Want to help the Big Pentecost celebration? Pray

By Father Mark Gantley and Jayne Mondoy

Special to the Herald

People often like to feel helpful. This is true whether it is a joyous occasion, such as a baby luau, or a sorrowful occasion, such as a funeral.

This year, half of the parishes of the Diocese of Honolulu will transition to celebrating the sacraments of initiation in their original order, that is, baptism, confirmation, and then first Holy Communion. As part of this transition, all young people grades two and above will be confirmed on Pentecost Sunday, May 20, or during the vigil the evening before. This will be a tremendous outpouring of grace as God confirms so many young people in their faith.

The bishop is delegating priests throughout the diocese to administer confirmation on Pentecost. Directors of religious education are hurriedly organizing parish celebrations. Those involved in liturgy are planning the music, the readers and servers. Parents are preparing family gatherings to follow the confirmation Masses. So much preparation is happening.

Yet it might seem like there is not much for everyone else to do.

But this Pentecost is meant to be a time of rejoicing for all Catholics in Hawaii, for the Holy Spirit comes down not just on individuals but upon all the baptized as an ohana of faith. So what can everyone else do to be helpful? The answer is simple but profound: They can pray.

Images of the day of Pentecost depict Mary and the Twelve Apostles gathered in prayer. Praying a novena of nine days in prayer before Pentecost is a traditional devotion, and it was decreed officially by Pope Leo XIII on May 9, 1897, in his encyclical on the Holy Spirit “Divinum Illud Munus.”

In his encyclical, Pope Leo emphasized a few points about our prayer. First, trust in the Spirit, for “the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings” (Romans 8:26).

Second, call upon the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession. Pope Leo reminds those who pray why it is fitting to invoke Mary: “You know well the intimate and wonderful relations existing between her and the Holy Ghost, so that she is justly called His Spouse.”

Third, Pope Leo reminds all believers to pray for the purification from sins, one of the great fruits of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus appeared to his disciples after his Resurrection, he said, “‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained’” (John 20:22-23). An essential part of our prayer should include going to confession before Pentecost. This will ordinarily be arranged for the youth being confirmed by their pastors. All parishioners can also participate in the blessing of the sacrament of Penance.

Fourth and finally, Pope Leo ends his encyclical by quoting Psalm 103:30: “Send forth your Spirit, they are created and you renew the face of the earth.” This prayer of David highlights the fact that the Spirit sends those who receive him on a mission to preach the Gospel to all nations. So this Pentecost is not the end, but just the beginning.

Father Mark Gantley is the diocesan judicial vicar. Jayne Mondoy is the diocesan director for religious education.

 

High Priestly Prayer of Jesus

We can pray for those who are to be confirmed by using the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus himself, who interceded for his disciples before his death (John 17:11-19)

• Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:
• “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me,
• so that they may be one just as we are one.
• When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me,
• and I guarded them, and none of them was lost
• except the son of destruction,
• in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
• But now I am coming to you.
• I speak this in the world
• so that they may share my joy completely.
• I gave them your word, and the world hated them,
• because they do not belong to the world
• any more than I belong to the world.
• I do not ask that you take them out of the world
• but that you keep them from the evil one.
• They do not belong to the world
• any more than I belong to the world.
• Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.
• As you sent me into the world,
• so I sent them into the world.
• And I consecrate myself for them,
• so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”

Veni, Creator

This is suitable to be said with those to be confirmed.

• O Holy Spirit, by whose breath
• Life rises vibrant out of death;
• Come to create, renew, inspire;
• Come, kindle in our hearts your fire.
• You are the seeker’s sure resource,
• Of burning love the living source,
• Protector in the midst of strife,
• The giver of the Lord of life.
• In you God’s energy is shown,
• To us your varied gifts made known.
• Teach us to speak, teach us to hear;
• Yours is the tongue and yours the ear.
• Flood our dull senses with your light;
• In mutual love our hearts unite.
• Your power the whole creation fills;
• Confirm our weak, uncertain wills.
• From inner strife grant us release;
• Turn nations to the ways of peace.
• To fuller life your people bring
• That as one body we may sing.
• Praise to the Father, Christ, his Word,
• And to the Spirit: God the Lord,
• To whom all honor, glory be
• Both now and for eternity. Amen.

Veni Sancta Spiritus

This brief prayer is particularly appropriate for groups

• Leader: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.
• Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love.
• Leader: Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
• Response: And you will renew the face of the earth.
• Leader: Let us pray.
• Lord,
  by the light of the Holy Spirit
  you have taught the hearts of your faithful.
  In the same Spirit,
  help us to relish what is right
  and always rejoice in your consolation.
  We ask this through Christ our lord.
• Response: Amen.