Whitsunday

Pentecost

Station at St. Peter's

"The gift of Wisdom is an illumination of the Holy Ghost, thanks to which our intellect is able to look at revealed truths in their more sublime light, to the greater joy of our souls." (Rev. M. Meschler, S.J.: "The Gift of Pentecost: Meditations on the Holy Ghost," translated by Lady Amabel Kerr, p. 247.)

Our Lord laid the foundations of His Church during His public life, and after His resurrection He gave it the powers necessary for its mission. It was by the Holy Ghost that the apostles were to be trained and endued with strength from on High (Gospel). "At Pentecost we celebrate the first manifestation of the Holy Ghost among our Lord's disciples and the foundation of the Church itself." (Mgr Duchesne.) Hence the choice of the basilica dedicated to St. Peter for to-day's station.

We read in the Gospel that our Lord foretold the coming of the Paraclete to His disciples and the Epistle shows us the realization of that promise.

It was at the third hour of the day (Terce, nine o'clock a. m.) that the Spirit of God descended upon the Cenacle and a mighty wind which blew suddenly upon the house, together with the appearance of tongues of fire within, were the wonderful tokens of His coming. Taught by the "light of Thy Holy Spirit" (Collect), and filled by the gifts of the same Spirit poured out upon them (Sequence), the apostles become new men to go forth and renew the whole world (Introit). It is at High Mass, at the third hour, that we also receive the Holy Spirit whom our Lord "going up above all the heavens, on this day sent down ... on the children of adoption" (Preface); for each of the mysteries of the cycle brings forth its fruits of grace in our souls on the day which the Church keeps as its anniversary.

During Advent we raised to the Incarnate Word the cry: "Come Lord, and purge the sins of Thy people"; at this season let us, with the Church, say to the Holy Ghost, "Come, O Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love " (Alleluia).

Of all ejaculatory prayers this is the most beautiful and necessary, for from the Holy Ghost, that "sweet Guest of our soul" flows all our supernatural life.

Spiritus Domini replevit orbem terrarum, alleluia: et hoc quod continet omnia, scientiam habet vocis, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. * Exsurgat Deus, et dissipentur inimici ejus: et fugiant, qui oderunt eum, a facie ejus.

The Spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole world, alleluia; and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. * Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered : and let them that hate Him flee from before His face.

(Wisdom 1:7 and Psalm 67:2 from the Introit of Mass)

Deus, qui hodierna die corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti: da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere; et de ejus semper consolatione gaudere.

O God, who on this day didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things and ever rejoice in His holy consolation.

(Collect)

Lesson from the Acts of the Apostles.

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, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak. Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue. And they were all amazed, and wondered, saying : Behold, are not all these that speak Galileans? And how have we heard every man our own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians and Medes, and Elamites, and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Lybia about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews also, and Proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.

Sequence

Veni, sancte Spiritus, Et emitte caelitus Lucis tuae radium.
Veni, pater pauperum, Veni, dator munerum, Veni, lumen cordium.
Consolator optime, Dulcis hospes animae, Dulce refrigerium.
In labore requies, In aestu temperies, In fletu solatium.
O lux beatissima, Reple cordis intima, Tuorum fidelium.
Sine tuo numine Nihil est in homine, Nihil est innoxium.
Lava quod est sordidum, Riga quod est aridum, Sana quod est saucium.
Flecte quod est rigidum, Fove quod est frigidum, Rege quod est devium.
Da tuis fidelibus, In te confidentibus, Sacrum septenarium.
Da virtutis meritum, Da salutis exitum, Da perenne gaudium. Amen. Alleluia.

Come, Holy Ghost, send down those beams.
Which sweetly flow in silent streams.
From Thy bright throne above.

O, come. Thou Father of the poor,
O, come, Thou source of all our store,
Come fill our hearts with love.
O Thou of comforters the best,
O Thou the soul's delightful guest,
The pilgrim's sweet relief.
Rest art Thou in our toil, most sweet
Refreshment in the noon-day heat,
And solace in our grief.
O blessed Light of Life Thou art.
Fill with Thy Light the inmost hearts
O those that hope in Thee.
Without Thy Godhead nothing can
Have any price or worth in man,
Nothing can harmless be.
Lord, wash our sinful stains away.
Water from heaven our barren clay,
Our wounds and bruises heal.
To Thy sweet yoke our stiff necks bow,
Warm with Thy love our hearts of snow,
Our wandering feet recall.
Grant to Thy faithful, dearest Lord,
Whose only hope is in Thy Word,
Thy sevenfold gift of grace.
Grant us in life Thy grace, that we
In peace may die and ever be
In joy before Thy face.
Amen. Alleluia.

Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. John.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples: If any one love Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and will make Our abode in him : he that loveth Me not keepeth not My words. And the word which you have heard is not Mine ; but the Father's who sent Me. These things have I spoken to you, abiding with you. But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you : not as the world giveth, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. You have heard that I said to you : I go away, and I come unto you. If you loved Me, you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father: for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass : that when it shall come to pass you may believe. I will not now speak many things with you. For the prince of this world cometh, and in Me he hath not any thing. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father hath given Me commandment so do I.

(St. John 14:23-31)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia on Pentecost: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15614b.htm