‘Veni Sancte Spiritus’
Pentecost is the feast of the universal Church that commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, 50 days after the Resurrection of Christ, on the ancient Jewish festival called the “feast of weeks” or Pentecost (Ex 34:22; Deut 16:10), which marks the end of Passover. Jews celebrate the gift of the law to Moses at Mount Sinai on this day, but we as Catholics celebrate the birth of the Church.
At Pentecost, Peter, Mary, the apostles and their followers were gathered in a room in Jerusalem, where Jews from all over the world were still in town celebrating the end of Passover.
At this time, a great wind blew and a flame appeared as a tongue of fire, which split itself into many individual flames above the heads of all those present. The Holy Spirit came upon these people and each began to speak in tongues. Despite the fact many had no common language, they were perfectly able to understand one another.
Others, who were not so blessed, accused those speaking in tongues of being drunk, but Peter arose and addressed the crowd, explaining that it was only 9 o’clock, and that this phenomenon was not intoxication, but rather was the work of the Holy Spirit, prophesied in the Scriptures. Peter then called all those present to be baptized, and about 3,000 people were baptized that day.
These people were among the first Catholics, and Peter is the first pope of the Church.
The symbols of Pentecost are the flame, wind and the dove, which represent the Holy Spirit. The color of Pentecost is red, and the priest wears red vestments on this day. Parishioners are also invited to wear red. Red decorations as well as celebrations are appropriate, similar to any other birthday.
Pentecost is also called Whitsunday, so called from the white garments worn by catechumens remaining after Easter who were baptized during the vigil Mass. Whitsunday dates back to the first century, although there is no evidence that it was observed as there is in the case of Easter; the passage in 1 Corinthians (16:8) probably refers to the Jewish feast.
— Catholic Encyclopedia, Catholic Online
Did you know?
“Veni Sancte Spiritus” (“Come Holy Spirit”) sometimes called the “Golden Sequence,” is a sequence hymn prescribed in the Roman liturgy for the Masses of Pentecost. A sequence hymn is sung just before the Alleluia (Gospel acclamation).
It is usually attributed to either the 13th-century Pope Innocent III or to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Cardinal Stephen Langton. (Cardinal Langton was a central figure in the dispute between King John of England and Pope Innocent III that helped lead to the issuing of the Magna Carta in 1215, one of the first charters that guaranteed the rights of commoners and restricted the “divine right” of kings. He is also credited with having divided the Bible into the standard arrangement of chapters still used today.)
It is one of only four medieval sequences preserved in the Missale Romanum published in 1570 following the Council of Trent (1545-1563). Before Trent, many feasts had their own sequences. It is still sung today, having survived the liturgical changes following the Second Vatican Council. The other feasts with sequence hymns are: Easter,
“Victimae Paschali Laudes” (“To the Paschal Victim give praise”); Corpus Christi, “Lauda Sion” (“Praise O Sion”); and All Souls, “Dies Irae” (“Day of Wrath”).
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.
On June 1, the Catholic Church honors the memory of the early Christian philosopher St. Justin Martyr.
Justin was born around the year 100 in the Palestinian province of Samaria, the son of Greek-speaking parents whose ancestors were sent as colonists to that area of the Roman Empire. Justin's father followed the Greek pagan religion and raised his son to do the same, but he also provided Justin with an excellent education in literature and history.
As a young man, Justin became interested in philosophy and looked for truth in the various schools of thought that had spread throughout the empire. But he became frustrated with the professional philosophers' intellectual conceits and limitations, as well as their apparent indifference to God.
After several years of study, Justin had a life-changing encounter with an old man who urged him to study the Jewish prophets. He told Justin that these authors had not only spoken by God's inspiration, but also predicted the coming of Christ and the foundation of his Church.
"Above all things, pray that the gates of life may be opened to you," the old man told Justin, "for these are not things to be discerned, unless God and Christ grant to a man the knowledge of them." The aspiring philosopher began to take the claims of the Christians more seriously, and he eventually decided to be baptized around age 30.
After his conversion, Justin continued to wear the type of cloak that Greek culture associated with the philosophers. Inspired by the dedicated example of other Catholics whom he had seen put to death for their faith, he embraced a simple and austere lifestyle even after moving to Rome.
Justin was most likely ordained a deacon, since he preached, did not marry, and gave religious instruction in his home. He is best known as the author of early apologetic works which argued for the Catholic faith against the claims of Jews, pagans, and non-Christian philosophers.
Several of these works were written to Roman officials, for the purpose of refuting lies that had been told about the Church. Justin sought to convince the rulers of the Roman Empire that they had nothing to gain, and much to lose, by persecuting the Christians.
In order to fulfill this task, Justin gave explicit written descriptions of the early Church's beliefs and its mode of worship. In modern times, scholars have noted that Justin's descriptions correspond to the traditions of the Catholic Church on every essential point.
Justin describes the weekly Sunday liturgy as a sacrifice, and speaks of the Eucharist as the true body and blood of Christ. He further states that only baptized persons who believe the Church's teachings, and are free of serious sin, may receive it.
Justin also explains in his writings that the Church regards celibacy as a sacred calling, condemns the common practice of killing infants, and looks down on the accumulation of excessive wealth and property.
His first defense of the faith, written to Emperor Antonius Pius around 150, convinced that emperor to regard the Church with tolerance. In 167, however, persecution began again under Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
During that year Justin wrote to the emperor, who was himself a philosopher and the author of the well-known "Meditations." He tried to demonstrate the injustice of the persecutions, and the superiority of the Catholic faith over Greek philosophy. Justin emphasized the strength of his convictions by stating that he expected to be put to death for expressing them
He was, indeed, seized along with a group of other believers, and brought before Rusticus, prefect of Rome. A surviving eyewitness account shows how Justin the philosopher became known as "St. Justin Martyr."
The prefect made it clear how Justin might save his life: "Obey the gods, and comply with the edicts of the emperors." Justin responded that "no one can be justly blamed or condemned for obeying the commands of our Savior Jesus Christ."
Rusticus briefly questioned Justin and his companions regarding their beliefs about Christ and their manner of worshiping God. Then he laid down the law.
"Hear me," he said, "you who are noted for your eloquence, who think that you make a profession of the right philosophy. If I cause you to be scourged from head to foot, do you think you shall go to heaven?"
"If I suffer what you mention," Justin replied, "I hope to receive the reward which those have already received, who have obeyed the precepts of Jesus Christ."
"There is nothing which we more earnestly desire, than to endure torments for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ," he explained. "We are Christians, and will never sacrifice to idols." Justin was scourged and beheaded along with six companions who joined him in his confession of faith.
St. Justin Martyr has been regarded as a saint since the earliest centuries of the Church. Eastern Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians also celebrate his feast day June 1.
— Catholic News Agency