The feast of Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after Easter, i.e. on the 7th Sunday after Easter and 10 days after the Ascension. This feast marks the end of the Easter season. Christians commemorate the Holy Spirit coming to the disciples of Jesus in the Cenacle - a biblical episode in the book of the Acts of the Apostles - and the mission of evangelism that falls to them since their baptism.
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The Acts of the Apostles tell us how, while Jesus was ascending to Heaven (Ascension) and his disciples and Mary were gathered to celebrate the Jewish feast of Shavuot, the Holy Spirit descended on them in the form of wind and tongues of fire.
“Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.” (Acts 2:2-3)
This one had been promised by Christ to his apostles on two occasions:
Just before his Passion: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)
Just before his Ascension: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
After this episode, the disciples filled with the Holy Spirit are sent to announce the Good News of man's salvation to all nations. The gift of wisdom, the gift of intelligence, the gift of advice, the gift of strength, the gift of knowledge, the gift of piety, and the gift of the fear of God.
"On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about." (Acts 1:4)
This feast is an opportunity to pray to the third person of the Holy Trinity: The Holy Spirit. Christians ask it to come down to the Church, to the world, and to live in each of our hearts.
It is by letting the Spirit of God breathe into our lives that we can respond to God's call, live our vocation as baptized people and carry out God's work in our lives. The Holy Spirit gives us audacity and develops talents in us, such as the silver tongues of the disciples. It can deliver gifts to us, formalized in seven gifts by Saint Thomas Aquinas: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1: 7) (Discover 8 Bible verses about the Holy Spirit)
This Christian feast was established in the first centuries of Christianity; in the 4th century, it was decided to celebrate it 50 days after Easter.
Pentecost Monday was one of three feast days that fell within the octave of Pentecost. But since the Second Vatican Council, the specific liturgy of this day has not been kept among Catholics, who no longer make it a particular solemnity. However, it still exists among Orthodox Christians, who celebrate the Holy Spirit on this day, Sunday being the feast of the Holy Trinity.
In charismatic communities, Pentecost is particularly celebrated and gives rise to very festive celebrations.
It is traditionally during Pentecost that the sacrament of confirmation is celebrated, in which the baptized receive the gift of the Spirit: "Be marked by the Holy Spirit, the gift of God."
“Lord Jesus, throughout this day, give us your Spirit, that He may transform our heart into a heart that you love, perfectly attuned to the will of the Father. ”
During this period, we mainly pray to the Holy Spirit. There are very beautiful prayers to ask for grace: consecration prayer, prayer of John Paul II, rosary to the Holy Spirit, litanies of the Holy Spirit...
During vespers on the day of Pentecost, Veni Creator Spiritus is sung and during the Mass, the Gregorian hymn Veni Sancte Spiritus is sung.
We can prepare our hearts for this breath of God with a novena in preparation for Pentecost, or take up the beautiful novena to the Holy Spirit.
On Hozana, you can find many online prayer communities dedicated to the Holy Spirit. Open your heart to God with:
Intercede for a new Pentecost over the world, and welcome the role that God reserves for you in the body of Christ that the Spirit is building.
Give yourself three days to enter into the mystery of the Trinity and get to know Father, Son and Holy Spirit better.
For one week, receive a video and an invitation each day to experience each of the seven gifts of the Spirit in a concrete way