Emítte Spíritum tuum, et creabúntur, et renovábis fáciem terræ. Allelúia. Veni, Sancte Spíritus, reple tuórum corda fidélium: et tui amóris in eis ignem accénde. | Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created: and You shall renew the face of the earth. Alleluia. Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful: and kindle in them the fire of Your love. |
Secondly, they were “all of one mind” under the leadership of Peter, thereby indicating the true marks of the Christian Church: Holiness in Jesus through Mary; unity, catholicity, apostolicity through reverence for the Pope, successor of Peter and Vicar of Christ.
The Gospel reveals how “We,” the Trinity, “will come” to the individual soul. The Omnipotence of God the Father is made manifest in our creation. The Wisdom of God the Son is made manifest in our redemption. The Love of God the Spirit is made manifest in our sanctification.
In the Offertory we ask God to confirm this work done in our soul on the day of our Baptism and Confirmation.
We pray also to “relish” things of the Spirit (Prayer) and to benefit by His “consolation” in the struggle of Church and soul against the “spirit” or the “prince of this world”.
Some people believe the essence of Pentecost was the Descent of the Holy Ghost on Mary, the Apostles and Disciples whereupon the Apostles went on the streets, began to preach and were understood by persons on the streets being subsequently able to understand in their own language the Gospel from the mouths of the Apostles. They further infer that this must mean God was favourably disposed to all languages for all purposes. This is pure speculation and is often cited as a reason not to have liturgy in Latin! I iterate speculative at best!
Later this week, within the octave of Pentecost, come the Ember Days.
Traditional observance of Ember Days fall Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. On Wednesday and Saturday meat at main meal. No meat Friday for those 7 and over. Those 21 to 59 should fast, that is not eat anything between meals, and in addition to the main full meal, eat 2 small collations, both together adding up to a bit less than a full meal. The purpose of the fasting is to pray for the young priests who in days gone by would be ordinarily ordained on the Ember Saturday. Orthodox Catholics know that prayer and a little sacrifice will make them pleasing to Our Lord, set them aside from the sinful world.