Central to the homily is a discussion of the phenomenon of glossolalia, or speaking in tongues, as understood through the lens of St. Augustine’s theology and its relevance to the contemporary Church. This essay will explore the homily’s key themes, provide an English translation of relevant excerpts, explain the concept of glossolalia, and analyze St. Augustine’s perspective, as well as broader Church teaching, on why this phenomenon was necessary in the early Church but less so today. The discussion will draw on the homily, St. Augustine’s writings, and authoritative Church sources to provide a comprehensive understanding.
Pope Leo XIV’s Homily: Context and Themes
The homily was delivered at a significant moment for the Augustinian Order, marking the start of their General Chapter, a time of discernment and renewal. Pope Leo XIV frames the Eucharist as a moment of grace, invoking the Holy Spirit to guide the Augustinians’ deliberations. He emphasizes three key virtues—listening, humility, and unity—as essential for the work ahead, drawing heavily on St. Augustine’s reflections on Pentecost and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The homily integrates scriptural references, particularly Acts 2:1-11, which describes the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and connects these to the Augustinian charism of communal discernment.
A pivotal section of the homily addresses glossolalia, referencing St. Augustine’s Sermon 269. Pope Leo XIV uses this to encourage the Augustinians to see themselves as members of the Body of Christ, capable of “speaking all tongues” through their unity and mission. Below is an English translation of the relevant excerpt from the homily:
> “Meditating on Pentecost, our Father St. Augustine, responding to the provocative question of those who asked why, today, the extraordinary sign of ‘glossolalia’ is not repeated as it was once in Jerusalem, offers a reflection that I believe can be very useful for the task you are about to undertake. Augustine says: ‘At first, each believer […] spoke all languages […]. Now the whole body of believers speaks in all languages. Therefore, even now, all languages are ours, because we are members of the body that speaks.’ Dear brothers and sisters, here, together, you are members of the Body of Christ, which speaks all languages. If not all the languages of the world, certainly all those that God deems necessary for the fulfillment of the good that, in His provident wisdom, He entrusts to you. Therefore, live these days in a sincere effort to communicate and understand, and do so as a generous response to the great and unique gift of light and grace that the Father of Heaven grants you by calling you here, precisely you, for the good of all.”
This passage highlights the shift from the miraculous, individual gift of glossolalia in the early Church to a broader, communal understanding of “speaking all tongues” through the Church’s unity and mission. Pope Leo XIV uses Augustine’s insight to underscore the importance of communication and mutual understanding within the Augustinian community, suggesting that the Spirit’s gift of tongues is now manifested through the Church’s collective witness.
Understanding Glossolalia
Glossolalia, derived from the Greek words “glossa” (tongue or language) and “lalia” (speech), refers to the phenomenon of speaking in languages unknown to the speaker, often associated with divine inspiration. In the New Testament, glossolalia is most prominently described in Acts 2:1-11, where the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, speak in various languages, enabling people from different nations to hear the Gospel in their native tongues. This event is often interpreted as a reversal of the Tower of Babel, where human languages were confused (Genesis 11:1-9), symbolizing the restoration of unity through the Spirit.
Glossolalia can take two forms in Christian tradition:
1. Xenoglossia: Speaking in recognizable human languages without prior knowledge, as seen at Pentecost.
2. Ecstatic Speech: Uttering unintelligible sounds or words, often associated with prayer or worship, as described in 1 Corinthians 12-14, where St. Paul discusses the gift of tongues in the context of spiritual gifts.
In the early Church, glossolalia served as a sign of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power, authenticating the apostles’ mission and facilitating the rapid spread of the Gospel across linguistic and cultural barriers. It was a visible manifestation of God’s action, demonstrating the universality of the Church’s message.
