Before we discuss this let me explain that speaking in tongues is not just a Catholic thing. Other denominations, pastors and preachers believe in it too and speak in tongues when in prayer.
So what is it?
Some history: After Christ's Resurrection, the early Christians were in a house when "suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw tongues like flames of a fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language" (Acts 2 1-6 onwards).
What happened in that day is something that the followers of Jesus experienced. It was not something they had read about in scripture, or something Jesus had told them about. It was a personal experience.
They were in a house, hiding in fear, when suddenly they experienced the Holy Spirit descending on them, giving them courage to speak out about Jesus, and to do so in languages they did not until then know.
Imagine this happened to you. Suddenly, through prayer, you realise and know, that the Holy Spirit is within your soul. You put away any shyness, nerves or fear you may have had, and you proclaim your Christian beliefs to people in French, German or any other language you do not presently know.
How would you feel about that? You would tell the whole world about it; about what you experienced.
Speaking in tongues today: Many people today have difficulty understanding that the Holy Spirit can, and does, inhabit one's soul and guide us in this life whenever we ask Him. Ironically, in this modern age, people are more willing to believe that the devil can possess a person, which he does, rather than believe that the Holy Spirit can abide in us when we ask Him to. The Holy Spirit will never inhabit a soul without being invited.
When this happens, the individual often feels a
sense of peace like they have not experienced before. A sense of knowing
that all will be well and that God is indeed in control of every
situation. A sense of "enlightenment" guiding them on what they should
do, or say, and how to do it.
This sense of being filled with the Holy Spirit
can last a matter of days or longer; depending on the situation and
person. I have known people who have always been calm and serene and
somehow at peace with themselves and the world all the time. Being with
them was like being with a living Saint, a holy person ... someone
totally different from everyone else.
I have witnessed "speaking in tongues". I
used to attend regular weekly prayer meetings. We were a group of 20 or
so. At quiet times, as we were praying silently, one or two individuals
would start babbling incomprehensibly in a low
voice for a minute or so. They were not in a trance; but fully awake either with eyes closed or looking down in prayer.
At first I did not know what was happening. It was explained to me that they were speaking in tongues - the Holy Spirit was praying through them. It was never explained in what language the Holy Spirit was praying. This happened several times over several weeks and was accepted by the rest of the group that these people spoke or prayed in tongues.
It does not matter if the individual speaking in tongues does not understand what he is saying. It is the Holy Spirit praying or praising God through them. Sometimes, there were other individuals who claimed to understand what was being said and interpreted to the rest of the group.
It is understandable if some people feel sceptical about this and think it is all nonsense and the individuals were putting it on. This is a controversial subject which has been debated by Christians and non-Christians alike for many years.
At the end of the day, you have to decide on this matter for yourself:
Do you believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity? The Holy Spirit is God, just like Jesus is God, and just like God is God.
Do you believe that the Holy Spirit of God does fill us with His presence and guides us should we ask Him earnestly to do so?
On the answers to these two questions rests your views on speaking in tongues. If the Holy Spirit can abide in us, and guide us in life's difficulties and teach us how to behave, what to say or not say at a particular time; then surely this same Holy Spirit, when abiding in us, can if He so wishes, pray to God in tongues.
...count me among those who don't understand.
ReplyDeleteIt does not matter if you don't really understand. A number of people, me included, believe that the Holy Spirit can/does descend on individuals these days, if they ask Him earnestly.
DeleteGod bless, Tom.
Hi Victor, yes I do believe - and know - that believers can speak in tongues, as I have had this ability since I came up out of the baptismal water. The scriptures say in 1 Corinthian ch. 14 v.2 that it is speaking mysteries which no man understands. The way I can describe it is that if you can not put into words a situation when you are feeling at a particular time, whether it be unbelievably happy or unbelievably sad, then speaking in tongues is the only way you can describe your feelings to God. It is a way of praying in the Spirit with words that cover everything you are speaking to God about. God bless.
ReplyDeleteThank you Brenda for sharing your experience. I hope it helps our readers here.
DeleteGod bless.
Victor, I am so surprised you wrote about this. I did not know Catholics also do this. I do it too.
ReplyDelete"Sometimes, there were other individuals who claimed to understand what was being said and interpreted to the rest of the group." This is Biblical. 1 Corinthians 14:27.
Do you believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity? Yes
The Holy Spirit is God, just like Jesus is God, and just like God is God. Yes
Do you believe that the Holy Spirit of God does fill us with His presence and guides us should we ask Him earnestly to do so? Yes
Thank you Sandi. I did not know the Catholic Church believed in speaking in tongues until I experienced it many years ago at the prayer meetings I attended. At first I was confused. It was explained to me what was happening. Perhaps the Church should explain this better to the congregation in sermons.
DeleteI have never spoken in tongues, but saw one or two people do it. One was a priest. Also another person tried to interpret what was said.
Thank you for your encouraging comment, Sandi. God bless.
"...saw one or two people do it. One was a priest."
DeleteThis is really good to hear. God moves in mysterious ways. In Acts 10:44-46 the Jewish believers are astonished that the Holy Spirit is poured out even to the gentiles. (And even to the Catholics...smile!)
I know they weren't called Catholics then...ha ha...I meant myself today and this post and the people you heard praying. 💙
DeleteThe Catholics can be a confused and confusing lot at times. I know, being one myself.
DeleteI believe our Church needs to spend some time re-teaching about Christianity and why Catholics do or believe certain things. I did spend some time a few years back teaching/discussing Christianity to groups of people. I was surprised at the confusion and misunderstanding. More needs to be done.
God bless, Sandi.
I think so too. I've learned a lot just by reading your blog.
