Charism? Speaking In Tongues?

[salterrae]

JM + JT

So, I was bored the other night, and, with nothing else to watch, I ended up watching The Abundant Life on EWTN.

I'm not a regular viewer, but I was amazed to see what this episode was about: speaking in tongues and Baptism of the Spirit and charismatic something or other.

Apparently Pope John Paul II approved of all this, this Baptising in the Spirit so as to speak in tongues.

Is this truly Catholic? Why?

[JP2Iloveyou]

yes, it's certainly Catholic. The Pauline letters as well as Acts of the Apostles speak of charisms of the Holy Spirit. The problem the charismatic movement often runs into is overexulting the gifts instead of the gift giver, the Holy Spirit. It almost becomes more of a game to show off who has the most or the best spiritual gifts. If you are interested in learning more, Pope John Paul II's encyclical on the Holy Spirit, Dominum et Vivificantem (The Lord and Giver of Life) is an excellent place to start.

[HisChildForever]

I believe that it is truly Catholic because, hey, just look at Pentecost! The Bible made clear that everyone could understand each other, even though they were from different regions and, thus, spoke different languages. I suppose you could say that, traditionally, speaking is tongues was speaking in another language, when the individual had no prior knowledge of that language, and God blessed him/her with the ability. Nowadays, people define "speaking in tongues" as senseless babbling during worship services. I dunno, that's just my two cents.

[salterrae]

JM + JT

OK Good. I can relax a little.

But I do remember freaking out a little when one of the Sisters at my school began speaking in tongues (babbling) while praying over me on retreat freshman year. :/

But IDK about the babbling for me... :/

[kujo]

Yeah...I did a retreat at a retreat center and the guy who owned it told me that he had some Pentecostals do a retreat once where they had a 3 a.m. "prayer session" that included, among other things, dousing hot oil on the backs of high schoolers to let them feel the power of God.



I've experienced the *real* charisms of the Holy Spirit. It's a beautiful thing to feel God moving so intimately through you.

[Seven77]

if it's on EWTN you can't go wrong

[alicemary]

It may be on EWTN, but it isnt my cup of tea nor do I believe in it. People are certainly free to practice their faith as they see fit, but it doesn't cut it for me

[Deb]

Actually speaking in tongues, healing abilities, power of visions during prayer etc are all gifts from God. They are not someone's way of practicing the faith, they are the faith. God gives gifts to those in the manner in which he will use them for the betterment of his church. Passing them off as something frivolous is disrepectful to Our Lord.

I know Priests and lay people who pray in tongues, including my sister, and it comes upon them in appropriate situations and it is nothing they glorify nor even talk about. I have yet to go to a healing mass or charismatic service where anyone discussed any of their gifts or acted like they were anything special. They are all very humble people who are devoted to God.

During the early days of my conversion when the Holy Spirit was working in me even more strongly than he is now and transforming me, I would wake up in the middle of the night many times, in a praying position and praying in tongues. It has never happened while I was awake or in mass. Our Lord Jesus Christ promised us the Holy Spirit who would work in us to build up the body and he still does it. Just because you haven't experienced it, doesn't make it wrong or unusual. Pope John Paul II was very very supportive of the Charismatic movement and it went right along with the new evangelization of the church. These are the people that are bringing people into the church, just like the Apostles did when the Holy Spirit was brought down on them.

Catholics of today have forgotten or never even knew all the mysteries and gifts of the faith. The problem is that people have hardened their hearts to the point that the Holy Spirit cannot work in them. Everyone has the ability to experience the Holy Spirit moving through them. Once you have, your life will be changed forever. You will know the truth and it shall set you free.
The goal now is to open that up for everyone to renew all of christianity. It is a wonderful time of grace in the church and I am sure people will be seeing a lot of it.

Edited May 15, 2008 by Deb

[kujo]

[quote name='Deb' post='1528947' date='May 14 2008, 10:54 PM']Actually speaking in tongues, healing abilities, power of visions during prayer etc are all gifts from God. They are not someone's way of practicing the faith, they are the faith. God gives gifts to those in the manner in which he will use them for the betterment of his church. Passing them off as something frivolous is disrepectful to Our Lord.

I know Priests and lay people who pray in tongues, including my sister, and it comes upon them in appropriate situations and it is nothing they glorify nor even talk about. I have yet to go to a healing mass or charismatic service where anyone discussed any of their gifts or acted like they were anything special. They are all very humble people who are devoted to God.

During the early days of my conversion when the Holy Spirit was working in me even more strongly than he is now and transforming me, I would wake up in the middle of the night many times, in a praying position and praying in tongues. It has never happened while I was awake or in mass. Our Lord Jesus Christ promised us the Holy Spirit who would work in us to build up the body and he still does it. Just because you haven't experienced it, doesn't make it wrong or unusual. Pope John Paul II was very very supportive of the Charismatic movement and it went right along with the new evangelization of the church. These are the people that are bringing people into the church, just like the Apostles did when the Holy Spirit was brought down on them.

