"Pentecost"
By Rene De Cramer
The 50th and final day of Easter.
On the 50th day after the resurrection of Christ and on the 10th day after His ascension, the Paraclete was poured out upon the Apostles in the upper room, the site of the first Catholic church and the first Holy Catholic Mass, which was celebrated by Christ Himself at the last supper.
The miracle of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was made visible through the theophany of tongues of fire which came to rest above the heads of the Apostles, the first bishops of the Church. This image persists throughout the Church on into the present age as a sign of her Apostolic nature. A sign of where all her power and authority comes from.
Christ laid the foundation of the Church during His apostolic life and conferred on her His powers after the Resurrection. It was left to the Holy Spirit to complete the preparation of the Apostles for their task and to grant them Divine strength and inspiration. The visible reign of Christ was succeeded by the visible reign of the Paraclete.
This reign is made visible primarily in the unbroken Sacramental continuation of the Apostolic line and the miraculous preservation of its infallible teachings even in the event of corruption among the successors.
Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
