Happy Pentecost!

I think Pentecost is one of the most woefully under-celebrated Feasts in our Liturgical Year. Every year I promise that I'm going to "do it up big" for Pentecost.... and every year it flies up quickly in the midst of lots of other busyness and gets slighted again. UGH! Next year, really. Kites and fires and doves and lots of hoopla.... all for the Holy Spirit.... and for the birthday of our great Church.

Today I was recovering from a whirlwind week of homeschool group activities. Jon and the boys were travelling back from a Michigan trip where they attended my niece's First Communion. They returned at dinner time and we celebrated Pentecost with a special dessert.

The apostles waiting for the Spirit!

Funny picture, I know.
Adam is clearly filled with some kind of spirit!

After singing "Happy Birthday" to the Church and discussing Pentecost and the Holy Spirit, we were trying to name the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Well, guess what just got added to our Religion curriculum for next year.... Yep, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. I mentioned Fortitude and they followed up with "Attitude, Gratitude, and Latitude!"

I attended Mass at our parish today and enjoyed lovely hymns and brass accompaniment. Our dear retired priest gave a lovely homily. I was most struck, however, by a reflection in the missal that described how the Holy Spirit comes to our Church today. It talked about the Spirit moving by motivating a community to break out of it's comfort zone and serve others in new ways. I know that I've been stuck in a comfort zone and feeling very unmotivated in terms of taking care of myself and my health. I'm really asking for grace and strength of the Holy Spirit in this area of my own life.

I always love the Sequence that's sung at Pentecost. I'm intending to pray it and reflect on it all week. Join me!

 

Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!
Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine.
You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;
In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.
O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
And our inmost being fill!
Where you are not, we have naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.
On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
In your sevenfold gift descend;
Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end.
Amen. Alleluia.

May we come to know God's Love through the Grace of the Holy Spirit... so that we may proclaim His glory by becoming all that we were created to be. Amen.