This Sunday we close out the Easter Season (50 days) with the celebration of Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Happy birthday, Catholic Church! Our liturgical colors are red, white and even yellow or gold. This is also the weekend in many dioceses, no longer in Hartford, when seminarians are ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ.

This weekend we celebrate the Love between the Father and the Son, which is the Holy Spirit, being sent into the Church, the world, and quite honestly, into each of us.   

The Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, meaning an Advocate, comforter and wonder Counselor, was sent into the world after Christ, the First Advocate, returned to the Father since He promised that He would send “another Paraclete” so that His followers would not be orphans. The Holy Spirit guides the Church (Pope) from error, the Magisterium; the Holy Spirit sanctifies souls through preaching God’s Word in the Church; the Holy Spirit teaches and bears witness to the Father and “to convince the world of sin”, is the Love of God producing the effects 0f divine grace on earth, and   appropriated to the third Person of the Trinity. This meaning comes to us from the Greek etymology para- meaning beside and -kalein, to call: parakletos, advocate.    Source: Catholic Dictionary 

So, with all that said, let us mark this Sunday with an open heart and mind to welcoming the Holy Spirit into the Church universal but also into our hearts, homes and families. When you don’t know what 0r who to pray for or to, ask the Holy Spirit; when in the midst of an “debate” and are being aggravated, call on the Holy Spirit; and, when we are confused or in doubt about a Church teaching, invoke the Holy Spirit—Wonder Counsel0r—to guide and enlighten us. After all, this is a “birthday” celebration and there are plenty of gifts, gifts of the Holy Spirit include wisdom,   understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear (awe) of the Lord. Fruits of the Holy Spirit include charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity. Amen, celebrate!