Today, Holy Mother Church celebrates Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit came down upon the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary in the upper room.
Pentecost was one of the three great Jewish Feasts for which many Israelites went on pilgrimage to the Holy City of Jerusalem to worship God in the temple. It originated as a harvest thanksgiving, with an offering of first fruits. Before Jesus came, the Jewish Pentecost celebration was held 50 days after Passover, when they slaughtered the lambs as sacrifice and ate the Passover meal.
When the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles, it gave new spiritual meaning to the Jewish Pentecost, 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus.
Our Lord ascended into heaven 40 days after His resurrection, which the Church now calls Ascension Thursday. After Jesus ascended into heaven the apostles and the Virgin Mary prayed for 9 days in the upper room, waiting for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit.
When the day of Pentecost arrived, suddenly, a sound came from heaven, like a rush of mighty wind, and it filled the house they were sitting. And there appeared to them, in the form of tongues of fire, the Holy Spirit, which came down, and rested upon the Apostles, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, and filled them with the Holy Spirit. They spoke in tongues such that each person heard the apostles speak in their own language. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the apostles were no longer afraid. And from this day forward, they would become great witnesses of the Gospel, even to the shedding of their blood as martyrs.
On the day of Pentecost, after Peter stood up and gave his address to all who had gathered around them, some three thousand were baptized that day. The apostles then boldly went out to the ends of the earth to make disciples of all nations. All of this was by way of the action of the Holy Spirit. I would like to focus on four actions of the Holy Spirit, that occurs every day since the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
From the beginning of the Church on Pentecost-- unto day, the Holy Spirit’s action of sanctification, reparation, salvation, and transformation, can be seen in Eucharistic adoration.
When we make a Holy Hour, the Holy Spirit will bring about our sanctification by helping us to grow in virtue and holiness. Pope Paul VI said, "How great is the value of conversation with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, for there is nothing more consoling on earth, nothing more efficacious for advancing along the road of holiness!"
When we make a Holy Hour, the Holy Spirit will help us to make reparation for our sins and the sins of others. Pope Saint John Paul II said, "Let us be generous with our time in going to meet Jesus and ready to make reparation for the great evils of the world. Let your adoration never cease."
When we make a Holy Hour, the Holy Spirit will use us to bring about our salvation and the salvation of others. In Eucharistic Adoration, we cooperate with the Holy Spirit in saving souls. Jesus told Dina Belanger, “A Holy Hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament is so important that a multitude of souls go to Heaven who otherwise would have gone to hell!”
When we make a Holy Hour before Jesus in the Eucharist, the Holy Spirit can use our meager prayers to transform the world. St. Faustina said, “A Holy Hour before the Most Blessed Sacrament, so pleases the Heart of Jesus, that every man, woman and child on earth receives a new effect of God’s graces!”
Eucharistic Adoration is for everyone, not just for those who signed up. Anyone may come to adore Jesus whenever they please. In Eucharistic Adoration, the Holy Spirit’s silent action is changing hearts and families, not only of those who come to adore Jesus, but to many souls throughout the world.
How many of you have told me that you greatly enjoy your time before Jesus. Everyone leaves adoration with peace and greater courage to confront life’s difficulties.
In Eucharistic Adoration, we begin to love God more and love our neighbor more. If you have not yet come to adoration, you’re missing something very special---not only for yourself but for others.
May the Holy Spirit come down upon our parish and the whole world, that we may be instruments of sanctification, reparation, salvation and transformation by coming to adore Jesus, who waits for us in Eucharistic Adoration.
May the Virgin Mary draw us to close to Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, and help us to become an image of Jesus, Her Son, through the spending of our time gazing upon the face of Jesus, who the angels and saints adore in heaven.
As Pope Benedict said, “God is waiting for us in Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Let us not keep Him waiting in vain!”
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