How do you observe Pentecost?

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anendlesswaltz

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Non-catholic here with another question! What do you all do for Pentecost? Especially with quarantine going on.

I’m essentially just adopting some catholic practices in an effort to obey the call i feel to stop being so worldy and keep my mind and heart on God. I’m way too easily distracted.

All of the catholic holidays and feasts are totally new to me. I wrote them down on a piece of note paper so i can put them on my calendar and observe them. I would like to observe pentecost even if just quietly at home. Even if it may end up only amounting to reading the relevant bible passages, prayerfully meditating on them and more prayer.

I don’t think i’m saying this right no matter how many different ways i phrase it, i’m sorry. I just hope i’m not offending anyone. I don’t intend to convert, just adopt a few practices here and there.
 
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On Saturday evening, many churches will pray the Pentecost Vigil Mass, and include the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). Typically, this would be done at the Easter Vigil, however due to COVID, churches have shifted it to the Pentecost Vigil. It is meant to mimic the Apostles praying in the upper room. Sunday masses will be similar to other solemnities with a Sequence and chanted masses. Considerations should be made for praying the LotH as well as the act of spiritual communion for those unable to make it to the masses available during the weekend, or if their churches have yet to have opened.
 
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If you are interested in adopting some catholic traditions during Pentecost, I suggest you search for the readings at the Pentecost Vigil, or download the iBrievary app. This app will guide you through praying the LotH (Liturgy of the Hours)
 
As someone said, there is a nine-day Novena to the Holy Spirit. We say special prayers on each of the 9 days asking the Holy Spirit to come into our lives and to give us the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are gifts that we need in order to be better Christians and holier people, like knowledge, piety, fortitude etc.

You can read about the novena here.


Also if you look on this page under Activities, you’ll see some optional activities that you can consider doing to celebrate Pentecost in your home.

 
anendlesswaltz said:
All of the catholic holidays and feasts are totally new to me. I wrote them down on a piece of note paper so i can put them on my calendar and observe them. I would like to observe pentecost even if just quietly at home. Even if it may end up only amounting to reading the relevant bible passages, prayerfully meditating on them and more prayer.
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This is a really good plan but follow the daily gospel each day in the lead up to Pentecost also. Here is a link to the USCCB daily readings. Here.

When the Church celebrates the mysteries of Christ she does it through the Gospel of John since his style draws people into the mysteries. This is an especially good week to recall the anticipation that the Apostles were experiencing. Just before His ascension into heaven, Jesus told the Apostles to wait in Jerusalem for what was coming next. The gospel readings this week reflect on their memories of their time with Jesus which one can imagine was intense focus of their week long wait.

I wish you a happy and Holy Easter season!
 
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Thank you so much!! Someone posted about reading a bible passage and a responsorial psalm, and i loved the message but i had no idea where they got it from. So thank you so much! Is this an easter season thing, or does this reading/responsorial psalm page go year round…?
 
The readings and responsorial psalms happen every day in the church.
 
anendlesswaltz said:
Thank you so much!! Someone posted about reading a bible passage and a responsorial psalm, and i loved the message but i had no idea where they got it from. So thank you so much! Is this an easter season thing, or does this reading/responsorial psalm page go year round…?
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All year round. There are always 2 readings and a psalm and the Gospel every Sunday. For weekday Masses it’s normally only 1 reading a psalm and the Gospel.

These happen in a three year cycle. So Year A the Gospel readings for Ordinary time (that is outside Lent/Easter, Advent/Christmas) come from Matthew. Year B from Mark and Year C from Luke. Then the cycle starts again.

The Readings and psalms that come from the Old and New Testaments, assist us understanding the Gospel and the homily is on that theme.
 
My sister-in-law always makes a big celebration out of Pentecost. She sets the table with red linens and dessert is always a fruit salad (in reference to the fruits of the Holy Spirit). Since we have a large family, she writes down the Fruits of the Holy Spirit and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit on slips of paper and puts them into different hats for us to choose from and whichever ones we choose (one of each) are the ones we should meditate on and work on in ourselves.

I always seem to get “patience” :roll_eyes:
 
Usually by going to Mass, opening the missalette to the correct page, and say, “Oh. I guess it’s Pentecost. Cool.”
 
I have a briefer version of the Liturgy of the Hours called Shorter Christian Prayer. I picked this up at the monastery I have visited a number of times and believe it is a volume used by the Oblates. (sorry if I’m using terms you may not yet be familiar with) At any rate, to answer your question, I read it pretty much every day and will be using the entry for Pentecost as my formal prayers for that day. I’ll also watch Bishop Robert Barron’s Mass online.

I too am non-Catholic but do things in a more or less Catholic way. The church I attended for many years, a manipulative, cult-like version of Christianity, observed Pentecost with two-hour morning and afternoon services. I always thought that was overkill and, when our kids were older, we skipped the afternoon service to enjoy the day together at home. Both services were considered compulsory for members but I was a long term rebel and no one questioned our absences. 🙂
 
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We dress in red. We say prayers to The Holy Spirit
As a family and think about the gifts and fruits and relay stories of His intercession and how He lives within us.
 
CelticWarlord said:
Shorter Christian Prayer
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wow two hour long services? that’s overkill. That book sounds like something i want to look into though! I looked into the Liturgy and other similar things but what turned me off was how long they were. I don’t have that much of an attention span. And i’m not used to it either so doing it that long ends up feeling more like i’m just reading? If that makes sense? Thanks again! Thanks so much.
 
Wearing read really seems important. That’s a great thing to do as a family! I think i would like to read and reflect on that as well. Thank you so much for commenting!
 
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