St. Augustine’s Perspective on Glossolalia
St. Augustine, a pivotal figure in Western Christianity, offers a nuanced interpretation of glossolalia in his Sermon 269, which Pope Leo XIV cites. Augustine addresses the question of why the dramatic sign of glossolalia, as seen at Pentecost, is no longer prevalent in his time (late 4th to early 5th century). He argues that the gift of tongues was necessary in the early Church to signify the universal mission of the Gospel but is no longer needed in the same way because the Church itself has become the embodiment of that universality.
In Sermon 269, Augustine states:
> “In the beginning, each believer […] spoke all languages […]. Now the whole body of believers speaks in all languages. Therefore, even now, all languages are ours, because we are members of the body that speaks.”
Augustine’s reasoning is rooted in his ecclesiology, which views the Church as the Body of Christ, encompassing all believers. At Pentecost, glossolalia was a visible sign that the Gospel was meant for all nations, breaking down linguistic barriers. By Augustine’s time, the Church had spread across the Roman Empire, incorporating diverse peoples and languages. The miraculous gift of tongues was no longer necessary because the Church’s very existence—its unity in diversity—fulfilled the same purpose. The “speaking of all tongues” now occurs through the collective witness of the faithful, who, as members of Christ’s body, proclaim the Gospel in every language and culture.
Augustine further emphasizes that the true sign of the Spirit’s presence is not miraculous phenomena but love and unity. He writes in Sermon 269:
> “As then the different languages that one person could speak were the sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit, so now it is the love for unity […] the sign of His presence. For as spiritual people rejoice in unity, carnal people always seek conflicts. […] What greater force of piety is there than the love for unity? You will have the Holy Spirit when you consent that your heart adheres to unity through sincere charity.”
For Augustine, the Spirit’s work is most evident in the Church’s unity, which transcends cultural and linguistic differences. The miraculous gift of tongues was a temporary sign, appropriate for the Church’s infancy, but the mature Church manifests the Spirit through communal love and mission.
Church Teaching and Papal Perspectives
The Catholic Church’s understanding of glossolalia aligns closely with Augustine’s view, emphasizing its historical role and its transformation into the Church’s universal mission. The Catechism of the Catholic Church does not explicitly address glossolalia but discusses the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including charisms like speaking in tongues, as graces given for the building up of the Church (CCC 799-801). The Catechism underscores that these gifts are subordinate to charity, echoing Augustine’s emphasis on love as the ultimate sign of the Spirit (CCC 800).
Pope Paul VI, in his encyclical Dominum et Vivificantem (1986), reflects on the Holy Spirit’s role at Pentecost, noting that the gift of tongues symbolized the Church’s mission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations. He writes:
> “The miracle of tongues on the day of Pentecost, described in the Acts of the Apostles, is a sign of the gift of the Spirit who enables the Church to speak to all peoples in their own languages.”
Paul VI suggests that the Spirit’s action continues through the Church’s preaching and sacramental life, not necessarily through miraculous signs like glossolalia. This perspective reinforces Augustine’s view that the Church itself is the enduring “tongue” of the Spirit.
Pope John Paul II, addressing charismatic renewal movements, acknowledged the legitimacy of glossolalia as a form of prayer but cautioned that it must be exercised in an orderly manner, as St. Paul instructs in 1 Corinthians 14. In a 1998 audience, he stated:
> “The gift of tongues, as described in the New Testament, can be a form of prayer or praise, but it must always serve the common good and be subordinate to charity.”
John Paul II emphasized that charisms like glossolalia are not ends in themselves but tools for building up the Church, aligning with Augustine’s focus on unity and love.
Pope Francis, in his 2014 address to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, further clarified the role of glossolalia in modern times. He encouraged charismatics to use their gifts to foster unity, not division, stating:
> “The gift of tongues is a gift of the Spirit, but it must always be at the service of the Church’s unity and mission. It is not about personal exaltation but about building up the Body of Christ.”
Francis’s remarks reflect the Church’s consistent teaching that glossolalia, while valid, is not essential to the Church’s mission today, as the universal spread of the Gospel has been achieved through the Church’s institutional presence and missionary activity.
