Pentecost 2010 Reflections

In a few weeks we will celebrate one of the most important feasts of the Church - Pentecost - the Birthday of the Church, the day when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit transformed simple men into bold evangelizers. The Church was made manifest to the world on the day of Pentecost by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Spirit ushers in a new era in the 'dispensation of the mystery' - the age of the Church, during which Christ manifests, makes present, and communicates his work of salvation through the liturgy of his Church, 'until he comes again.' In this age of the Church, Christ now lives and acts in and with his Church, in a new way appropriate to this new age. He acts through the Sacraments in what the common Tradition of the East and the West calls 'the sacramental economy'; this is the communication (or 'dispensation') of the fruits of Christ's Paschal Mystery in the celebration of the Church's 'sacramental' liturgy. - Paragraph 1076, Cathecism of the Catholic Church Pentecost - Duccio di Buoninsegna (1308), Tempera on wood, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena With the outpouring of the Spirit, the disciples became bold and effective evangelizers who eventually spread the Gospel to all parts of the earth. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an empowering baptism enabling us to do the seemingly impossible. Let this year's Pentecost be more than just a commemoration of the Church's Birthday. Let there be a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Make Pentecost more meaningful this year. Let the Spirit move you to touch other lives. One way to make Pentecost more meaningful is to share your Pentecost reflections with your brothers and sisters. Let us enrich each other. Use the Add new comment link below to post your reflections Spiritus Dómini replévit orbem terrárum, et hoc quod continet ómnia sciéntiam habet vocis, Alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord fills the whole world, and holds all things together and knows every word spoken by man, Alleluia.