Pentecost, The Gift of the Holy Ghost and Promises Fulfilled

 

In the third Glorious Mystery we see the first promise of Christ, after His Ascension into Heaven be fulfilled. The Holy Ghost has descended to the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary as they prayed in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. One of the things that is often overlooked is that the nine days that they prayed in the upper room is what is often called the first novena. A novena is simply put, the act of praying for something in particular for nine days straight. The church has many feast days in the liturgical calendar where one would pray for nine days prior to the feast day in question, and one of the most popular novenas, is that of the Pentecost Novena. 

But what really happened at Pentecost? It was the act, truly the second time, that fully revealed the Holy Trinity. The fist being at the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ, wherein the dove descended onto Jesus, and the Father spoke from heaven saying "This is my beloved Son, listen to Him." The Dove, and if you look to the image above, you will see little flames as mentioned in the book of Acts 2:3 are both symbol of the Holy Ghost. Fire has an important meaning in Christianity. For one it is a symbol of purification. It purifies that which is impure for the sake of making it holy. 

Isaiah was purified by a burning coal brought down by an angel and touched to his lips so that he could prophesy of the Lord to the people. The Prophet Elijah even "rose like a fire" with words of a similar nature. Flame pointing tot he presence of the Holy Ghost. In the Creed we proclaim:

    "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets."

The Holy Ghost is also known as the Sanctifier, it is through the Holy Ghost that we are moved toward, and with God int he Trinity. Our Faith in Christ, moved by the Holy Ghost brings us to the Father. On the day of Pentecost we have the Catholic Church being born with Peter as the Rock as our Lord states in Matthew 16:18. On this day the Church, was born, and confirmed in the grace of God. On this day the Church grew in number by the thousands (Acts 2:41). We too share in the grace of Pentecost when we celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation, where the Holy Ghost confirms, conforms, and strengthens us in the faith. 

The Scriptural Rosary is:

1. The Third Glorious Mystery is: The Descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost.
1. Pater Noster …
2. When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. (Acts 2: 1)
1. Ave Maria …
3. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. (Acts 2:2-3)
1. Ave Maria …
4.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. (Acts 2:4-5)
1. Ave Maria …
5. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. (Acts 2:6)
1. Ave Maria …
6. Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." (Acts 2:9-11)
1. Ave Maria …
7. And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine." (Acts 2:12-13)
1. Ave Maria …
8. But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: (Acts 2:14-16)
1. Ave Maria …
9. And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. (Acts 2:17-18)
1. Ave Maria …
10. Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. "Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:36-37)
1. Ave Maria …
11. And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him." (Acts 2:38-39)
1. Ave Maria …
12. O My Jesus …
13. Gloria Patri …