YOUCAT Question n. 118 - Part II. What happened on Pentecost?
(Youcat
answer - repeated) Fifty days after his Resurrection, the Lord sent the Holy
Spirit down from heaven upon his disciples. The age of the Church began.
A deepening through CCC
(CCC 732)
On that day, the Holy Trinity is fully revealed. Since that day, the Kingdom
announced by Christ has been open to those who believe in him: in the humility
of the flesh and in faith, they already share in the communion of the Holy
Trinity. By his coming, which never ceases, the Holy Spirit causes the world to
enter into the "last days," the time of the Church, the Kingdom
already inherited though not yet consummated. We have seen the true Light, we
have received the heavenly Spirit, we have found the true faith: we adore the
indivisible Trinity, who has saved us (Byzantine liturgy, Pentecost Vespers, Troparion, repeated after communion).
Reflecting and meditating
(Youcat comment)
On Pentecost the Holy
Spirit transformed fearful apostles into courageous witnesses to Christ. In a
very short time, thousands had themselves baptized: it was the birthday of the
Church. The miracle of the languages on Pentecost shows that the Church is
there for all peoples from the very beginning: She is universal ( the Latin
term for the Greek kat’ holon, catholic) and missionary. She speaks to all men,
overcomes ethnic and linguistic barriers, and can be understood by all. To this
day the Holy Spirit is the “soul” of the Church, the essential principle of her
life.
(CCC Comment)
(CCC 244)
The eternal origin of the Holy Spirit is revealed in his mission in time. The
Spirit is sent to the apostles and to the Church both by the Father in the name
of the Son, and by the Son in person, once he had returned to the Father (Cf.
Jn 14:26; 15:26; 16:14). The sending of the person of the Spirit after Jesus'
glorification (Cf. Jn 7:39) reveals in its fullness the mystery of the Holy
Trinity.
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