Tongues Commentary
This excerpt from Msgr. Vincent Walsh's A Key to the Charismatic Renewal provides helpful info related to "prayer tongues." (The manual contains hundreds of in-depth responses on the charismatic gifts.)
26. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "PRAYER TONGUES" AND THE "GIFT OF TONGUES"?
Praying in tongues is a permanent ability given to a person as an outward manifestation of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, whereby the person, at any time, can pray to God in a language which he does not know and which is not the result of his intellectual powers.
The gift of tongues is a passing manifestation of the Holy Spirit whereby an individual is prompted to give a message in tongues, i.e., speak aloud, by himself, usually at a prayer meeting. As mentioned, this manifestation should be followed by the charismatic gift of interpretation. The gift of tongues followed by interpretation is very close to prophecy.
27. IS THIS DISTINCTION FREQUENTLY OVERLOOKED?
Yes, and this causes some problems, especially in trying to explain the Pentecostal Movement to others and to newcomers. Most people seem to be aware of St. Paul's admonition, "If any are going to talk in tongues let it be at most two or three, each in turn, with another to interpret what they are saying" (1 Cor. 14:27).
They are also aware of Paul's words in 1 Cor. 12:10, "One receives the gift of tongues," and do not realize that the ministry of tongues which is given only to some is different than praying in tongues which seems to be offered to all.
28. DURING THE COURSE OF A CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC PRAYER MEETING, ARE THERE NOT TIMES WHEN EVERYONE DOES START PRAYING IN STRANGE TONGUES TOGETHER?
Yes, and this is not against St. Paul's admonition that the gift of tongues should be used in turn, because praying in tongues and giving a message in tongues are two distinct charismatic manifestations. What really occurs is not many giving a message in tongues at once but the "collective use of prayer tongues," that is, the community begins to praise God out loud, with those who pray in tongues using that gift to praise God. Anyone who has heard and/or participated in this form of praying or singing usually experiences a deep sense of peace and the presence of Christ.
29. WHAT IS "SINGING IN PRAYER TONGUES"?
As the community begins to praise God aloud in prayer tongues, it begins to sense that it would be even more beautiful to sing God's praises. One by one the members go from "praying in tongues" to "singing in tongues." At this point, the Holy Spirit leads the group into harmony and the individual finds himself being led to sing with the others on a given note. (Any musician could probably chart the singing on a scale.) Another impressive phenomenon about both praying and singing in tongues is that the entire community is led to stop almost simultaneously.
30. WHAT IS MEANT BY SAYING THAT "PRAYER TONGUES" IS A SIGN OF CHRIST'S SPIRIT?
It is so designated because the gift of "prayer tongues" did not appear until Pentecost Day. There were many manifestations of God's power and activity in the Old Testament. There were healings, miracles, people raised from the dead, etc. These same manifestations were also evident in Christ's life.
However, the phenomena of people "praying in tongues" is first recorded at Pentecost, and was a clear sign of the gift of the Spirit promised by Christ.
31. WAS NOT "PRAYING IN TONGUES" IMPORTANT IN THE CONVERSION OF THE GENTILES?
This role of "being a sign of Christ's Spirit" was extremely important in the conversion of the Gentiles. Only with great reluctance did Peter go to Cornelius in the first place and only after the vision recorded in Acts, Chapter 10. During his sermon to Cornelius's family, the Holy Spirit descended on them and they began to pray in tongues.
"The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were surprised that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, whom they could hear speaking in tongues and glorifying God" (Acts 10:45-46).
This praying in tongues was seen as proof that they had received the same Spirit of Christ as the disciples on Pentecost. Peter then went far beyond the original intention of his visit and accepted these Gentiles for sacramental baptism.
"Peter put the question at that point, "What can stop these people who have received the Holy Spirit, even as we have, from being baptized with water?' So he gave orders that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. After this was done, they asked him to stay with them for a few days" (Acts 10:47-48).