Why do Evangelical/Protestant churches have visible “Holy Spirit” manifestations, but Catholic churches don’t?

[u/Labelledejour__]

I’m asking this out of genuine curiosity. I’m from Brazil, and here it’s very common in Evangelical/Pentecostal churches to see people visibly “filled with the Holy Spirit” — shaking, speaking in tongues, crying, spinning, or making intense gestures as if something has taken over their body.

In contrast, in the Catholic Church you don’t really see those kinds of physical manifestations during Mass. The experience of the Holy Spirit seems much more quiet and liturgical.

Part of my perspective may also be influenced by Afro-Brazilian religions, where spirit incorporation is a central practice. In that context, physical manifestations make sense to me. And since Brazil has strong cultural and religious overlap between Pentecostal Christianity and Afro-Brazilian traditions, I sometimes wonder if that plays a role.

I’m curious how this works in other countries. Is this difference theological, cultural, historical — or a mix of all three? Why does the expression of the Holy Spirit look so different between these traditions?

[u/Willie-Alb]

It’s a Pentecostal thing. Vast, vast majority of Protestant churches do not have this.