The Gift of Tongues

Also Known as Glossalalia

Mar 25, 2009 Marilynn Hughes

Catholic Saints with the Gift of Tongues were able to speak in their native tongue to crowds of people from many countries - all of whom understood them.

Many people correlate speaking in tongues with the evangelical charismatic movement and the prayer meetings wherein people are overtaken by the spirit to speak in a different language.

In the Catholic Tradition, however, speaking in tongues includes a different phenomenon. That miracle includes speaking in your own native tongue to a crowd of thousands who speak many different languages, all of whom hear the same sermon in their own language and understand it perfectly with no need of an interpreter.

St. Anthony of Padua 1231

One of the first priests of the Franciscan order, St. Anthony was known for his unbelievable oratorical skills.

In The Little Flowers of St. Francis, there is an account of St. Anthony speaking before the Pope and many Cardinals who were gathered from many nations. But he spoke so beautifully and eloquently on the Word of God, that all present understood his message clearly.

He is also known to have preached in perfect Italian when in Italy and French when in France although he never studied any of these languages.

St. Vincent Ferrer 1419

A Dominican, St. Vincent Ferrer preached in Latin or his native tongue which was called Limousin, the native tongue of Valencia. But the penitents who followed him wherever he went from many countries understood every word he said.

He was also known to speak in tongues – an act that was witnessed by contemporary biographers.

St. Paul of the Cross 1775

Giving a sermon on the Isle of Elba, St. Paul of the Cross was not only heard by people of many different nationalities with various native tongues – all of whom understood him – but he was heard at great distance, it is said up to five miles away.

St. Dominic 1221

A story is related that St. Dominic was traveling with his brothers when they came across a group of two German pilgrims who indicated their desire that they sit down and sup with them.

They stayed with them for four days and St. Dominic felt grieved that because of the language barrier they seemed to have nothing to offer these two German men.

St. Dominic asked his brothers to pray with them, and immediately they were all able to preach the gospel to the German Pilgrims for the remainder of their journey.

Others Known to Speak in Tongues

Others known to speak in tongues included St. Louis Bertrand, St. Martin De Porres, St. Philip Benizi, St. Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney, St. Bernardine of Siena, St. Pacomius, St. Francis Solano and Padre Pio.

Related Reading

Readers may also enjoy learning about The Holy Stigmata and Mystical Knowledge.

Sources:

• Mysteries, Marvels and Miracles: In the Lives of the Saints, by Joan Carroll Cruz.

The copyright of the article The Gift of Tongues in Catholicism is owned by Marilynn Hughes. Permission to republish The Gift of Tongues in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Mysteries, Marvels and Miracles: In the Lives of t

St. Dominic