Praying in tongues is not a new phenomenon—it is rooted in the early life of the Church. On the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended, Mother Mary, the Apostles, and the early believers all spoke in tongues. This miraculous gift marked the birth of the Church, and it was a vivid sign of divine empowerment and unity across languages.
St. Paul himself affirmed the practice when he said, “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you” (1 Corinthians 14:18), indicating that this form of prayer was common among the earliest Christians.
Over time, the use of this gift became more common in monastic communities and in the lives of saints. Though less visible in public worship in later centuries, the gift of tongues has never disappeared.
Saints Who Spoke in Tongues
- St. Vincent Ferrer, though he only spoke Latin, was miraculously understood by people of many nationalities.
- St. Louis Bertrand prayed for the gift of tongues while facing devil-worshipers in a foreign land—and spoke their language!
- St. Martin De Porres was known to have spoken fluently in mysterious languages.
- St. Jean Marie Vianney, during confession, once spoke in an unknown tongue for several minutes, deeply impacting the listener.
- St. Pacomius, an Egyptian, once spoke Greek after praying, though he had never learned it.
- St. Theresa of Avila, in Interior Castle, describes a mysterious kind of prayer that resembles the gift of tongues.
- St. Thomas Aquinas, in Summa Theologica, reflected on the necessity of this gift to restore unity where language once divided humankind.
Church Teachings on Tongues
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2003; cf. 799–800) refers to charisms, including the gift of tongues, as spiritual gifts meant for the common good of the Church. Vatican II, in Lumen Gentium, affirms that these gifts are to be received and used in the Church and the world.
Modern Reflections
Cardinal Suenens, a key figure in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, wrote in The Holy Spirit, Life-Breath of the Church:
“We should not be surprised to see this revival… Among these means, the gift of tongues… is spiritual enrichment… a factor of renewal on more than one level.”
Conclusion
The gift of tongues is not a foreign concept in Catholicism. It has deep roots in Scripture, in the lives of saints, and in the spiritual heritage of the Church. Whether quietly present in monasteries or vibrantly expressed in Charismatic communities today, this gift continues to glorify God and build up the Church.
