Happy Birthday!

We read today in the Acts of the Apostles of this great day, which in a certain way we can celebrate as the birthday of the Church:

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,
they were all in one place together.
And suddenly there came from the sky
a noise like a strong driving wind,
and it filled the entire house in which they were.
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.
At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,
but they were confused
because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,
“Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?
We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,
inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,
as well as travelers from Rome,
both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,
yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues
of the mighty acts of God.”

(Acts 2:1-11)

Today, for what I believe is the first time, I heard the entire Pentecost Sequence sung in church. The Missal requires it, of course, but for whatever reason most parishes seem to omit it.

We heard it sung in English, but according to the traditional Gregorian version:

Veni Sancte Spiritus Veni, Sancte Spiritus, et emítte caélitus lucis tuae rádium. Veni, pater páuperum, veni, dator múnerum, veni, lumen córdium. Consolator óptime, dulcis hospes animae. dulce refrigerium. In labóre réquies, in aestu tempéries, in fletu solácium. O lux beatíssima, reple cordis íntima tuórum fidélium. Sine tuo númine, nihil est in hómine, nihil est innoxium. Lava quod est sórdidum, riga quod est áridum, sana quod est sáucium. Flecte quod est rígidum, fove quod est frigidum, rege quod est devium. Da tuis fidélibus, in te confidéntibus, sacrum septenárium. Da virtútis méritum da salútis éxitum, da perénne gáudium. Amen. Alleluia

Come, Holy Spirit Come, Holy Spirit, come! And from Thy celestial home Shed a ray of light divine! Come Father of the poor! Come source of all our store! Come within our bosoms shine! Thou, of comforters the best; Thou, the soul’s most welcome guest; Sweet refreshment here below; In our labor, rest most sweet; Grateful coolness in the heat, Solace in the midst of woe. O most blessed Light divine Shine within these hearts of Thine. And our inmost being fill! Where you are not, man has naught, Nothing good in deed or thought, Nothing free from taint of ill. Heal our wounds, our strength renew; On our dryness pour Thy dew; Wash the stains of guilt away: Bend the stubborn heart and will; Melt the frozen, warm the chill; Guide the steps that go astray. On the faithful who adore And confess you, evermore In your sev’nfold gift descend; Give them virtue’s sure reward; Give them Thy salvation, Lord; Give them joys that never end. Amen. Alleluia

— Attributed to Pope Leo III

It was simply beautiful. From that moment in the Mass, I felt positively transported, and later as we sang the Sanctus, it was as if the choirs of angels were all around us, singing to the glory of God.

I wish all who read my words a truly happy Pentecost. May the fire of the Holy Spirit be your light in the darkness.