Pentecost—from the Greek Pentekoste, meaning “fiftieth day”—concludes the Easter season. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and Mary in the Upper Room, fifty days after the Resurrection.
Acts 2:1-4 describes: “Suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind...Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire...And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Pentecost was originally the Jewish Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), a harvest festival. Jews from every nation were in Jerusalem, enabling the Apostles to speak in languages they had never learned—signaling the Gospel was for all peoples.
The seven gifts—wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, fear of the Lord—are imparted in Baptism and strengthened in Confirmation. Pentecost reminds us these gifts are for the mission of the Church.
St Paul lists: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). These fruits grow naturally when we cooperate with the Holy Spirit.
Red vestments symbolize the tongues of fire. The sequence Veni, Sancte Spiritus is sung before the Gospel. Many parishes renew baptismal promises and pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is alive in the Church today—in the sacraments, in God’s Word, in every soul in a state of grace. Pray daily: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.”
“Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” — 1 Corinthians 3:16