A Sunday Thought About the Coming of Pentecost to Start the Week Off Right
After Our Lord's Ascension into Heaven, the Apostles and their friends gathered to wait, as Our Lord instructed them, for the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, who would fill them with faith and enkindle their hearts with love. Pentecost is considered the "birthday" of the Church because once inspired by the Spirit, the Apostles and their successors would spread the Good News, ultimately to the four corners of the earth.
Fast forward from that first Pentecost to today. As Catholics we prepare to celebrate Pentecost next Sunday. Although it's really a big deal, like so much else related to our Holy Faith these days, too few of us will observe this great feast in a manner commensurate with its importance. One way to do so might be to pray a Novena to the Holy Spirit. (If you don't know any, here's one you might use.) Or perhaps you can remember each day, maybe during your morning prayers, to always pray this simple prayer to the Holy Spirit:
And you might remember that your daily prayer to the Holy Spirit continues the work of the Apostles begun that first Pentecost over 2,000 years ago. You see, while the Faith has indeed been spread to the four corners of the earth due to their efforts and those of their successors, many of whom died a martyrs death with the Good News in their hearts and on their lips, there's still much work to be done. In fact, a recent poll tells us that the number of people in our great country who consider themselves Catholics has been declining. With Europe already thoroughly secularized, it seems the U.S. will follow their lead.
The ripple that flowed from the Upper Room on Pentecost, which eventually grew to a great wave of missionary fervor, has apparently apparently reversed and may soon be turned into a trickle - unless, of course, more of us Catholics cooperate with the graces flowing from the Holy Spirit (ours for the asking) starting this day, continuing every day of our lives. Pray, and pray again: The Holy Spirit, that Spirit of Love between the Father and the Son, will come as you ask, and as needed. Each of us, in our own way, can continue the work of the Apostles in our own homes, our schools, our workplaces. The Good News of Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Lord and Savior, cannot be contained in the hearts to those who love Him. It's only natural that His love will spill out onto those around us, if we truly do love Him and strive to do His Will each and every day.
So prepare. Pray. And here's that most simple and beautiful chant which purportedly dates back to the 9th century. We don't hear it often enough. Take a moment and pray the Veni Creator Spiritus as it was written by Rabanus Maurus centuries ago.
Fast forward from that first Pentecost to today. As Catholics we prepare to celebrate Pentecost next Sunday. Although it's really a big deal, like so much else related to our Holy Faith these days, too few of us will observe this great feast in a manner commensurate with its importance. One way to do so might be to pray a Novena to the Holy Spirit. (If you don't know any, here's one you might use.) Or perhaps you can remember each day, maybe during your morning prayers, to always pray this simple prayer to the Holy Spirit:
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful
And enkindle in us the fire of Thy Love
Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created
And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
And you might remember that your daily prayer to the Holy Spirit continues the work of the Apostles begun that first Pentecost over 2,000 years ago. You see, while the Faith has indeed been spread to the four corners of the earth due to their efforts and those of their successors, many of whom died a martyrs death with the Good News in their hearts and on their lips, there's still much work to be done. In fact, a recent poll tells us that the number of people in our great country who consider themselves Catholics has been declining. With Europe already thoroughly secularized, it seems the U.S. will follow their lead.
The ripple that flowed from the Upper Room on Pentecost, which eventually grew to a great wave of missionary fervor, has apparently apparently reversed and may soon be turned into a trickle - unless, of course, more of us Catholics cooperate with the graces flowing from the Holy Spirit (ours for the asking) starting this day, continuing every day of our lives. Pray, and pray again: The Holy Spirit, that Spirit of Love between the Father and the Son, will come as you ask, and as needed. Each of us, in our own way, can continue the work of the Apostles in our own homes, our schools, our workplaces. The Good News of Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Lord and Savior, cannot be contained in the hearts to those who love Him. It's only natural that His love will spill out onto those around us, if we truly do love Him and strive to do His Will each and every day.
So prepare. Pray. And here's that most simple and beautiful chant which purportedly dates back to the 9th century. We don't hear it often enough. Take a moment and pray the Veni Creator Spiritus as it was written by Rabanus Maurus centuries ago.
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