Pentecost Sunday – 5 June

Pentecost Sunday

By Servant of God
Abbot Prosper Guéranger OSB (1805-1875) – Excerpt
Abbot of Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, France.

Come, O Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of Thy faithful
and enkindle within them,
the fire of Thy Love.

The great day, which consummates the work that God had undertaken for the human race, has, at last, shone upon the world. The days of Pentecost, as St Luke says, are accomplished (Acts. ii. 1). We have had seven weeks since the Pasch and now, comes the day, which opens the mysterious number of Fifty. This day is the Sunday, already made holy by the Creation of the Light and by the Resurrection of Jesus – it is about to receive its final consecration and bring us the fullness of God (Eph. iii. 19).

In the Old and figurative Law, God foreshadowed the glory that was to belong, at a future period, to the Fiftieth Day. Israel had passed the waters of the Red Sea, thanks to the protecting power of His Paschal Lamb! Seven weeks were spent in the Desert, which was to lead to the Promised Land and the very morrow of those seven weeks, was the day, whereon was made the alliance between God and His people. The Pentecost (the Fiftieth Day) was honoured by the promulgation of the Ten Commandments of the Divine Law and every following year, the Israelites celebrated the great event by a solemn Festival. But their Pentecost was figurative, like their Pasch, there was to be a second Pentecost for all people, as there was to be a second Pasch for the Redemption of the whole world. The Pasch, with all its triumphant joys, belongs to the Son of God, the Conqueror of death: Pentecost belongs to the Holy Ghost, for it is the day whereon He began His mission into this world, which, henceforward, was to be under His Law.

But, how different are the two Pentecosts! The one, on the rugged rocks of Arabia, amidst thunder and lightning, promulgates a Law that is written on Tablets of Stone; the second is in Jerusalem, on which God’s anger has not as yet been manifested because it still contains, within its walls, the first-fruits of that new people, over whom the Spirit of love is to reign.

In this second Pentecost, the heavens are not overcast, nor is the roar of thunder heard; the hearts of men are not stricken with fear, as when God spake on Sinai; repentance and gratitude, these are the sentiments which are now uppermost. A Divine Fire burns within their souls and will spread throughout the whole world. Our Lord Jesus had said: ‘I am come to cast fire on the earth and what will I, but that it be kindled’ (St. Luke, xii. 49). The hour for the fulfillment of this Word is come: the Spirit of Love, the Holy Ghost, the eternal uncreated Flame, is about to descend from Heaven and realise the merciful design of our Redeemer.

Jerusalem is filled with pilgrims, who have flocked there from every country of the Gentile world: they feel a strange mysterious expectation working in their souls. They are Jews and are come from every foreign land where Israel has founded a Synagogue; they are come to keep the feasts of Pasch and Pentecost. Asia, Africa, and even Rome, have here their representatives. Amidst these Jews, properly so called, are to be seen many Gentiles, who, from a desire to serve God more faithfully, have embraced the Mosaic law and observances; they are called Proselytes. This influx of strangers, who have come to Jerusalem out of a desire to observe the Law, gives the City a Babel-like appearance, for each nation has its own language. They are not, however, under the influence of pride and prejudice, as are the inhabitants of Judea; neither have they, like these latter, known and rejected the Messias, nor blasphemed His Works, whereby He gave testimony of His Divine Character. It may be that they took part with the other Jews in clamouring for Jesus’ death but they were led to it by the Chief Priests and Magistrates of the Jerusalem, which they reverenced as the holy City of God and to which nothing but religious motives have brought them.

It is the hour of Tierce, the third hour of the day (Our nine o’clock. Acts, ii. 15), fixed from all eternity, for the accomplishment of a Divine Decree. It was at the hour of midnight, that the Father sent into this world, that He might take flesh in Mary’s womb, the Son, eternally begotten of Himself: so now, at this hour of Tierce, the Father and Son, send upon the earth the Holy Spirit, Who proceeds from them both. He is sent to form the Church, the Spouse and Kingdom of Christ; He is to assist and maintain her; He is to save and sanctify the souls of men and this, His Mission, is to continue unto the end of time.
Suddenly is heard, coming from heaven, the sound of a violent wind: it startles the people in the City, it fills the Cenacle with its mighty breath. A crowd is soon round the house that stands on Mount Sion; the hundred and twenty Disciples that are within the building, feel that mysterious emotion within them, of which their Master once said: The Spirit breatheth where He will, and thou hearest His voice (St. John, iii. 8). Like that strange invisible creature, which probes the very depth of the sea and makes the waves heave mountains high, this Breath from heaven will traverse the world from end to end, breaking down every barrier that would stay its course.

The holy assembly have been days in fervent expectation; the Divine Spirit gives them this warning of His coming, and they, in the passiveness of extatic longing, await his will. As to them that are outside the Cenacle, and have responded to the appeal thus given, let us, for the moment, forget them. A silent shower falls in the House; it is a shower of Fire, which, as holy Church says, “burns not, but enlightens, consumes not, but shines (Responsory for the Thursday within the Octave).” Flakes of fire, in the shape of tongues, rest on the heads of the hundred and twenty Disciples: it is the Holy Ghost taking possession of all and each. The Church is now, not only in Mary but also in these hundred and twenty Disciples. All belong now to the Spirit that has descended upon them; His Kingdom is begun, it is manifested, its conquests will be speedy and glorious.

But let us consider the symbol chosen to designate this Divine change. He Who showed Himself under the endearing form of a Dove, on the occasion of Jesus’ Baptism in the Jordan, now appears under that of Fire. He is the Spirit of Love and love is not only gentle and tender, it is, also, ardent as fire. Now, therefore, that the world is under the influence of the Holy Ghost, it must needs be on fire and the fire shall not be checked. And why this form of Tongues? To show that the Heavenly Fire is to be spread by the word, by speech. These hundred and twenty Disciples need but to speak of the Son of God, made Man and our Redeemer; of the Holy Ghost, Who renews our souls; of the Heavenly Father, Who loves and adopts us as His children; their word will find thousands to believe and welcome it. Those that receive it, shall all be united in one faith; they shall be called the Catholic Church, that is, universal, existing in all places and times. Jesus had said – ‘Go, teach all nations ‘ (St. Matth xxviii. 19)!–the Holy Ghost brings from Heaven, both the tongue that is to teach and the fire, (the love of God and mankind,) which is to give warmth and efficacy to the teaching. This Tongue and Fire are now given to these first Disciples, who, by the assistance of the Holy Spirit, will transmit them to others: so will it be to the end of time!

But, in the crowd, there are some who are shocked at witnessing this heavenly enthusiasm of the Apostles. These men, say they, are full of new wine! It is the language of rationalism, explaining away mystery by reason. These Galileans, these drunken men, are, however, to conquer the whole world to Christ, and give the Holy Ghost, with His inebriating unction, to all mankind. The holy Apostles feel that it is time to proclaim the new Pentecost; yes, this anniversary of the Old is a fitting day for the New to be declared. But, in this proclamation of the law of mercy and love, which is to supersede the law of justice and fear, who is to be the Moses? Our Emmanuel, before ascending into heaven, had selected one of the Twelve for the glorious office: it is Peter, the Rock on whom is built the Church. It is time for the Shepherd to show himself, and speak, for the Flock is now to be formed. Let us hearken to the Holy Ghost, Who is about to speak, by his chief organ, to this wondering and attentive multitude. The Apostle, though he speaks in one tongue, is understood by each of his audience, no matter what his country and language may be. The discourse is, of its own-self, a guarantee of the truth and divine origin of the new law.