Why Glossolalia Was Needed in the Early Church
In the early Church, glossolalia served several critical functions:
1. Evangelistic Tool: The miracle of Pentecost enabled the apostles to communicate the Gospel to diverse peoples, overcoming linguistic barriers. This was essential in the Church’s infancy, when it needed to establish its universal mission in a multilingual world.
2. Sign of Divine Authentication: Glossolalia was a visible sign of the Holy Spirit’s presence, confirming the apostles’ authority and the truth of their message. In a time when Christianity was a new and often persecuted movement, such signs bolstered the faith of believers and attracted converts.
3. Symbol of Unity: The reversal of Babel through glossolalia symbolized the restoration of human unity in Christ. It demonstrated that the Gospel was for all nations, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 66:18-19 that God would gather all peoples.
Why Glossolalia Is Not Needed Today
According to Augustine and subsequent Church teaching, glossolalia is less necessary today for several reasons:
1. The Church’s Universal Presence: By the 4th century, the Church had spread across the known world, incorporating diverse languages and cultures. The need for miraculous linguistic gifts diminished as the Church itself became the vehicle for universal proclamation.
2. Maturity of the Church: Augustine viewed the early Church as in its “infancy,” requiring visible signs like glossolalia to establish its credibility. The mature Church, however, relies on the sacraments, preaching, and the witness of charity to manifest the Spirit’s presence.
3. Primacy of Charity: Both Augustine and modern popes emphasize that love and unity are the true signs of the Spirit. Glossolalia, while a valid charism, is subordinate to the greater gift of charity, which unites the Church across all differences.
4. Institutional Structures: The Church’s established structures, including its clergy, scriptures, and translations of liturgical texts into various languages, have rendered miraculous linguistic gifts largely unnecessary for evangelization.
Pope Leo XIV’s Application
Pope Leo XIV’s homily applies Augustine’s insights to the Augustinian Order’s General Chapter, urging members to embody the Spirit’s gift of “speaking all tongues” through their communal discernment and mission. He suggests that the Augustinians, as part of the Body of Christ, carry forward the Pentecost miracle by communicating the Gospel in ways that transcend cultural and linguistic barriers. This is not through miraculous speech but through listening, humility, and unity—virtues that enable the Church to “speak” to all people.
The homily also reflects broader Church teaching by prioritizing the Spirit’s guidance in fostering unity. Leo XIV’s call to “communicate and understand” echoes Augustine’s emphasis on charity as the true language of the Spirit. By invoking Pentecost, the Pope reminds the Augustinians that their work is part of the Church’s ongoing mission to proclaim the Gospel universally, not through extraordinary signs but through the ordinary, yet profound, witness of a united community.
Conclusion
Pope Leo XIV’s homily on September 1, 2025, offers a rich theological reflection on glossolalia, drawing on St. Augustine’s insight that the Church itself is the fulfillment of the Pentecost miracle. Glossolalia was a vital sign in the early Church, enabling evangelization and symbolizing unity, but its necessity has diminished as the Church has grown into a universal institution. Augustine and subsequent Church teaching, as articulated by popes like Paul VI, John Paul II, and Francis, emphasize that the Spirit’s presence is now most evident in charity and unity. Leo XIV applies this to the Augustinian context, urging members to embody the Spirit’s gift through their communal life and mission. This understanding underscores the Church’s enduring role as the Body of Christ, speaking all tongues through its universal witness.
Sources
- Pope Leo XIV, Homily for the Opening of the General Chapter of the Order of St. Augustine, September 1, 2025[](https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/it/homilies/2025/documents/20250901-messa-sant-agostino.html)
- St. Augustine, Sermon 269
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 799-801
- Pope Paul VI, Dominum et Vivificantem, 1986
- Pope John Paul II, Audience with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, 1998
- Pope Francis, Address to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, 2014
- Holy Bible, Acts 2:1-11, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Isaiah 66:18-19
.jpg)