Catholics of today have forgotten or never even knew all the mysteries and gifts of the faith. The problem is that people have hardened their hearts to the point that the Holy Spirit cannot work in them. Everyone has the ability to experience the Holy Spirit moving through them. Once you have, your life will be changed forever. You will know the truth and it shall set you free.
The goal now is to open that up for everyone to renew all of christianity. It is a wonderful time of grace in the church and I am sure people will be seeing a lot of it.[/quote]

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='Seven77' post='1528925' date='May 14 2008, 10:22 PM']if it's on EWTN you can't go wrong[/quote]

Since when did EWTN receive the grace of Infallibility?

I know what you mean though, but also good to check ourselves at times. EWTN can go wrong, and I'm sure they have at times.

[quote name='alicemary' post='1528926' date='May 14 2008, 10:27 PM']It may be on EWTN, but it isnt my cup of tea nor do I believe in it. People are certainly free to practice their faith as they see fit, but it doesn't cut it for me[/quote]

No problem with it not being your cup of tea, but what do you believe happened at Pentecost then?

[premed_jakey]

[quote name='Deb' post='1528947' date='May 14 2008, 09:54 PM']Actually speaking in tongues, healing abilities, power of visions during prayer etc are all gifts from God. They are not someone's way of practicing the faith, they are the faith. God gives gifts to those in the manner in which he will use them for the betterment of his church. Passing them off as something frivolous is disrepectful to Our Lord.

I know Priests and lay people who pray in tongues, including my sister, and it comes upon them in appropriate situations and it is nothing they glorify nor even talk about. I have yet to go to a healing mass or charismatic service where anyone discussed any of their gifts or acted like they were anything special. They are all very humble people who are devoted to God.

During the early days of my conversion when the Holy Spirit was working in me even more strongly than he is now and transforming me, I would wake up in the middle of the night many times, in a praying position and praying in tongues. It has never happened while I was awake or in mass. Our Lord Jesus Christ promised us the Holy Spirit who would work in us to build up the body and he still does it. Just because you haven't experienced it, doesn't make it wrong or unusual. Pope John Paul II was very very supportive of the Charismatic movement and it went right along with the new evangelization of the church. These are the people that are bringing people into the church, just like the Apostles did when the Holy Spirit was brought down on them.

Catholics of today have forgotten or never even knew all the mysteries and gifts of the faith. The problem is that people have hardened their hearts to the point that the Holy Spirit cannot work in them. Everyone has the ability to experience the Holy Spirit moving through them. Once you have, your life will be changed forever. You will know the truth and it shall set you free.
The goal now is to open that up for everyone to renew all of christianity. It is a wonderful time of grace in the church and I am sure people will be seeing a lot of it.[/quote]

Just to add on to this a bit...

1 Corinthians 12 speaks on the gifts of the spirit, and the importance of these gifts to the Church. The only problem with a lot of protestant denominations, and this has already been adressed I realize, is that they dont give enough credit to the giver of the gift, but to the person who is expressing it. As Catholics, we should try to regain these gifts. They are good at sustaining the faith, and taking us into a deeper sense of worship. There is a time and place for the expression of gifts of course though, and that is the other lesson that our protestant brothers and sisters need to learn.

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='Premed_Jakey' post='1528993' date='May 14 2008, 11:48 PM']There is a time and place for the expression of gifts of course though, and that is the other lesson that our protestant brothers and sisters need to learn.[/quote]

Well, most Protestants who are Charismatic do balance the gifts in light of the Giver. Seems to me that an ecclesial structure helps to steer the gifts in a productive direction, avoiding the abuses and heresy seen among some Pentecostals.

[premed_jakey]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1529020' date='May 14 2008, 11:13 PM']Well, most Protestants who are Charismatic do balance the gifts in light of the Giver. Seems to me that an ecclesial structure helps to steer the gifts in a productive direction, avoiding the abuses and heresy seen among some Pentecostals.[/quote]

I stand corrected. Perhaps I should rephrase that into "In my personal experience with pentecostal family"

[alicemary]

The charasmatic events I have been attended have only moved me to laughs no edification. I find it ridiculous. Speaking in tongues and other practices mean nothing to me. The church may approve such things, but to me they border on circus.
When the Holy Spirt decides to bestow some wisdom on me, I pray He speaks English or I aint listening.

[Deb]

[quote name='alicemary' post='1529353' date='May 15 2008, 10:44 AM']The charasmatic events I have been attended have only moved me to laughs no edification. I find it ridiculous. Speaking in tongues and other practices mean nothing to me. The church may approve such things, but to me they border on circus.
When the Holy Spirt decides to bestow some wisdom on me, I pray He speaks English or I aint listening.[/quote]


Will you let us know when he does?