Pentecost Sunday

Today we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost -- the Birthday of the Church. I always enjoy this Feast and have fond memories of it. At Mass this morning one of the songs was Send Down the Fire by Marty Haugen.

     Send down the fire of your justice, Send down the rains of your love;

     Come, send down the Spirit,breathe life in your people, and we shall 

     be people of God.

Call us to be your compassion, Teach us the song of your love; 

Give us hearts that sing, Give us deeds that ring, Make us ring 

with the song of your love.

Call us to learn of your mercy, Teach us the way of your peace; 

Give us hearts that feel, Give us hands that heal, Make us walk 

in the way of your peace.

Call us to answer oppression, Teach us the fire of your truth; 

Give us righteous souls, 'Til your justice rolls, Make us burn 

with the fire of your love.

Call us to witness your Kingdom, Give us the presence of Christ; 

May your holy light Keep us shining bright, Ever shine with the 

presence of Christ. Marty Haugen

This song speaks volumes to me especially during this time. 

Our world is in such need of the fire of God's justice and love. 

We need to pray for God's intervention to shower us with peace, love,

and hope. May this Pentecost fill us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The following prayer was shared by Liturgical Press.

Come, Spirit of God!

 

Pentecost by Navarro Pérez Dolz, Santuario de Nuestra Señora del Sagrado Corazón, Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Jozef Sedmak. Getty Images.

Pentecost Prayer The earth rejoices, it bears its first fruit of glory: Jesus has risen to the Father! In joy, the earth brings forth the promise! Calm in its humility, it draws the light from on high. Come, Spirit of God! Come engulf the universe in your glory! You are the life of all life, the youth that renews everything. You are the heart of the world, beating in the rhythm of love. You are the joy and hope that bear us to the Father. — Days of the Lord  “Pentecost Prayer,” Days of the Lord, Liturgical Press, 1993.  May your heart be ablaze with the love of God through the Holy Spirit.