In May, we celebrate His ascension into heaven, gift of the Holy Spirit, birthday of the Church

The Church will observe the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord – also known as Ascension Day on May 9. Pentecost, celebrating the Church’s inception, takes place 10 days later, this year on May 19.  

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, so is Ascension and Pentecost. 

Ascension Day takes place 40 days after Easter and is significant in that it 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.  

According to scripture, Jesus made at least eight appearances over the 40 days before his Ascension including to his disciples, Mary Magdeline, and 500 of his followers who watched him ascend into heaven. He ministered and taught the apostles, and instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit, which happened on Pentecost. 

Ascension Day was traditionally observed on a Thursday, but it is commemorated on the seventh Sunday of Easter. The Diocesan Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Newark, following much of the country, have made the decision to permanently observe the Ascension of the Lord on the seventh Sunday of Easter.

The 10-day period between Ascension and Pentecost is called Ascensiontide.  

Pentecost celebrates the inception of the Church and the gift of the Holy Spirit being given to 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.” 

The priests and many of the faithful wear red as a symbol of the Holy Spirit’s manifestation as tongues of fire on Pentecost Sunday. Some churches will ignite a fire within the church, hold bilingual Masses, and have petitions spoken in several languages.  

Featured image: Pentecost is when the gift of the Holy Spirit was given to the Apostles, Mary, the first believers in Jesus, and the Church.