The Third Glorious Mystery:
The Descent of the Holy Spirit

“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim” (Act 2:1-4).

“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language… [Peter proclaimed the Gospel.] Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day” (Act 2:1-6, 41). The Holy Spirit transformed the frightened apostles into world conquerors, and the world entered the age of the Church.

They finally got it! The Holy Spirit descended on them, and they suddenly understood what Jesus offered the world. They finally understood what it truly meant to be a disciple of Jesus and how they would travel to the ends of the world preaching the Gospel and forming disciples. They no longer concerned themselves with overthrowing Rome, and they no longer concerned themselves with the dangers of discipleship. They fearless and boldly won the world for Christ. We too must allow our own Pentecost to set us on fire and aid us in winning our own corner of the world for Christ!

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him” (Jn 14:16-21).

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

“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” (CCC 732).

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

“[The Holy Spirit] pours light into our minds, arouses our desire and gives us strength… As the soul is the life of the body, so the Holy Spirit is the life of our souls” (St. Peter Damian).

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“The Church of Christ is always, so to speak, in a situation of Pentecost: she is always gathered in the Upper Room in prayer, and at the same time, driven by the powerful wind of the Spirit, she is always on the streets preaching” (St. John Paul II).

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The “grace at Pentecost has continued to bear its marvelous fruits, everywhere instilling apostolic zeal, a desire for contemplation, the commitment to live and serve God and our brothers and sisters with complete dedication” (St. John Paul II).

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Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with your peaceful zeal, your joyful work, and your loving generosity. Make clear the gifts you have given and the mission you assign us for your glory.