Pentecost

"The Spirit
of God
rests upon me,
The Spirit
of God
consecrates me,
The Spirit
of God
bids me go forth
to proclaim
his peace,
his joy."                                    Pentecost - Fresco by Giotto

This solemnity is the culmination of the Easter Season of the liturgical year. Every day since Ascension Thursday we have been singing these words before the Invitatory of Morning Prayer:

Come let us adore Christ the Lord,

who promised to send the Holy Spirit

on his people,

alleluia, alleluia.

And Jesus keeps his promises - "Do not be afraid"; "I am with you"; "Come to me all you who labor and are heavily burdened and I will give you rest".

Who is this Spirit who comes as promised? The Creed of the Mass tells that the Spirit procedes from the Father and the Son in the great mystery of our faith, the Holy Trinity. The Spirit is the paraclete, our advocate, counsoler, counselor, companion, source of wisdom. The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of God came down upon the Lord, and the Lord in turn gave this Spirit to his Church, sending the advocate from heaven into all the world into which, according to his won words, the devil too had been cast down like lightening. (from a treatise Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus, Office of Redings for Pentecost)

In his Letter to the Romans, St. Paul offers further insight in some of the most moving and consoling words in Scripture:

The spirit helps us in our weakness,

for we do not know how to pray as we ought;

but the Spirit makes intercession for us

with groanings that cannot be expressed in speech.

God who searches hearts knows what the Spirit means,

for the Spirit intercedes for the saints

according to the will of God.

Romans 8:25-27

Let us pray:

Father of light, from whom every gift comes,

send your Spirit into our lives

with the power of a mighty wind,

and by the flame of your wisdom

open the horizons of our minds.

Loosen our tongues to sing your praise

 in words beyond the power of speech,

for without your Spirit

we could never raise our voices

 in words of peace

 or announce the truth that Jesus is Lord,

who lives and reigns with you

and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Alternative option for closing prayer of Pentecost Morning Prayer