Pentecost

What happened

A sound like a mighty wind filled the house where the disciples were gathered (Acts 2:2), and tongues as of fire came to rest on each of them (Acts 2:3). They began speaking in various languages, proclaiming the gospel to Jews from every nation gathered in Jerusalem. Christ sent the Spirit to empower them to preach to the whole world (Acts 2; see Acts 1:4-8) and to carry out the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20; see Isaiah 49:6, 22). The miracle showed the gospel was not meant for one nation or language.

The fiftieth day

Pentēkostē is Greek for "fiftieth." Pentecost falls on the fiftieth and final day of the Easter season. It is linked to the Jewish Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), fifty days after Passover, which celebrated the wheat harvest and the giving of the law at Sinai (see Exodus 20–24). It prefigures how the Spirit equips God's people to live Christ's new law of grace (Matthew 5:17-18) and the law written on our hearts (Romans 2:14-16). Many consider Pentecost a reversal of Babel.

The kingdom restored

The Jews expected a Messiah king to restore David's kingdom in a New Covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-13; Jeremiah 31:31-33), with worldwide rule (see Amos 9:11-12; Isaiah 11:1, 10). The apostles asked whether Jesus would now restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). But Christ, the King of kings (Revelation 17:14), reigns from heaven and strengthens his Church against her true enemies, the devil and his forces (Ephesians 6:10-12), through the sacraments, the word of God and other spiritual weapons (2 Corinthians 10:3-4). At Pentecost the apostles' doubts vanished and they understood that Jesus is a far greater, eternal king (Luke 1:32-33).

The restored kingdom is the one Catholic Church Jesus founded (Matthew 16:18-19). As a steward governed David's house, Peter received the keys of the kingdom (Matthew 16:18-19; see Isaiah 22:15-25). Peter and his successors lead the Church with power to bind and loose (Luke 22:31-32), and the other apostles and their successors govern with them under Peter (Matthew 18:15-18; see Acts 1:15-26).

Why it matters

Pentecost celebrates the day Jesus sent the Spirit to begin the Church's public mission (Acts 1:8). The Spirit turned frightened apostles into bold evangelists. Catholics first receive the Spirit at baptism (Acts 2:37-39; 22:16) and in fullness at confirmation (see Acts 8:14-17; 19:1-7). The seven gifts of the Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2-3). A novena in the nine days before Pentecost mirrors the apostles and Mary praying while they waited for the Spirit.

The Church's "birthday"?

As Tim Staples notes, "birthday of the Church" is theological shorthand. The Church was already taking shape in Christ's ministry: his teaching, the calling of the apostles and the institution of six of the seven sacraments. At Pentecost the Spirit came upon the apostles, fully equipping them, and about three thousand were baptized (Acts 2:41), the Church's first missionary act. Pentecost marks the move from formation to proclamation. The Catechism teaches that the Church was made manifest to the world at Pentecost, beginning the age of the Church in which Christ acts through the sacramental liturgy (CCC 1076).

Traditions

• Red vestments, recalling the tongues of fire.
• The conferral of confirmation.
• In Rome and parts of Europe, rose petals dropped from the ceiling.
• The sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus, also sung as cardinals process into a conclave.
• The Orthodox often keep Pentecost on a different day, pray Kneeling Prayers, keep Trinity Sunday the next day, and often wear green.

The Mass readings include Acts 2:1-11, Psalm 104, 1 Corinthians 12 and John 20:19-23.