I can do it if I will it) I ask God that whatever I pray may be from the Holy Spirit and not from myself and that if any of it is from myself that he might teach me rightly and guide me in his ways.

[Aloysius]

can the devil cause someone to pray in tongues?i know of stories of exorcisms of ppl sayin stuff in odd languages. if so, what if that happens and ure sayin stuff that's blasphemous or somethin. that's y i think there MUSt be someone there 2 translate

[BLAZEr]

There are tongues of Prophecy and Tongues of Praise . . . it's pointless to speak in Prophetic tongues if no one is there to interpret it. However, if you are praying in tongues of praise to God, the devil would never do that. He could not do that unless he posessed you, and believe me, if he possessed you you would not be praying. God knows you would not be able to enter an adoration chapel.

[Ekilharas]

Yes, I too believe!

I have prayed in a language I do not know or understand as it comes from my mouth. Usually this happens when I am emotionally involved concerning the subject of my prayers and simply don't know how to get my request across in my normal words. The Holy Spirit then takes over and does it for me. Thank you most Holy Spirit!

Likewise for many years I have often found myself singing songs with words I do not understand at all. One thing I can say is that the melodies as well as the sound of the words are always very lovely. Something I could not possibly have made up myself. Must be Him again.

I am often awakened early in the morning before first light being sung too! That my dear friends is an incredibly amesome experience. It almost always leads to an outstanding morning of prayer.

Blessings,

Nell

[cmotherofpirl]

from the CAtholic Encyclopedia

The gift of tongues and (5) the interpretation of tongues (collectively known as glossolalia) are described at length in I Cor., xiv. In what did glossolalia exactly consist?

It was speaking, opposed to being silent (I Cor., xiv, 28), yet

not always in a foreign tongue. On the day of Pentecost the Apostles did inDouche speak the various languages of their hearers, but the still unbaptized Gentiles in the house of Cornelius "speaking with tongues, and magnifying God" (Acts, x, 46) and the twelve newly baptized Ephesians speaking with tongues and prophesying (Acts, xix, 6) had no reason for using any strange tongue. Again, instead of the expression "speaking with tongues" Paul uses the alternative phrases, "speaking in a tongue", "by a tongue", "with a tongue" (I Cor., xiv, 2, 4, 13, 14, 27). The object of the gift was not to convey ideas to listeners, but to speak to God in prayer (ibid., 2, 4), an object for which a foreign language is unnecessary. Lastly -- and this argument seems conclusive -- Paul compares glossolalia, as regards its effect, with talking in an unknown language; it is, therefore, not itself an unknown language (ibid., 11).

It was an articulate language, for the speaker prays, sings, gives thanks (ibid., 14-17).

The speaker was in a kind of trance -- "If I pray in a tongue, my spirit [pneuma] prayeth, but my understanding [nous, mens] is without fruit" (ibid., 14).

on unbelievers glossolalia made the impression of the marvellous; perhaps it recalled to their mind the religious ravings of hierophants: "Wherefore (i.e. because unintelligible) tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers. If . . . all speak with tongues, and there come in unlearned persons or infidels, will they not say that you are mad?" (I Cor., xiv, 22, 23).

The gift of tongues is inferior to that of prophecy: "Greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues: unless perhaps he interpret, that the church may receive edification" (ibid., 5).

The charisma of interpretation is, then, the necessary complement of glossolalia; when interpretation is not forthcoming, the speaker with tongues shall hold his peace (ibid., 13, 27, 28). Interpretation is the work either of the speaker himself or of another (ibid., 27). It takes the form of an intelligible address; the explanation was to follow the speech with tongues as regularly as the discerning of spirits succeeded prophecy (I Cor., xiv, 28, 29).

Among the Fathers it is sententia communissima that the speaking with tongues was a speaking in foreign languages. Their interpretation is based upon the promise in Mark, xvi, 1, "They shall speak with new tongues", and on its final fulfilment in the gift of tongues to the apostles (Acts, ii, 4). A new tongue, however, is not necessarily a foreign language, and a gift which had a special use on the day of Pentecost appears purposeless in meetings of people of one language. There are, besides, textual objections to the common opinion, although, it must be owned, not quite convincing [see the second point above]. Many explanations of this obscure charisma are proposed, but not one of them is free from objection. It may inDouche be that there is some truth in all of them. St. Paul speaks of "kinds of tongues", which may imply that glossolalia manifested itself in many forms: e.g. in the form of foreign languages when required by circumstances, as with the Apostles; as a new language -- "a kind of speech distinctive of the spiritual life and distinguished from common speech, which to the exuberant feeling of the new faith appeared unsuitable for intercourse with God" (Weizsacker); or as the manifestation of the unspeakable groanings of the Spirit, asking for us, and causing us to cry, "Abba, Father" (Rom., viii, 15, 26).