Plan Ahead for Your Pentecost Celebration

Deanna Bartalini offers an invitation to pray a novena leading up to Pentecost, and to renew or begin a relationship with the Holy Spirit.

On May 19, 2024, we will celebrate the feast of Pentecost. This is one of my favorite feasts. I picture it, the disciples of Jesus, Mary, the other Marys and women, talking, praying, eating. All together, waiting with hope for the promised Advocate. And, WHOOSH, the Holy Spirit arrives and descends: wind, fire, so much life cannot be contained but is poured out and given to those present and to all of us to help us in our life.

We need the Holy Spirit. We need the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. The gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord are not only for special occasions or difficult situations. Yes, these gifts enabled Peter to proclaim Jesus in a way he had not before but those gifts also sustained him in his entire life. And that is what they do for us: sustain us and allow us to be who we are meant to be in this world.

The fruits of the Holy Spirit are what comes out of us as people of faith and prayer. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (#1832) gives us a list of twelve: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity.

null

On that first Pentecost, all who were together waited and prayed fervently as Jesus instructed. We too, can consider doing the same. In fact, those nine days of prayer, between Jesus ascending into heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit is the Church’s first novena. This year, if you want to pray a novena before Pentecost, the novena begins on May 9 and ends on the May 18, the Vigil of Pentecost.

There are many novena options, including this one from Pray More Novenas, one from EWTN, or from Discerning Hearts. Each year I pray a novena, using one of those options or simply praying my favorite Holy Spirit prayer each day. It can be as simple or complicated as you’d like. For me, simple is always preferable, because I am more likely to stay faithful to the prayer. I also like to write down the intention for the novena so I remember it. For this novena, I pray for an increase in the gifts and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

On the feast of Pentecost, do something fun with your family and friends. Pentecost is often called the “birthday of the Church,” so have cake with red and yellow frosting. Maybe fly a kite or make windsocks as a reminder that the Spirit is like wind, blowing where it will. Wear red to Mass, which is the liturgical color of the day. Plant some red flowers in your yard. Talk about the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit you see in each other.

The Holy Spirit is sometimes hard to grasp, but His work is all around us. For me, when I am in a difficult situation that requires complex thinking and decision-making, I call on the Holy Spirit. Many days, before I begin working, I start with this prayer that I have at my desk:

null

Some people fear allowing the Holy Spirit in their lives. He is unpredictable, all over the place, wild, are all comments I have heard. And while they may be accurate, I believe, like Jesus, He goes where welcomed and leads us from where we are to someplace better. Deeper. Closer to God. He works with our unique personality, calling forth form us what might be hidden and giving us what we need to grow by removing fear.

Celebrate Pentecost and renew or begin your relationship with the Holy Spirit. You will be filled, comforted, guided and possibly surprised, but never alone.

Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.