Rediscovering Pentecost - the forgotten feast

Kristina Cooper

Pentecost is often the forgotten feast. I sometimes wonder if the reason that it is not celebrated at the same depth as Christmas and Easter is because we haven’t really understood its importance and that Jesus came not just to save us from our sins but also to empower us with His Holy Spirit. The book of Acts too often is seen as past history, rather than something that is still being written by us today. The apostles were no superheroes, as was made evident by their behaviour in the gospels, yet after Pentecost, the same men who ran away at the crucifixion, through the action of the Holy Spirit do amazing things – performing signs and miracles and taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. There is no reason why we should not be doing the same. We are supposed to experience our own empowering at Confirmation, when we make our adult commitment to Christ. But instead for many this has become an empty ritual – an exit sacrament rather than the source of a new strength and commitment. Recent popes, aware of this, have called for a new Pentecost in the Church. How in practice might we co-operate with this?

Firstly I would suggest raising the bar of expectation of what it means to be a Catholic – ie seeing ourselves as contemporary disciples of Christ rather than simply Mass goers or nice people. We need to begin read the Acts of the Apostles as a living book aware that the same Holy Spirit is operating today as operated then, and able to do the same things.

We also need to concretely and actively prepare for the feast of Pentecost during the Easter-tide period. Easter tide should be a time of study and expectation for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal, one of the movements in the Catholic Church, have a wonderful course called The Life in the Spirit seminars, which is particularly suitable to be run at this time of the year. This has brought people new fervour in faith and motivation to evangelize. A version of this, called “This Promise is for You” is available on DVD from Goodnews Books (01582 571011). A list of Pentecost events and retreats can be found on www.ccr.org.uk/pentecost or www.pentecostnovena.org or by contacting the Catholic Charismatic Renewal office 020 7352 5298 or email ccruk@onetel.com

The Catholic Truth Society have produced with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal a helpful prayer guide for Easter-tide called “Road to Pentecost” and a Pentecost novena leaflet. Pentecost vigils – all night if possible - with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, are also an excellent way to help us to tap into the expectation of the early apostles waiting in the Upper Room for the coming of the Spirit. Pentecost is the feast of unity so a good opportunity to join in with something ecumenical or with other nationalities, sharing music and food to mark Pentecost as the birthday of the universal Church.

The more we prepare and the more we focus, the more we receive!

Kristina Cooper is editor of the Catholic Charismatic magazine GoodNews. For more information see: www.ccr.org.uk/

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