Pentecost Sunday
Dominica Pentecostes
Fifty days after Easter the Church celebrates Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, the birthday of the Church and the beginning of her mission to all nations.
On the fiftieth day after Easter the Church celebrates Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles gathered with the Blessed Virgin Mary in the upper room. The name comes from the Greek for “fiftieth,” and the feast fulfils the promise the Lord had made before His Ascension, that He would send the Spirit upon His Church. With Easter, Pentecost is among the very greatest of the Church’s feasts.
The coming of the Holy Ghost
The Acts of the Apostles records that “when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place: and suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming” (Acts 2:1–2). There appeared parted tongues as of fire, which rested upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. The Spirit whom Christ had promised came upon the Apostles to abide with the Church forever, the third Person of the Holy Trinity, the Lord and Giver of life.
The birthday of the Church
Strengthened by the Holy Ghost, the Apostles, who had been fearful, went forth boldly to preach Christ crucified and risen. Saint Peter stood up and proclaimed the Gospel to the assembled multitude, and on that day about three thousand souls were baptized. For this reason Pentecost is rightly called the birthday of the Church: on this day she went out from the upper room to begin her mission of preaching the Gospel and baptizing all nations. The gift of tongues, by which men of every language understood the Apostles, signified that the Church was sent to gather all peoples into the one fold of Christ.
The Spirit in the life of the faithful
The same Holy Ghost given to the Apostles is poured into the hearts of the faithful, sanctifying souls, bestowing His gifts, and forming Christ within them. The Church invokes Him in the ancient hymns of the feast, Veni Creator Spiritus and Veni Sancte Spiritus, praying that He may come to enlighten, to kindle, and to renew. So great is this solemnity that, like Easter, it is honoured with an octave in the traditional calendar. Pentecost crowns the Paschal season and sends the faithful forth, in the strength of the Spirit, to bear witness to the risen Lord.
The Collect
O God, who on this day didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Ghost: grant us by the same Spirit to relish what is right, and ever to rejoice in his consolation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the same Holy Ghost.
Deus, qui hodíerna die corda fidélium Sancti Spíritus illustratióne docuísti: da nobis in eódem Spíritu recta sápere; et de eius semper consolatióne gaudére. Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, in unitáte eiusédem Spíritus Sancti.
Patronage
Pentecost is one of the principal solemnities of the universal Church; the day is associated with prayer to the Holy Ghost, especially the hymns Veni Creator Spiritus and Veni Sancte Spiritus.
In the Modern Calendar
In the modern calendar, Pentecost remains a solemnity fifty days after Easter, but the octave of Pentecost was not retained, and the Easter season closes with this feast.
Common Questions
When is Pentecost?
Pentecost is a movable feast kept fifty days after Easter, always on a Sunday. It is a First Class feast and one of the greatest solemnities of the year.
What happened at Pentecost?
The Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles gathered with the Blessed Virgin Mary, appearing as tongues of fire. Filled with the Spirit, they went forth to preach the Gospel, and about three thousand were baptized that day.
Why is Pentecost called the birthday of the Church?
Because on that day, strengthened by the Holy Ghost, the Apostles began publicly to preach Christ and to baptize, sending the Church out on her mission to all nations.
See where this feast falls in the Church’s year on the liturgical calendar, or find a Traditional Latin Mass near you.
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