Pentecost Sunday (C)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

Pentecost Sunday (C), May 19, 2013

Liturgical readings
Acts 2:1-11
Psalm 104
Romans 8:8-11
John 14:15-16, 23-26

"The Father will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever."

The first reading from the 2nd chapter of the Book of Acts gives a vivid description of what happened on Pentecost. And a chapter before this passage, in Acts 1:13-14, we learn who were in that upper room before the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the whole apostolic community: the Eleven apostles, several women - including Mary, the mother of the Lord. Altogether, as that passage describes, there were about 120 of the Lord's followers (Acts 1:13). All were joined in continuous prayer (Acts 1:14). This was the setting before that "powerful wind from heaven, with a noise that filled the entire house, came, and something like tongues of fire rested on the head of each of them" (Acts 2:2-3). They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in different languages (Acts 2:4).

From that Pentecost event, the apostolic community, and eventually the Church, became missionary and preached the gospel of Jesus to the four corners of the world. The first country to be evangelized was France (King Clovis and the Franks). That was between the late 5th to the 8th century A.D. Fast-forward to the 17th century and we discover St. Louis-Marie de Montfort, a French missionary priest. Montfort wrote about this Pentecost event within the context of devotion to the Blessed Mother. His spiritual intuition taught a parallel truth we would not know if not for his ardent devotion to the Mother of God. He said, (paraphrasing): "just as the birth of Jesus came to fulfillment in Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit, so the birth of the Church came about also through Mary's grace-filled presence with the apostolic community during Pentecost." For Montfort, the plenitude of Mary's graces brought about both the birth of the head and the body of the Church. [The Blessed Mother was present during the Pentecost event (Acts 1:13)] [1][2].

This feast of Pentecost is a time to be grateful to God for the gift of the Blessed Mother, who was instrumental in the birth also of the Church. In Montfort's spiritual intuition, just as Christ was born through Mary, so is the Church also given birth through her presence among the apostolic community. The Holy Spirit is the the third Person of the Holy Trinity. All prayers begin and end with Him (as we make the sign of the cross). He is the One who can bring light to every important decision we need to make. He is the One who "fills our hearts", "takes possession of our souls", "confirms our mortal frame", "drives from us our hellish foe", and will "renew the face of the earth". As the Holy Spirit gave wisdom and courage to the apostolic community, so shall He continue to do so with the Church and all succeeding generations baptized in the "name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit". He is the Lord and the Giver of Life.

Scripture quotes:

• "They had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven." (Acts 2)
• "All creatures depend on you to feed them throughout the year." (Psalm 104)
• "He who raised Jesus from the dead will life to your own mortal bodies through His Spirit living in you."(Romans)

References:

• Christianization of the Franks, Wikipedia.org
• God Alone: The Collected Writings of St. Louis Marie de Montfort

Disclaimer

Veni Creator Spiritus - 2 English translations & Original Latin prayer

Modern English Translation

Come, Holy Spirit, maker, come
and with your servant live;
to hearts that you yourself have made
your grace from heaven give.

We name you as our strengthener,
God's gift from out his height;
love's-self, and fire, and course of life,
soul's-hardening for the fight.

God's finger writing in our hearts,
yourself seven times a gift;
the Father's solemn promise, you
with words our tongue enriched.

A flame to guide our senses, light;
with love our hearts endower;
the failings of our flesh supply
with never-failing power.

Still further yet drive back our foe,
and straightway give your peace;
with you before us leading on
may we from all wrong cease.

Through you may we the Father know,
and learn through you the Son;
have faith in you for evermore,
of both the Spirit one.

All glory to the Father be,
and to the risen Son;
all glory, Spirit, be to you
while endless ages run.

2nd translation into English from the Latin

Come, Holy Spirit, Creator come,
From thy bright heavenly throne!
Come, take possession of our souls,
And make them all thine own!

Thou who art called the Paraclete,
Best gift of God above,
The living spring, the living fire,
Sweet unction, and true love!

Thou who are sevenfold in thy grace,
Finger of God's right hand.
His promise, teaching little ones
To speak and understand!

