What is Pentecost, the Christian feast celebrated on Sunday June 8?

What is the origin of the word “Pentecost”?

Greek pentêkostê Which means “fiftieth”, Pentecost is celebrated fifty days after Easter. Originally, it was a Jewish party called Chavouot (or “Weems”), celebrated 50 days after Passah (Jewish Passover). She marked the end of the harvest and commemorated the gift of the law (the Torah) on Mount Sinai.

What does Pentecost mean for Catholics?

In Christianity, Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus. The apostles then said: “The Spirit of the Lord is on us”. She closes the past 50 days.

Pentecost celebrates both the beginning of the Church, its foundation, and the emergence of the first Christian communities in the 1st century. It also marks the inauguration of the sacrament of confirmation, during which the baptized renews the momentum of its faith and is invited to become, in turn, witness to Christ.

The Pentecost event takes place ten days after the ascent of Christ. Before going to heaven, Jesus had promised his disciples: “You will receive a force, that of the Holy Spirit who will come to you. Then you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and up to the ends of the earth ”(Acts 1.8).

This promise is accomplished on the day of Pentecost, as told in the book of Acts of the Apostles (chapter 2). This book, which follows the Gospels, is in the New Testament.

What is written in the Bible?

The story of the Pentecost is in the Book of Acts of the Apostles,, Chapter 2, verses 1 to 11.

Acts of the Apostles 2, 1-11-The arrival of the Holy Spirit

1 When the day of the Pentecost arrived, the believers were all together gathered in the same place.
2 Suddenly there came from the sky a noise like that of a violent gale: the whole house where they were seated was filled.
3 Then they appeared to them of languages that would have been said to be fire; They were shared, and he landed on each of them.
4 All were filled with Holy Spirit: they began to speak in other languages, and everyone was expressed according to the gift of the Spirit.
5 However, there was, residing in Jerusalem, religious Jews, coming from all nations under heaven.
6 When they heard the noise, they gathered in a crowd. They were in full confusion because each of them heard those who spoke in their own dialect.
7 In amazement and wonder, they said: “Are these people who speak all Galileans?” »»
8 How is it that each of us hears them in their own dialect, their mother tongue?
9 Parthes, Medes and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, the Province of Pont and that of Asia,
10 phrygia and pampylia, Egypt and Libya close to Cyrene, Romans passing through,
11 Jews by birth and converted, Cretan and Arab, all we intend to proclaim in our languages the wonders of God. “

Why does the date of Pentecost change every year?

The date of Pentecost changes every year because it is linked to the date of Easter, which is a mobile party in the Christian calendar.

Why are we talking about a breath with Pentecost?

According to the account of Acts of the Apostles (2,2), the Holy Spirit manifests itself on the day of Pentecost in the form of a powerful breath: “Suddenly there came from the sky a noise like that of a violent blow of wind. »»

In the Bible, the breath is one of the major symbols of the presence of God. In Hebrew, the word Ruah means both breath,, wind And spirit. It is this same breath which, in Genesis, gives life to man (GN 2,7). Already, in John 20,22,, Jesus transmits the mind to the apostles with a breath, anticipating Pentecost.

“He blowed on them and said to them:” Receive the Holy Spirit. “

At Pentecost, this breath:

expresses the invisible strength of the Holy Spirit,
animate the apostles,
Pushes them to get out of themselves, to testify with audacity.

The breath therefore symbolizes a new life that begins, both for them and for the church.

Pentecost mass: a particular liturgy

When does it take place?

Pentecost Sunday, fifty days after Easter.
She closes the time Pascal and marks the return to the so -called “ordinary” time in the liturgy.

How is it special?

Liturgical color: red, symbol of the fire of the Holy Spirit and martyrdom (the total gift of self).
Clean prayers: texts (orals, preface, Eucharistic prayers) explicitly refer to the sending of the spirit and the birth of the Church.
Central biblical reading: 2,1-11 acts (The descent of the mind), read at first reading.
The Gospel varies according to the liturgical years, but always evokes a promise of the mind (John 14, John 15 or John 20 depending on the year).

All Pentecost readings can be found on the AELF website.

Sung sequence:

The Veni Sancte Spiritus (“Come, Holy Spirit”), also called Pentecost sequence, is sung between second reading and the Gospel. It is an old hymn, of great theological and liturgical beauty.

Depending on the parishes, mass can be enriched with confirmations, processions or special invocations with the Holy Spirit.

What are the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit?

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are seven in number, according to the Christian tradition based on the book of Isaiah (chapter 11, verses 2-3), and developed by the theology of the Church (in particular by Saint Thomas Aquinas). These donations are received by any baptized and are reinforced during confirmation.

THE 7 donations of the Holy Spirit are the following:

1. Wisdom: She makes us taste the presence of God, to see the world with his eyes, to discern what has an eternal value. It is the gift of uniting intelligence with love.

2. Intelligence (or understanding): It gives the ability to understand in depth the truths of faith, without being limited to intellectual knowledge. It is the gift that lights up the Spirit to better grasp the Word of God.

3. Board: It helps to make the right decisions, in accordance with the will of God, especially in complex situations. It sheds light on consciousness and supports discernment.

4. Force (or valor): It gives spiritual courage to face the trials, overcome fear, remain faithful in difficulties. It is the gift of perseverance.

5. Science: It allows you to know the world with accuracy, to see creation as a gift from God and to recognize its trace. It is the gift of a look believing in reality.

6. Piety: It nourishes a filial link with God, makes prayer grow, confidence, tenderness towards the Father. It is the gift that makes God love as a child loves his father.

7. The fear of God: It is not fear, but a recognition respectful of the greatness of God and the desire not to displease him. It is the gift of a humble and confident faith.