Friars Corner: Come, Holy Spirit!
Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR
Acts 2:1-11; Ps 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13; John 15:26-27, 16:12-15
The event of Pentecost is the “birthday” of Christ’s church. The earliest community was set on fire by the Holy Spirit to bring God’s hope to all people.
At the Last Supper, Jesus told his earliest followers the major things the Holy Spirit would empower them to do. They went forth from that room with boldness, conviction and divine power to bring the Jewish and pagan world to know the good and saving news of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. We are Catholic Christians today because of what they first taught.
The Holy Spirit continues to enlighten us. Some of us who are charismatic or pentecostal Catholics believe and see in the Pentecost Sequence we have on this Sunday’s liturgy, the best and most inclusive prayer and work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is beautiful poetry and very easy to meditate on and memorize. I offer this prayer here for you to copy and fall in love with the Holy Spirit. Amen! Alleluia!
Pentecost Sequence
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from Your clear celestial home,
Shed a ray of light divine!
Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our being shine!
You, of comforters the best;
You, our soul‘s most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below.
In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.
O most blessed Light Divine,
Shine within these hearts of Thine,
And our inmost being fill!
Where You are not, we have naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
Om our dryness pour Your Dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away.
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.
On the faithful, who adore
And confess You, evermore
In Your many Gifts descend.
Give us virtue’s sure reward;
Give us Your Salvation, Lord;
Give us joys that never end.
Amen. Alleluia!
(Stephen Langton, 1150-1228 A.D.
Archbishop of Canterbury, England.)
Praise the Lord, now and forever! I pray for a double anointing of the Holy Spirit.
- Fr. Bob Hilz
(© 2018 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)
