Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest

Feast of Pentecost: Old Testament fulfilled in the New

Pentecost is the feast of the universal Church which commemorates the Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, fifty days after the Resurrection of Christ, on the ancient Jewish festival called the "feast of weeks" or Pentecost (Ex 34:22; Dt 16:10). This feast is also called Whitsunday from the white garments which were worn by those who were baptized during the vigil; Pentecost ("Pfingsten" in German), is the Greek for "the fiftieth" (day after Easter). Whitsunday, as a Christian feast, dates back to the        apostolic times, as the writings of St. Irenaeus and Tertullian (De bapt., xix) attest. On this day, as on January 1, a plenary       indulgence can be acquired, under the usual conditions, by reciting the "Veni, Creator Spiritus" (Come, Holy Ghost), a prayer attributed to Rabanus Maurus (A.D. 776-856).

Pentecost : The Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost gives to all who have sanctifying grace His seven Gifts. The seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost are seven virtues of the soul, by which the soul responds easily and promptly to His guidance and inspirations. These Gifts perfect the powers of the soul and unite us intimately with God Himself. Initially received along with the supernatural gift of sanctifying grace at Baptism, these Gifts are greatly increased with the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation. We should continually ask the Holy Ghost that the influence of His Gifts may ever intensify in our spiritual lives.

Come Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful!

• The gift of wisdom, by detaching us from the world, makes us relish and love only the things of heaven.

• The gift of understanding helps us to grasp the truths of religion as far as is necessary.

• The gift of counsel springs from supernatural prudence, and enables us to see and choose correctly what will help most to the glory of God and our own salvation.

• By the gift of fortitude we receive courage to overcome the obstacles and difficulties that arise in the practice of our religious  duties.

• The gift of knowledge points out to us the path to follow and the dangers to avoid in order to reach heaven.

• The gift of piety (godliness) by inspiring us with a tender and filial confidence in God, makes us joyfully embrace all that pertains to His service.

• Lastly, the gift of fear of the Lord fills us with a sovereign respect for God, and makes us dread, above all things, to offend Him.

“And the Catholic Faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not Three Gods, but One God. So there is One Father, not Three Fathers; one Son, not Three Sons; One Holy Ghost, not Three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore or after Other, None is greater or less than Another, but the whole Three Persons are Co-eternal together, and Co-equal.

So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity is Trinity, and the Trinity is Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore

that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity.” —Athanasian Creed