Catechesis with the gift of tongues

All our work, therefore, is and functions as a catechesis. We must give doctrine in every environment. For this we need to adapt ourselves and our message to the mentality of those who hear us: “the gift of tongues”. This gift of tongues obliges us to speak with content. St Paul writes: Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? (1 Cor 14:6). Therefore, we have an obligation to acquire formation. It is an obligation to form ourselves well doctrinally and to prepare ourselves, so that others can understand us and so that those who hear us may know how to express themselves well later on.

St Paul continues: If with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. The gift of tongues obliges us to understand others. The Apostle teaches this as well: There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me (1 Cor 14:9-11).

Need to give good example

It is not enough to give doctrine in an abstract, detached manner. As I said to you earlier, we need to defend the Faith fervently by our doctrine and by the example of our life lived in a consistent way. We need to imitate our Lord, who acted and taught: coepit facere et docere.¹² The apostolate of giving doctrine, if not accompanied by example, is lame and incomplete. There is a proverb from popular wisdom that clearly expresses what I am saying: Good example is the best preacher.

Humanism without God