Pentecost. Whit Sunday.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,

unless otherwise stated.

Station at Saint Peter's Basilica.

Indulgence of 30 Years and 30 Quarantines.

Double of the First Class with Privileged Octave.

Red Vestments.

THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST.

Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY

Illustration taken from Saint Andrew's Daily Missal, 1952 Edition,

with the kind permission of Saint Bonaventure Press.

Veni Sancte Spiritus.

The Sequence for Pentecost.

Available on YouTube at

http://youtu.be/3pU34vUoO9g.

Interior of Saint Peter's, Rome.

[Editor: The Station for Pentecost is Saint Peter's.]

Artist: Giovanni Paolo Panini (1692–1765).

Date: 1731.

Current location: Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri, United States of America.

Source/Photographer: Saint Louis Art Museum Official Site.

(Wikimedia Commons)

"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." [Reverend M. Meschler, S.J.: "The Gift of Pentecost: Meditations on the Holy Ghost," translated by Lady Amabel Kerr.]

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." Hence, the choice of the Basilica, dedicated to Saint Peter, for today'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 realisation 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).

Gregorian Chant from Fontgombault Abbey, France,

for the Divine Office at Pentecost.

Available on YouTube at

http://youtu.be/3C92m9surWM.

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 Liturgical 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.

Every Parish Priest celebrates Mass for the people of his Parish.