DeleteI think the whole church needs to study Christianity. Not just yours, mine too, and all of the others. You would think they do, but sometimes things are taught that are not true. By they I suppose I mean we, each of us.
DeleteThank you, Sandi. It is always nice to see you visiting here.
DeleteI agree, the Churches need to go back to basics and teach their congregations so that in turn they teach their children. I also feel that there is a bit of misinformation by some priests. Massaging the message so as not to upset the people. This is wrong, and our Church should do something about it. I know of priests who do not believe in some specific Catholic dogma.
God bless.
Yes, God is Spirit, and two of the Spiritual gifts given to us by Him are the gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues. As for Jesus, He is the Word of God made flesh.He did say that God was greater than Him when He called God His Father, but that was when He became flesh.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brenda, for confirming what I believe.
DeleteGod bless.
I used to attend weekly Catholic prayer meetings where some persons would speak in tongues and once a person even claimed to recognize the Bible chapter another person was reciting in tongues. I felt sceptical about it. Later I helped with translating for an international CCR conference when during mass many in the congregation began speaking in tongues. It lasted for some time and sounded like angelic music. I believe they praised God in tongues.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ladka for sharing your experiences here. I hope they help our readers. Did you also speak in tongues? Did anyone explain to the congregation what was happening?
DeleteGod bless you.
No, I was never given this gift. There was no particular explanation except it was all to the praise of God.
DeleteThank you Ladka. That's what I was told also - they are praising God in tongues.
DeleteGod bless.
Thank you very much for this enlightening entry. I have to smile since my youth my family believed in 'speaking in tongues'. I did hear my mother speak in tongues, I cannot remember hearing my dad, even though he believed it and preached it. Yes I believe. BUT, BUT as a kid I was ridiculed and belittled at school because of my family's beliefs. I wasn't too proud of it then. LOL. My dad told me years ago that there were Catholics who spoke in tongues. I found it hard to believe until later.....
ReplyDeleteLove sent from over here where folks have gone crazy. Many following a Man whose ego is bigger than the country, some declare he is the second coming. LOL
Thank you for sharing your experiences, Jack. I can understand people who don't know better ridiculing you. Take heart. They ridiculed Jesus too in His time. You are honoured to be ridiculed for Him.
DeleteYes, Catholics have believed in speaking in tongues for years. Not preached so often these days.
God bless you and Sherry.
PS: Sherry has spoken in tongues many times over her 84 years, I have prayed in tongues on occasion lately.
ReplyDeleteThat is good to hear, Jack. Pray for me. Thanx.
DeleteGod bless.
Dearest Victor,
ReplyDeleteNo doubt that God can and will enlighten those that ask for it. The entire mystery of our Belief rests on it.
Hugs,
Mariette
Amen Mariette. Spoken wisely.
DeleteGod bless.
💞
DeleteI've never heard anybody speak in tongues. With God anything is possible.
ReplyDeleteYes, with God anything and everything is possible. We have to believe.
DeleteGod bless you, Bill my friend.
Honestly, I never knew Roman Catholics also 'spoke in tongues.' I won't repeat what lots of people call those churches whose congregants regularly engage, but I'm sure you know of what I speak. Until a couple of years ago, I regarded the Holy Ghost (or Spirit) as the third wheel -- largely unknown. Then Pastor Janet invited me to think of him as a friend, always waiting to be invited in. It's become an early morning habit, and I do feel better for it. My BFF!
ReplyDeleteYes, some Catholics do speak in tongues. I saw our priest do it years ago and did not understand what was going on.
DeleteYour Pastor is correct. The Holy Spirit is in fact the gift sent to us by Jesus to help us and guide us throughout this life whenever we need Him. He needs to be invited into our soul. He does not impose Himself on us. We ask God for the Holy Spirit to descend upon us.
It was St Hilary of Poitiers, a Bishop in the 3rd Century AD, who first described the Holy Spirit as ‘the gift’.
He is the gift given to us by God after Jesus ascended into Heaven. He is the very Spirit of God Himself. His very soul come back to us on earth to dwell within us and to help us in our Christian life.
That’s why He is sometimes referred to as the Helper, the Counsellor, God’s own Being living within us.
You may wish to read this post about the Trinity
https://timeforreflections.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-holy-trinity.html
God bless you, Mevely.
I myself am not Catholic but one of my best friends, was part of the Catholic Charismatic Revival in the mid 1960's here in California. Up till then I had no idea, some Catholics spoke in tongues.
ReplyDeleteYes Debby, some Catholics do speak in tongues. I have only known a few.
DeleteGod bless always.
I do not believe it, it makes not sense to me. I do believe some people might babble so as to feel "special" that they received the gift of speaking in tongues. If you do not understand what you are saying are you really speaking in tongues?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it makes not sense to me and I do not believe it.
I understand. Some people find it difficult to believe.
DeleteGod bless, JoeH.
I also do not see any importance to it. Either speaking in tongues or not has no relevance to me and my faith. So it is not a matter of belief or not to me.
DeleteYou are correct. You do not need to believe people speak in tongues if your mind/intellect does not allow you to believe. It is not a matter of belief, as you say.
DeleteGod bless, JoeH.
When G-d said "Let Us make man in Our image" it meant that as G-d is Father, Son and Spirit, He made us body, soul and spirit. Yes, He can inhabit our spirit, yes, He can pray through us.
ReplyDeleteYes, He can make us speak in languages we don't understand or normally speak, for His purposes.
It's not an easy topic, even among believers.
Yes, it is not an easy topic, even amongst believers. That is what faith is. To believe without understanding. Thank you, Mimi.
DeleteGod bless you.
I wonder if the tongues are ancient forgotten languages that we have not learned, although they may come forth from ancient race memory in times of stress.
ReplyDeleteI understand what you are saying, River. I really do not know ...
DeleteGod bless.