Comments on: The Gift of Tears

By: bryon wambold

bryon wambold — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 04:29:24 +0000

I know of someone with the gift of tears and it always stars with the right eye flowing minutes before the left eye starts to flow, can you tell me if this is common with the gift of tears, and what possibly is the meaning of this manifestation of the right eye first?? thanks my email is bryonwambold2008@yahoo.com……………………………..PRAISE GOD

By: Deacon Tom

Deacon Tom — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 19:49:01 +0000

Margaret — another beautiful response to this area of great tenderness for many of us. The other day in prayer, I asked the Lord to keep me from ‘seeking’ these emotional responses. That may sound strange — but I don’t want my prayer and liturgies to be about what I get out of them… but about giving praise and thanksgiving to our God. And may I share a smile with you? I had this vision of a bunch of us all (coincidentally) sitting in the same pew at Church for a Mass. What would people think if they saw a dozen of us all with tears running down our cheeks?

Thanks for sharing, Margaret. Blessings.

deacon tom

By: Margaret

Margaret — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 14:31:34 +0000

I am so happy to find this site. I can cry quite uncontrollably during praying the Rosary, sometimes all I can get out is Hail Mary, and the tears flood. I have to wait before continuing to pray. I also cry in Church sometimes, as many have said during Confession, receiving the Eurcharist, singing some hymns. It doesn’t happen some nights and other nights during praying the rosary alot alot big drops of tears fall, but its wonderful too. Sometimes when I don’t have the tears I miss them, because when I do have tears I feel a different connection, a deep loving towards Jesus, Mary, God, and the Holy Spirit.
Well that’s what happens for me anyway, I am so happy to read other peoples comments, sometimes it is very hard to hold back the tears at Mass, but now I feel its a blessing, a gift, it is okay.
May God Bless you all.

By: Deacon Tom

Deacon Tom — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:03:43 +0000

Dear Anne and other fellow journey mates, greetings and peace. What a lovely reply to the column written well over a year ago on the Gift of Tears. Thank you for your words and openness about what you have experienced. You might be surprised at the number of on-going comments this column brings about. In my own faith walk, I become tender when I first approach the Eucharist after Confession… sometimes when I’m at Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. And it sometimes happens when I see young families… especially innocent young children at Mass or other services.

Thank you again. And thanks for your participation in the Catholic Mom website and family. May God bless you and wash your soul with the tears that you experience. Blessings.

deacon tom

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By: anne

anne — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:51:39 +0000

I only found out there is such a term a few days ago.
I’ve been crying a lot while praying for two people- whom I haven’t met – who’ve recently lost loved ones. A couple of nights, I was also crying for all the people who are hurt and in pain, and asking God to comfort them. BUT I don’t know if the tears are spiritual, or simply due to the fact I’m sensitive and empathic, since I too am afraid to lose my loved ones, and I too have suffered loss. At times, after taking communion in Church, I also feel teary.

I have my doubts because after these episodes, I don’t exactly feel ‘peace’ or closer to God, but more like.. well, like I’ve just had a good cry!

By: Deacon Tom

Deacon Tom — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 19:05:01 +0000

One more thing: friend Russ Rentler is a medical doctor, composer/singer and Haiti missionary. Today he’s releasing free downloads of his latest album which has some touching (e.g. tear suggestive) songs… Among others: try Late Have I Loved You…. Go to:

http://www.facebook.com/l/8001dRBs0OVAx65zPvFp0eaRbEg;www.reverbnation.com/#/russrentler

By: Deacon Tom

Deacon Tom — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:35:26 +0000

Dear Teresa and any others who may see your post… how beautiful to read your sharing and to know of those times when certain Church-related events bring out your gift of tears…. and it really, really is a gift. It washes the soul and freshens our love of God. Two things to add because they are fairly fresh. First — every time I go to Franciscan Univ. and experience Mass or Adoration with all those priests — I often am gifted with very tender emotions and I cry. Similarly but entirely different — I just returned from doing a Communion Service for a lot of Boy Scouts. The setting is truly magnificent — there’s a high rim of mountains surrounding the outdoor chapel and it lifts one’s mind and heart. The young (Scout) guitar leader started playing that song: “I could sing of your love forever….” Oh gosh… well, don’t get me started. Blessings Teresa and to all who experience this wonderful gift. deacon tom

