FEAST OF THE DAY
Pentecost Sunday is a feast that supercedes the normal saint of the
day. Pentecost is the birthday of the Church and is the remembrance
of the historical day when the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles in
the form of tongues of fire. When the flames of the Holy Spirit lit upon
the Apostles, they received the gifts and fruits of the Spirit and were
filled with zeal for preaching the word of God.
The Apostles, who only a short time before had been fearful to speak
the truth, now went out excitedly, and filled with passion into
Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside and proclaimed the
Good News without any shame or reservation. A specific gift of the
Spirit that they received was the gift of the ability to speak in
tongues. When they preached, each of their listeners heard what
was being said in their own native language. After this event, the
Church began to flourish, and multitudes of believers joined the
Apostles as disciples to Christianity; the practicing of the lessons and
examples found in Jesus Christ's life.
The Easter season concludes on Pentecost Sunday after Evening
Prayer.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled they were all in one place
together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong
driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then
there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to
rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues as the Spirit enabled them to
proclaim.
TODAY IN HISTORY
TODAY'S TIDBIT
At Evening Prayer tonight, Ordinary Time resumes. It will continue
to be ordinary time until Advent begins. During ordinary time, the
Marian antiphon at the end of Night Prayer is the Salve Regina and
the Angelus replaces the Regina Coeli, which was used during
Easter.
INTENTION FOR THE DAY
Please pray that the Holy Spirit may inspire each person to a deeper
love and greater zeal for their faith.