O guide our minds with thy blest light,
With love our hearts inflame,
And with thy strength which ne'er decays
Confirm our mortal frame.

Far from us drive our hellish foe,
True peace unto us bring.
And through all perils guide us safe
Beneath thy sacred wing.

Through thee may we the Father know,
Through thee the eternal Son,
And thee the Spirit of them both
Thrice-blessed three in one.

All glory to the Father be,
And to the risen Son;
The same to thee, O Paraclete,
While endless ages run. Amen.

Original text in Latin

Veni Creator Spiritus,
Mentes tuorum visita,
Imple superna gratia,
Quae tu creasti pectora.

Qui Paraclitus diceris,
Donum Dei altissimi
Fons vivus, ignis, caritas,
Et spiritalis unctio.

Tu septiformis munere,
Dexterae Dei tu digitus,
Tu rite promissum Patris,
Sermone ditans guttura.

Accende lumen sensibus:
Infunde amorem cordibus:
Infirma nostri corporis
Virtute firmans perpeti.

Hostem repellas longius,
Pacemque dones protinus:
Ductore sic te praevio,
Vitemus omne noxium.

Per te sciamus da Patrem,
Noscamus atque Filium;
Te utriusque Spiritum
Credamus omni tempore.

Gloria Patri Domino,
Natoque qui a mortuis
Surrexit, ac Paraclito,
In saeculorum saecula. Amen.

Reference

• Veni Creator Spiritus, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• St. Rabanus Maurus was credited for composing the hymn, Veni Creator Spiritus. His feast day is commemorated every February 4.

Litany to the Holy Spirit

In many prayer books, the popular litanies that are often published are the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Litany of Loreto or the Litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Very rare to find is the Litany of the Holy Spirit. Given below is the Litany to the Holy Spirit from the book "Cenacle With Mary: Towards the Third Millenium", by Bro. Edgar C. Karganilla.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Father all powerful, have mercy on us.
Redeemer of the world, save us.
Spirit of the Father and the Son, boundless life of both, sanctify us.
Holy Trinity, hear us.
Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Son, enter our hearts.
Promise of God the Father, have mercy on us.
Ray of heavenly light, have mercy on us.
Author of all good, have mercy on us (*).
Source of heavenly water, (*).
Ardent charity, (*).
Consuming fire, (*).
Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, (*).
Spiritual unction, (*).
Spirit of wisdom and understanding, (*).
Spirit of knowledge and piety, (*).
Spirit of counsel and fortitude, (*).
Spirit of fear of the Lord, (*).
Spirit of grace and prayer, (*).
Spirit of peace and meekness, (*).
Spirit of modesty and innocence, (*).
Holy Spirit, the Comforter, (*).
Holy Spirit, Who governs the Church, (*).
Gift of God, in the Most High, (*).
Spirit who fills the universe, (*).
Spirit of adoption of the Children of God, (*).
Holy Spirit, inspire us with horror of sin.
Holy Spirit, come and renew the face of the earth.
Holy Spirit, shed your light in our souls.
Holy Spirit, engrave your law in our hearts.
Holy Spirit, inflame us with the flame of your love.
Holy Spirit, open to us the treasures of your graces.
Holy Spirit, teach us to pray well.
Holy Spirit, enlighten us with your heavenly inspirations.
Holy Spirit, lead us in the way of salvation.
Holy Spirit, grant us the only necessary knowledge.
Holy Spirit, inspire in us the practice of good.
Holy Spirit, grant us the merits of all virtues.
Holy Spirit, make us persevere in justice.
Holy Spirit, be you our everlasting reward.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
send us your Holy Spirit
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
pour down into our souls the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
grant us the Spirit of wisdom and piety.
Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of your faithful.
And enkindle in them the fire of your love.

Let us pray.

Grant, O merciful Father, that Your Divine Spirit englighten,
inflame and purify us, that He may penetrate us with His heavenly
dew and make us fruitful in good works; through our Lord Jesus
Christ, Your Son, Who with you, in the unity of the same Spirit,
lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

There are other versions of the Litany of the Holy Spirit. Two that can be found online:

• Litany to the Holy Spirit by EWTN.com
• Litany of the Holy Ghost by Catholic.org