Simple Celebrations for Everyone: Pentecost

You don’t have to be Super Holy Woman or homeschool 12 kids or even wear a veil in Mass to celebrate the liturgical seasons of the Church. These are for everyone!

It may be slightly awkward at first, but like all things new, these celebrations--with a little consistency--can be a part of your family’s life. They will happen just like birthday parties and other common holidays. And if your family is anything like mine, you can use any reminder of Jesus you can get.

And what do I mean by celebrating liturgical feasts or holy days? In a simple, but meaningful way, I suggest that the occasion is clearly mentioned ("Hey, it's Pentecost--when the Holy Spirit came to the Church"), a meal is had together, and a prayer is said. Of course much more can be added—like desserts, attending Mass, decorations, themed food, crafts, and stories, but these are just extras—not essentials.

Pentecost is a great one to celebrate for beginners. It always is celebrated on a Sunday, so that usually makes it easier to plan something. It’s also is a great time for picnics as the weather is finally getting nicer.

Many prayers can be found online for Pentecost—I’ve listed one below that we like to use. You can really use any prayer that is specific to the Holy Spirit.

Now for some simple extras.

Pentecost is often said to be the birth of the Church, so a birthday cake makes a fine dessert. Here is a simple cake I often make (in any flavor) with the sign of the Holy Spirit on it. Candles can also be put on the cake as signs of the tongues of fire that landed upon the apostles’ heads.

The kids and I also make a mobile like this for our decorations.

The perfect ending to the evening is a bonfire. Again, signifying the tongues of fire.

Keep it simple, and keep it Christ-centered. Yes, you can celebrate Pentecost with your family this Sunday!

Chaplet of the Holy Spirit

(This can be said at the conclusion of your meal or around the bonfire.)

Prayer:
Sign of the Cross. Act of Contrition

FIRST MYSTERY

Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary.

Meditation: The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. There the Holy One to be born shall be called the Son of God (Luke 11:35).
Prayers: One Our Father and Hail Mary; seven Glory be to the Father.

SECOND MYSTERY

The Spirit of the Lord rests upon Jesus.

Meditation: When Jesus was baptized, He immediately came up from the water. And behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a Dove and coming upon Him. (Matthew 3:16).
Prayers: One Our Father and Hail Mary; seven Glory be to the Father.

THIRD MYSTERY

Jesus is led by the Spirit into the desert.

Meditation: Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit about the desert for forty days, being tempted the while by the devil (Luke 4:11).
Prayers: One Our Father and Hail Mary; seven Glory be to the Father.

FOURTH MYSTERY

The Holy Spirit in the Church.

Meditation: Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a violent wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak of the wonderful works of God. (Acts 2:2, 4, 11).
Prayers: One Our Father and Hail Mary; seven Glory be to the Father.

FIFTH MYSTERY

The Holy Spirit in the souls of the Just.

Meditation: Or, do you not know that your members are the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you? Do not extinguish the Spirit. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (I Cor. 6-19; I Thess. 5:19; Eph. 4:30).
Prayers: One Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary; seven Glory be to the Father.

Chaplet Prayer Source: Family Liturgical Customs No. 4: Easter by Ethel Marbach, Abbey Press Publishing Division, St. Meinrad, Indiana, 1964