The Solemnity of Pentecost

On Sunday 5 June 2022, we celebrated Pentecost Sunday. We meditated on the third mystery of glory, mainly, the descent of the Holy Spirit.

The Book of Acts tells us what happens when the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost day. When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 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. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4).

In this particular solemnity I was touched with the sequence of Pentecost, which dates back to the 13th century. This sequence has been employed in the liturgy from that time. It is ascribed to Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury. This medieval hymn to the Holy Spirit powerfully invokes the Third Person of the Holy Trinity to come and refresh our exhausted hearts. This famous Veni, Sancte Spiritus is full of extraordinary healing. It depicts to the letter who the Holy Spirit as well as it details its transformative workings.

The Holy Spirit is invited to come from his celestial home to shed a ray of light divine! He is the Father of the poor!, the source of all our store! When we let him into our hearts he comes and shines within our bosoms.

The Holy Spirit is comforters the best, the soul’s most welcome guest; and sweet refreshment here below. When we really toil hard the Holy Spirit is rest most sweet; Grateful coolness in the heat; as well as solace in the midst of woe.

The Holy Spirit is the most blessed Light divine. May you and me let Him the light within us shine. If we do that He will our inmost being fill!

Without the Holy Spirit we have naught, we have nothing good in deed or thought, and
Nothing becomes free from taint and ill. Simply because when He is not present destruction and desolation certainly fall.

The Holy Spirit is the Heal[er] of our wounds. He is the renew [al of]our strength. On our dryness He pour[s] his dew. He wash[es] the stains of our guilt away.

 The Holy Spirit bend[s] the stubborn heart and will. He melt[s] the frozen, warm the chill and guide[s] the steps that go astray.

 On the faithful, who adore and and confess Him, the Holy Spirit evermore in His sevenfold gift descend[s].

 Finally, in His adorers and confessors, the Holy Spirti gives them virtue’s sure reward, He give[s] them His salvation and joys that never end.

 When we feel sad, discouraged, frustrated and lost, when can’t we pause for a while and joyfully go for the sequence Veni, Sancte Spiritus and let the Holy Spirit open our hearts to His most holy indwelling activity within us!

Holy Spirit, Lord of Light,
From the clear celestial height.
Thy pure beaming radiance give.

 Come, thou Father of the poor,
Come, with treasures which endure;
Come, thou Light of all that live!

 Thou, of all consolers best,
Thou, the soul’s delightful guest,
Dost refreshing peace bestow.

Thou in toil art comfort sweet;
Pleasant coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.

Light immortal, Light divine,
Visit thou these hearts of thine,
And our inmost being fill.

If thou take thy grace away,
Nothing pure in man will stay;
All his good is turned to ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour thy dew,
Wash the stains of guilt away.

Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.

Thou, on us who evermore
Thee confess and thee adore,
With thy sevenfold gifts descend.

Give us comfort when we die;
Give us life with thee on high;
Give us joys that never end.
Amen. Alleluia!

 

Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap