We have a double celebration this weekend as it is Memorial Day and Pentecost Sunday. So we celebrate all those who have died in service to our great nation. This federal holiday first started after the American Civil War and was originally known as Decoration Day and meant to honor both the Confederate and Union soldiers who died in that War, but by the 20th Century it became known as Memorial Day and was meant to celebrate all who died in service to the nation. Today it has even been expanded as the “official beginning” of the summer season and is always celebrated on the last Monday of May. And it is appropriate that these two celebrations fall on the same day this year as when we think of our service men and women we must believe that their courage and their struggles are provided for by the power of God’s Holy Spirit guiding and protecting them. May they also be open to His promptings, His love and His protection.

Our Church celebrates this weekend this year as Pentecost Sunday, the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Church and her people. After Easter Sunday, Christmas, is the second-greatest feast in the Christian liturgical calendar, but Pentecost Sunday is not far behind. Coming 50 days after Easter and ten days after the Ascension of Our Lord, Pentecost marks the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. For that reason, it is often called the "the birthday of the Church."

Pentecost Sunday is connected to the ancient Jewish festival called the "feast of weeks" or Pentecost (Exodus 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:10;). Whitsunday is so called from the white
garments which were worn by those who were baptized during the Vigil; Pentecost ("Pfingsten" in German), is the Greek for "the fiftieth" (day after Easter).

Pentecost Masses have a Sequence, “Veni Sancte Spiritus” the authorship of which by some is ascribed to King Robert of France. The color of the vestments is red, symbolic of the love of the Holy Spirit or of the tongues of fire. Formerly (in Europe) the law courts did not sit during the entire week, and servile work was forbidden. A Council of Constance (1094) limited this prohibition to the first three days of the week. The Sabbath rest of Tuesday was abolished in 1771, and in many
missionary territories also that of Monday; the latter was abrogated for the entire Church by Pius X in 1911.

In Italy it was customary to scatter rose leaves from the ceiling of the churches to recall the miracle of the fiery tongues; hence in Sicily and elsewhere in Italy Whitsunday is called Pascha rosatum. The Italian name Pascha rossa comes from the red colors of the vestments used on Whitsunday. In France it was customary to blow trumpets during Divine service, to recall the sound of the mighty wind which accompanied the Descent of the Holy Spirit. In England the gentry amused themselves with horse races. The Whitsun Ales or merrymakings are almost wholly obsolete in England. At these ales the Whitsun plays were performed. At Vespers of Pentecost in the Oriental Churches the extraordinary service of genuflection, accompanied by long poetical prayers and psalms, takes place. On Pentecost the Russians carry flowers and green branches in their hands. These are but a sampling of the universal celebrations in our Church. In the United States,
especially in African American Catholic communities, the color red is worn by the parishioners, which is appropriate in every parish on this Sunday.

Today in we count this feast in our Church as the “birthday of the Church” when the Holy Spirit descended upon her and comes to protect us, guide us and create unity among the many members of the universal Church worldwide. How can we celebrate this in our own lives today? We can recognize that consubstantial nature of the Trinity: God the Father (Creator), God the Son (Redeemer), and God the Holy Spirit (the Guide & Protector) are one, singular nature and essence. That this creative, loving and guiding God comes upon our Church and her people, the Body of Christ, to make known all that God has revealed to us in Christ, that is the unfolding and learning of God in every generation and place; as Creator, Savior (Redeemer) and Guide. Our Confirmation students should recall Bishop Macaluso homily as he asked them to listen to the Holy Spirit speak to them and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in your life as you make moral and ethical decisions about whom to marry, how to live, and how to practice one’s belief in God. As we heard last weekend in the homily, God will never speak to us in a language of hatred or abuse or neglect, but only in a language of Love, that lifts us up, enlightens us, and calls us to be the very best we can be. Let us recall the quote of our patron saint, Catherine of Siena, who said, “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.”