Today is such a special day for all of us Catholics: Pentecost is the “birthday of the Church”!
Pentecost marks the official birthday of the Catholic Church. The reason behind this is that Pentecost completes the Paschal mystery, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains … Pentecost is the day when the Church’s sacraments are inaugurated, specifically the sacrament of baptism … The Church can now fulfill her mission, with the help and assistance of the Holy Spirit.
Some churches celebrate with red flower petals falling from the church ceiling, symbolizing the flames of fire that descended from the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost.
The custom began at the Pantheon in Rome, and churches in other parts of the world do the same, such as at St. John Cantius in Chicago.
Here are three easy ways to honor the feast in your own home!
1Share the story
Of course, the most important thing is to tell the story of the first Pentecost. I like to read it from the Bible (or from a children’s Bible) with my children before we go to Mass.
Kids love birthdays, so they love hearing about this special birthday that’s shared by the whole Body of Christ!
2Wear red
This is a super simple but fun and lighthearted way to get into the spirit of things! Red symbolizes the fire of the Holy Spirit, so adding a little red to your outfit is a reminder of today’s special feast.
3Light a fire
The Holy Spirit lights a fire in each of our hearts with His gifts on Pentecost. So lighting a fire is a wonderfully fitting way to honor the feast of Pentecost.
You might enjoy a backyard bonfire on Pentecost (hopefully the weather is great for it!), or simply light a candle at the dinner table in the evening.
However you do it, ideally you can offer a prayer for our Church with the flicker of the flame. What better day to pray for the Church than on her birthday?
Happy birthday, Church!
And today we celebrate...