Pentecost

detail of a stained glass window depicting the descent of the fire to the apostles at Pentecost; mid-19th century, possibly by Mayer of Munich, Germany; Cologne Cathedral, Bavaria, Germany; photographed on 1 May 2006 by Raimond Spekking; swiped from Wikimedia CommonsMemorial

Derivation

  • Greek: pentecostes, fiftieth

Also known as

  • Birthday of the Church
  • Pascha rosatum
  • Pascha rossa
  • Pfingsten
  • White Sunday
  • Whitsunday
  • Whitsuntide

Article

Feast which commemorates the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, and takes its name from the fact that it comes nearly fifty days after Easter. It was a Jewish festival, and has been observed in the Christian Church since the days of the Apostles. It is often called Whitsunday (White Sunday) from the practice of giving solemn Baptism on that day in early centuries, the candidates being attired in white baptismal robes.

Additional Information

Reading

We should pray very much for the gifts of those who have been specially guided by the Holy Spirit, remembering what it was that this Spirit always brought them. This was the power to see things in the Truth, and as they really are – that is, with reference to Eternity and God, and to this only. It gave them calm and strength, and an absence of all self, unrest, and excitement, so that they could live above this earth in true peace. – Father Henry Sebastian Bowden

MLA Citation

  • “Pentecost“. CatholicSaints.Info. 1 December 2019. Web. 26 April 2024. <>