Pentecost & the Holy Spirit

Pentecost Sunday marks the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles. In the Church calendar it occurs 50 days after Easter and 10 days after the Ascension of Christ. This year it fell on Sunday, June 8th. The Bible records the Pentecost in Acts 2:1-13. 

You could think of Pentecost as the "birthday of the Church." It fulfills Jesus' promise to send the "Counselor" and "Spirit of Truth" in John 16-5-15 and launched the large-scale spreading of the Gospel after Jesus' ascension. Acts 2:41 records that after Peter spoke to the crowd after receiving the Holy Spirit, some 3,000 people were baptized.

Take some time to invite the Holy Spirit into your life and rest in peace today. Below are a few prayers and songs that celebrate the Spirit...

Come, reality beyond all words.
Come, person beyond all understanding.
Come, rejoicing without end.
Come, light that knows no evening.

Come, unfailing expectation of the saved.
Come, raising of the fallen.
Come, resurrection of the dead.
Come, all-powerful, for unceasingly you create,
refashion and change all things by your will alone.

Come, for your name fills our hearts with longing, 
and is ever on our lips.
Come, for you are yourself the desire that is within me.
Come, my breath and my life.
Come, the consolation of my humble soul.

Come, my joy, my glory, my endless delight.

Here's another beautiful prayer from St. Augustine...

Breathe into me, Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. 

Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.

Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy. 

Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.

Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy.

Amen. Amen, Amen.

The Liturgists also released some songs for Pentecost. You can preview them here.