Vigil Of Pentecost.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,

unless otherwise stated.

Vigil of Pentecost.

Station at Saint John Lateran.

Indulgence of 10 Years and 10 Quarantines.

Privileged Vigil of the First-Class.

Violet and 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

The First Mass for Pentecost, formerly Celebrated during the night, has, like that of Easter, ever since been an Anticipated Mass.

This Great and Solemn Festival, therefore, begins with The Vigil. In early days, the Catechumens, whom it had not been possible to Baptise at Easter, received this Sacrament at Pentecost, which explains the similarities between The Mass for The Vigil of Pentecost and The Mass for Holy Saturday.

The Mass is preceded by the Reading of Six Prophecies and The Blessing of The Water in The Baptismal Font.

It is also celebrated at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.

THE PROPHECIES.

The Celebrant and Assistant Ministers are robed in Violet Vestments, and the Candles on the Altar are not lighted until the beginning of Mass, as on Holy Saturday.

At the end of the Prophecies, the Collect is read, but Flectamus genua is omitted.

THE BLESSING OF THE FONT.

At the end of the Prophecies, the Celebrant puts on a Violet Cope, and, while the Procession moves towards the Font, the Tract, "Sicut cervus", is sung.

Mindful of the fact that, in The Beginning, The Spirit of God moved over the Waters and made them fruitful, The Liturgy asks God to Bless the Water in the Baptismal Font, out of which will arise a purely Heavenly Race.

The officiating Priest then plunges the Paschal Candle into the Water three times, for it is by Christ, Whom the Candle typifies, that the Power of The Holy Ghost, by which our Souls are enlightened, is infused into them.

THE LITANY OF THE SAINTS.

The Liturgy, as affecting The Litany of The Saints, is the same as on Holy Saturday. Where there is no Font, the Litany begins after the Prophecies and Collects. At "Peccatores, Te rogamus audi nos", the Priest and his Assistants go to the Sacristy and put on Red Vestments, and the Candles are lit on the Altar.

At the end of the Litany, the Kyrie Eleison is Solemnly Sung, without Introit, like on Holy Saturday. At the Gloria, the Bells are also rung and the Organ begins being played.

MASS FOR THE VIGIL OF PENTECOST.

After having been Baptised "in Water and in The Holy Ghost", the Neophytes were Confirmed. All through The Mass, there are references to these two Sacraments, showing how The Holy Ghost enters into our Souls the effect He produces in them.

The Creed is not said.