Pentecost is celebrated as the preeminent celebration of the Holy Spirit, occurring on Sunday, May 19, seven weeks after Easter. This celebration is based on the verses in the Acts of the Apostles which describe the event when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues. The Acts of the Apostles is traditionally attributed to St. Luke the Evangelist and depicts the emergence of Christianity from its origins in Judaism to its global status. Pentecost symbolizes the fulfillment of Jesus’ mission on earth to “set the earth on fire,” as told in Luke 12:49, as tongues of fire descend upon his disciples.
While the feast of Pentecost is often associated with the Holy Spirit, it is more accurately the feast of the sending of the Holy Spirit. The descent of the Holy Spirit is seen as Christ’s greatest gift to his Church, a gift achieved through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension into Heaven. The Holy Spirit is seen as the source of life for the Church, continually renewing and animating its members. Parish priest Fr. Louis Cona sees the Holy Spirit at work in the Church’s sacraments, particularly in the healing of the sick through prayer and anointing, as well as the spiritual thirst and desire for truth seen in young people.
The special sequence sung during Catholic Mass on Pentecost, “Veni Sancte Spiritus” or “Come Holy Spirit,” highlights the actions of the Holy Spirit within the hearts of believers. This hymn speaks to the softening of hardened hearts, the warmth over ego, sin, and loneliness, and the unity of believers. Fr. Cona emphasizes the importance of the Holy Spirit in overcoming pride, fear, and isolation to bring peace, unity, and eternal joy. On Pentecost Sunday, believers pray for a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit to melt the hardened hearts of sin and violence in the world.
Pentecost is a celebration of the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the Church, acting as a source of renewal and life for believers. The imagery of the tongues of fire as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles symbolizes the dynamic and energizing nature of the Holy Spirit. Fr. Cona highlights the incredible movements of the Holy Spirit, particularly in healing and in the thirst for truth seen in young people. The role of the Holy Spirit is crucial in unifying believers, overcoming obstacles such as pride, fear, and isolation, and bringing about inner transformation.
The celebration of Pentecost serves as a reminder of the continuous presence and work of the Holy Spirit within the Church and its members. The descent of the Holy Spirit symbolizes Christ’s fulfillment of his earthly mission, bringing about renewal and enlivening the Church. Fr. Cona emphasizes the distinction between the feast of the Holy Spirit and the feast of the sending of the Holy Spirit, underscoring the significance of this gift to the Church. The celebration of Pentecost is an opportunity for believers to seek a renewed outpouring of the Spirit in order to soften hardened hearts, bring unity, peace, and eternal joy to the world.
Overall, Pentecost is a celebration of the sending of the Holy Spirit, marked by the descent of tongues of fire upon the disciples. This event symbolizes the dynamic, renewing, and unifying nature of the Holy Spirit within the Church. Fr. Cona’s reflections on the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church, particularly in healing and transformation, highlight the ongoing work of the Spirit in the lives of believers. The special sequence of “Veni Sancte Spiritus” sung during Pentecost Mass emphasizes the need for the Holy Spirit to soften hearts, bring unity, and overcome obstacles to peace and joy. The celebration of Pentecost serves as a reminder of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and believers.
