A Season of Solemnities

Following the Easter season, we come to a time in the Church of a number of great solemnities.  At the end of May, we celebrate the culmination of the Easter season with the Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord (this year on Thursday, May 9, 2024). Then following the Sunday during the nine days of prayer, we come to the Solemnity of Pentecost.  It is considered the conclusion of the Easter season, but it is also the beginning of a change.  It is a change from our focus on the appearances of the Risen Christ to the time of focusing on the mission of the Church.

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like a rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.”  (Acts 2:1-4)

The focus here is on the action of the Spirit as He descends upon the gathered disciples.  But it is necessary for us to reflect upon a few things.  The Spirit comes to them after days of prayer.  In fact, the concept of having a novena of prayer (9 days of prayer) for some purpose, comes from this time, the nine days that the apostles spent in prayer before the coming of the Spirit.  The Spirit also comes to them when they are gathered together in one place.  First and foremost we can look upon this as the action of the Spirit comes to the Church when the Church is gathered and operative, but we can also go a little deeper into the meaning of them being together as being united, not only in a single place, but also united in thought, united in action to accomplish the will of God for His people and His Church. 

Lastly the Spirit coming to the apostles causes them to speak in different languages.  Whatever we may think of this miracle, there is the truth behind it that the message is to be carried to all nations.  It is to be carried out into the world and shared that all people may believe.  In fact immediately after this we see St. Peter, drastically changed, preaching to the multitudes, “You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through Him among you, as you yourselves know – this Man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law.  But God raised Him up, having freed Him from death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” (Acts 2:22-24)

On Pentecost Sunday we celebrate this descent and coming of the Holy Spirit and we oftentimes refer to this day as the birthday of the Church.  And so it is, but as we gather for the celebration of Holy Mass this day we must remind ourselves that this celebration of the Church’s birth is not something external to ourselves.  It is not as if we are witnessing an event separate from us.  We, each and every one of us, is an integral part of this rebirth, this re-creation.  On this Solemnity of Pentecost, we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon us and not just at a point in the past.  We can certainly point to such moments, such as our baptism or our confirmation, but in reality the Holy Spirit comes upon us at every moment of worship, especially when we participate in the Sacraments.  He is upon us and within us at every moment when we are working together to share the faith and build up the kingdom of God. But within our liturgical year, this celebration is extended within this short season of the Church.  Over the next three weeks following this Solemnity of Pentecost, we will celebrate and honor the content of this message that is to be spread to all humanity and also rejoice within it.  We begin with the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity.  Within this Solemnity we honor the great mystery that God has been revealed to us as Trinity in Unity.  God is One in Three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  On this Sunday we will hear the words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18b-20)

We remind ourselves in this Solemnity that we are not called to understand God, since He is beyond all comprehension, but rather we are called to worship Him revealed to us as Father, Son and Spirit.  St. Paul reminds us of such saying: “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Then with this realization we celebrate the Solemnity by which the Lord Jesus remains supremely present to His people, with the Sacrament of the Altar, the Holy Eucharist.  We next celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, or as it is known in Polish, Boże Ciało, the Body of God.  As a part of this celebration, we focus our attention on the words of Jesus to remind us that within the Eucharistic Sacrifice He remains with us and we receive Him when we partake of Holy Communion.  And as a recalling of the Solemnities that have just passed, that we must share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all nations, we then participate in a Eucharistic procession.  We carry the Blessed Sacrament to the four corners of our churches, reminding ourselves that we must carry the presence of Christ, and preach Him, to the four corners of the world. 

Lastly, we celebrate a unique Solemnity within the Polish National Catholic Church, the Solemnity of the Word of God.  The Polish National Catholic Church has recognized that the Word of God has sacramental power since the proclamation of this at the General Synod in 1909.  But this is truly only a recognition of a reality that is certainly to be found within Scripture and the tradition of the Church.  Jesus Himself tells the Apostles: “Whoever listens to you listens to Me, and whoever rejects you rejects Me, and whoever rejects Me rejects the One Who sent Me.” (Luke 10:16)  This Solemnity also reaches back to what was said about the Holy Trinity, where Jesus tells us: Teach them “to obey everything I have commanded you.” 

Within this celebration we will show special honor to the proclamation of the Word as it is suggested to enthrone the Book of Gospels in a prominent place within the sanctuary and to incense the Book of Gospels before the proclamation of the Gospel.  But we also must remind ourselves that the Sacrament of the Word of God is not just limited to the readings given to us at Holy Mass.  It is also especially to be found in the opening up of the Word in preaching.  An example of this is the preaching of the Apostles that we heard on the day of Pentecost and it is also connected to the Solemnity of Corpus Christi in the Gospel reading concerning the road to Emmaus.  Here Jesus opens the Scriptures to these two disciples. “Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted to them the things about Himself in all the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:27)  And then after Jesus was recognized among them in the Breaking of Bread, the Holy Eucharist, they reflected on what occurred saying: “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking to us on the road, while He was opening the Scriptures to us.” (Luke 24:32) So my brothers and sisters, as we celebrate the conclusion of the Easter season and move into this short Season of Solemnities, participate fully in these moments of worship, because while all of the worship of the Church is for the sanctification of you, God’s people, these Solemnities are especially directed at us, the members of the Church, Christ’s Body.  Thank God that the Spirit has come upon the Church, gathered and sharing the Good News; Beseech God to continue to send the Spirit in our hearts and minds; Share the mystery of God’s revelation of Himself in the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; Be strengthened and nourished in the reception of the Holy Eucharist and carry that presence of Christ with you always, even to the four corners of the world; and know that God continues to speak to you, in His Word found in Scripture, in the preaching of the Church, but most fully in the presence of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.