Celebrating Pentecost

The Solemnity of Pentecost celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit, the birth of the Church, and the culmination of Easter Time. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the early Christians:

When the day of Pentecost had come... suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where [the eleven apostles] were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:1–4)

Why Pentecost

The Holy Spirit sanctifies, guides, and empowers the Church. He was sent by the Father through the Son to further reveal the truths of Christ and to continue his mission. He empowered the Apostles to preach the Gospel and continues to enable the Church to celebrate the sacramental life of God’s grace.

On the fiftieth day of Easter Time, Pentecost calls the Christian people to renewal, giving us the grace to cooperate with the Spirit. Pentecost helps us recognize the charisms and vocations the Spirit bestows on each one of us so we can serve each other through the Church.

How Pentecost Is Celebrated

In addition to attending Mass, praying part of the Liturgy of the Hours, and praying the poem/hymn “Come, Holy Spirit” (Veni Creator), Catholics around the world celebrate Pentecost in a variety of ways:

• In Italy, some towns hold processions. Still more hold parish feasts, communal meals, and outdoor festivals.
• In Spain, especially in Catalonia, some towns hold processions and folk dances. Others celebrate Marian devotions and communal meals. Fields in rural areas are blessed for the agricultural season.
• In some regions of France, the Monday after Pentecost is marked by family gatherings, traditional hymns, and processions.
• In Poland there is a strong Marian emphasis. The Monday after Pentecost is often observed by feasts, holding processions, and blessing crops.
• In some places of Germany and Austria, the Monday after Pentecost is marked with family outings and decorated branches in front of homes.
• In the United Kingdom and Ireland, there are parish and community picnics.
• In some areas of the Philippines, colorful decorations adorn youth-led events and processions. It is common to find festal gatherings.
• Across Latin America, community feasts include folk music, dancing, and processions.
• In some regions of Africa, Pentecost is marked by extended singing and dancing, prayer vigils, and healing services.
• Across Eastern Europe, Pentecost is often linked to spring customs, such as decorating the churches with greenery and flowers, which symbolize life in the Spirit.

Transformation in the Spirit

As you and your family celebrate Pentecost this year, remain open to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. “The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole earth; / he sustains all creation and knows every word that is spoken, alleluia” (Liturgy of the Hours. Pentecost, Office of Readings, Response).

Remain open to the work of the Holy Spirit, and he will empower you to evangelize your family, friends, and neighbors just as he did for the Apostles. He will enable you to celebrate more deeply the Church’s sacramental life of God’s grace.

How to Celebrate with Your Family

There are many ways you and your family might celebrate Pentecost this year:

• Attend Mass as a family with intentional preparation: read the Mass readings the night before, arrive a few minutes early to pray silently and point out special church decorations to the children, and participate actively in the hymns and prayers during Mass.
• Wear or bring a small red item, such as a necktie or ribbon.
• Pray together as a family, especially the “Come, Holy Spirit” prayer and the Mass readings.
• Discuss as a family what the Holy Spirit does and how we are called by the Spirit.
• Help your children make paper flames or a dove to hang in your home.
• Light a candle for each member or your family and say a short prayer for his or her intentions.
• Perform a Corporal Work of Mercy together as a family, such as delivering a meal, visiting a neighbor, or donating to a charity.
• Commit to a family service project for the coming summer, asking the Holy Spirit for guidance.
• Pray as a family for vocations and missionaries.
• Prepare a special meal with your family.
• Share stories of how your family’s relatives observe Pentecost.
• Make a simple, visible commitment, for example, to a family prayer schedule or to weekly Works of Mercy as a family.
• End the day with an examination of conscience focused on the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Note: The prayers and devotions to the Holy Spirit in Handbook of Prayers, 8th Edition, include the poem/hymn “Come, Holy Spirit” (Veni Creator) on pages 408–409.