My dear parishioners,
Peace! The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights the “prayer of the rosary” as a popular substitute for the Liturgy of the Hours in the Western Church (§ 2678). In praying the rosary we “meditate on the mysteries of Christ” engaging our “thought, imagination, emotion, and desire” leading not only to “knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus” but “union with Him” (§ 2708). In fact the rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an “epitome of the whole Gospel” and is also an expression of “devotion to the Virgin Mary” (§ 971). Here we consider the Third Glorious Mystery, Pentecost.
The Greek word pentekoste means fiftieth day. There is an Old Testament feast of Pentecost, sometimes called the “feast of weeks” (cf. 2 Chronicles 8:12-13) and the New Testament Pentecost commemorating the gift of the Holy Spirit. Saint Thomas Aquinas, OP (+1274) reminds us, citing Pope Saint Gregory the Great (+604), that “The Holy Spirit Himself is Love” and the bond between the Father and Son within the Holy Trinity. Citing Saint Augustine’s De Trinitate (+430) Saint Thomas reminds us that “The Holy Spirit is He whereby the Begotten is loved by the one begetting and loves His Begetter” (cf. Summa Theologiae I Q.37, A.1). Pope Saint Leo the Great (+461) reminds us how the unity and zeal of the Church is a fruit of the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (cf. Sermon 75) and that while the Holy Spirit was obviously at work on Pentecost it is not as if the Holy Spirit had never “done” anything before or since (recall creation, the Incarnation, the inspiration of Sacred Scripture…) (cf. Sermon 77).
In Sacred Scripture we read about Pentecost in Acts 2:1-13. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is mentioned in Acts 1:5. Pentecost is alluded to in Acts 1:8. That the Holy Spirit is given to believers is taught in Acts 4:31. Saint Paul knew about Pentecost event though it had happened before his conversion on the road to Damascus (cf. Acts 20:16; 1 Corinthians 16:8). Even before His death and resurrection the Lord Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit (cf. John 16:7, 13).
The fruit of the mystery of Pentecost is a love for God. Love for the Lord God is half of the Law of the Lord (cf. Matthew 22:37). God who is Love (cf. 1 John 4:16) has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (cf. Romans 5:5). While some people may fixate on “speaking in tongues” as a gift of the Holy Spirit (cf. Mark 16:17; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28; 13:1; 14:2) it is important to recall that if we have not love we are nothing. May the love of God be upon us. May our hearts burn with love for God (cf. Luke 24:32). May our love for God and neighbor be pleasing to the Lord (cf. 1 John 4:20).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr