Pentecost Sunday celebrates the gifts of the Holy Spirit
During May, the Church observes the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord – also known as Ascension Day — and Pentecost, marking the end of Easter.
Ascension Day is a significant event in Christianity that honors Jesus’ bodily ascent into Heaven. It marks the moment when He was elevated to the position of Lord and Christ and seated at the right hand of God. On the other hand, Pentecost is an occasion that celebrates the inception of the Church and the bestowal of the Holy Spirit’s gifts upon the Apostles, Mary, the first believers in Jesus, and the Church.
At Pentecost, according to Acts 2, “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.
And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.”
It was a strange phenomenon — understanding each other’s languages. Some accused them of being drunk.
Peter then preaches his first homily showing how the prophet Joel prophesied the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
After relating the story of Jesus’ crucifixion, his raising from the dead, and His ascension into heaven, Peter tells them to repent of their sins and be baptized. According to the account in Acts 2, “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.”
Timing of Ascension Day and Pentecost
According to Acts 1:3, Jesus made appearances for 40 days before his Ascension. Therefore, Ascension Day is traditionally observed on a Thursday, which marks the 40th day following Easter.
Ascension Day was traditionally observed on a Thursday but it is usually commemorated on the seventh Sunday of Easter. The Diocesan Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Newark, following the majority of the country, have made the decision to permanently observe the Ascension of the Lord on the seventh Sunday of Easter. This year, the commemoration will take place on Sunday, May 21, followed by Pentecost on Sunday, May 28.
Pentecost is observed on the Sunday that follows 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus and 10 days after His ascension into heaven. Since Easter is a movable feast without a fixed date, Pentecost can occur anywhere between May 10 and June 13.
The 10-day period between the Ascension and Pentecost is referred to as Ascensiontide.
Pentecost traditions
Pentecost Sunday is a day when priests and many churchgoers wear red as a symbol of the Holy Spirit’s manifestation as tongues of fire. In England and Ireland, the liturgical color is white, which represents the Holy Spirit. Some churches also use trumpets to symbolize the driving winds.
St. Joseph Church in Maplewood is one parish within the Archdiocese of Newark planning a special Red Mass celebration on Pentecost. As part of the ceremony, a fire will be ignited outside the church, and each attendee will be given a red candle to light from the flame and proceed inside. During the event, petitions will be spoken in several languages, and the concelebrating priests will use their native tongues. Parishioners are asked wears red for the occasion.
Featured image: Tongues of fire rest on Mary and disciples of Jesus in this 15th-century depiction of the Pentecost by Jose Pessoa. Pentecost Sunday’s first reading reminds us that the descent of the “tongues of fire” upon the disciples of Jesus so filled them with the Holy Spirit that they began chattering in different languages “of the mighty acts of God.” (CNS photo/courtesy Newark Museum)
