On the Feast of Pentecost, Timothy O’Malley reminds us that the feast is the birthday of the Church. He writes: “The Church is not a collection of individuals, who just happen to believe in God in the same place. The Church is
Last year on Pentecost, Our Sunday Visitor published stories from readers who shared how the pandemic had shaped their faith. They were uplifting and inspiring, so Our Sunday Visitor decided to repeat the opportunity. This year, readers shared how their parish ministry
Just as the apostles were united once they received the Holy Spirit, the church is united by that same spirit and not by keeping company just with those who agree on a certain interpretation of Christian teaching, Pope Francis said on Pentecost.
Be ready for Mass by reading Opening the Word for Pentecost. Tim O’Malley writes that until we understand the nothingness of death, we also cannot grasp the gift of salvation. We can do nothing about death. The end of nothingness is not
Each Pentecost, the Pantheon in Rome has a tradition where rose petals rain down from the open ceiling upon the congregation, imitating the Holy Spirit descending as tongues of fire upon the apostles. If you've never seen a photo or video of
If you attend the Pentecost Vigil, you’ll notice something peculiar about the readings. This is true whether you participate in the extended Vigil of Pentecost or the shorter Vigil. Namely, there is no reading from Acts, no account of the descent of
At Pentecost, Christians are healed of the awful tendency to cultivate division in the world
Every year around Christmas time, a holiday cactus blooms rich red blossoms. Throughout the rest of the year, the Christmas cactus looks vaguely alien, with flat, dark green spiky leaves reminiscent of claws, the branches arched as if predatory insects. But come