By: Teresa

Teresa — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:13:25 +0000

I also have the Gift of Tears, and have had it for some years, though I’m really not sure how many. I didn’t even realize it was a gift until recently. When it happens, it’s almost always during Mass, and usually comes on me suddenly, but not every time I’m at Mass. Sometimes it’s while singing a hymn or the Gloria. I experienced it today at Mass and came upon me during the Eucharistic Prayer at the doxology. I felt a sudden influx of love, acceptance and oneness with the Lord. It brings such a feeling of simultaneous joy, love, peace and thankfulness that my Creator loved me enough to come to me, that the tears of love flow. I think this must be what heaven is like! I am a cradle Catholic, but experienced a major conversion after several years of doubt as a young adult. At that time, I experienced the tears of repentance and was almost sobbing in the confessional. When the gift manifests, I’m usually embarrassed and try to hide it, and none of my family members have ever mentioned it to me thankfully. I’m not sure why I have this gift, but I trust that God does! Love to you all.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 26 May 2010 23:47:11 +0000

I have the Gift of Tears, and wasn’t aware until just very recently that it actually had a name. I had been a lapsed Catholic for several decades and suffered through 3 painful life-changes in 2008. A friend suggested that I go to church with her and I found myself crying with such happiness and new-found faith and knew I was Home. That began my re-unification with God and the Catholic Church. I cry at mass, knowing I am in God’s house and He’s there. These are not forced tears by any measure. I cry during the songs or during parts of the sermon. I always cry when I pray, regardless of where I am. They are tears due to happiness or sadness, despair, or strong faith, intense love of God and of finding my way back to Him. I think I cry because I’m talking to God and I know He hears me. Now I know it’s a blessed and remarkable gift.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 01:50:44 +0000

I think I have the Gift of Tears. I’m not sure though, because I used to cry about all sorts of stuff all the time; mostly selfishly. Now I rarely cry about anything other than God. When I first became a Christian again, after a phase of Agnosticism, I cried every time I thought about Him. Now it happens less. My tears usually happen during church/mass (I’m not Catholic, but attend Catholic mass often because my boyfriend is), and they usually happen while I am singing. This makes me think it is only an aesthetic experience, and not actually a gift from God. I don’t want to commit to it being or not being of God, because I fear the consequences of being wrong.

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:36:41 +0000

I have the gift of tears. I had a powerful conversion about 15 years ago. I received the gift of tears shortly thereafter, and it happened often at mass, but not always. Then I was in choir ministry for a while, and busy with my family, and this gift went away. About a year ago it came back, and now my tears flow in huge drops at mass, one after the other — it is very baptismal, and not really always emotional, but sometimes a deep, almost heartbreaking gratitude to Christ comes with it. My husband and kids were slightly mortified at first, but now they are used to it, I guess. Anyway, I’m not a really emotional person, and rather tough I think as the mom of three formerly home schooled boys. But this gift of tears is something different – a precious gift to be sure, and doesn’t really have anything to do with my sins at the time, but rather just a gift that only happens at mass or during the family rosary. I also have the Holy Spirit sometimes burning like fire in my heart, and I can’t figure out why it occurs when it does — seemingly at the oddest times– but that is the wonder and awesomeness of our Dear Father! Who can figure HIm out?? All my meager love goes to my dear Abba, and my Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit in my heart!!!

By: Clare

Clare — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:04:58 +0000

It is very hard for me not to cry sometimes when I hear certain music, see somebody get married, baptisms, first communions especially when it is one of my children. I remember hearing or reading about the gift of tears but I always felt a little out of place knowing I could be seen crying. I often wonder why others do not cry so I tell myself they must not understand the beauty of the moment so then are not moved to tears. My husband and I use to cry every time we watched, “Little House on the Prairie” that my two year old daughter called it the, “Crying Show”.

By: CatholicMom.com » Columnists Sarah Reinhard » Tears as a Gift? By Sarah Reinhard

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:01:57 +0000

[...] while back, Deacon Tom Fox wrote a column in this space called “The Gift of Tears.” I’m a dry-eyed gal most of the time, and I have always prided myself on that [...]

By: Hilary Jenkins

Hilary Jenkins — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:03:13 +0000

Hi Tom,
I think I was given this gift 9 years ago, at the start of a profound conversion experience. Over the years it has diminished somewhat, as I have experienced massive healing of acutely painful areas in my life. However, it still manifests itself periodically; during Mass, especially at the Elevation, and sometimes very forcefully, after receiving Holy Communion. The sacrament of Reconciliation, and sacred music will often trigger it, too. Meditating on the Passion is a guarantee to need a box of tissues! As I do not appear to possess any other spiritual gifts, I tend to feel a “spiritual toddler”, and maybe do not appreciate that which has been given to me. So little is said about it, I haven’t regarded it as something to be grateful for-ignorance on my part!

By: Lisa Hendey

Lisa Hendey — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:22:47 +0000

Deacon Tom, I inherited the “Gift of Tears” from my Daddy, and he received it from his own Mother whom he loved so dearly. So I consider it a precious treasure, but always remember to pack tissue just in case!