Rosary: The Descent of the Holy Ghost
The Third Glorious Mystery of the Rosary
The Third Glorious Mystery of the Rosary: The Descent of the Holy Ghost
Feast Day: Pentecost Sunday (Fifty Days After Easter Sunday)
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from Heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under Heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
This third Glorious Mystery of the Rosary highlights the Descent of the Holy Spirit, celebrated on Pentecost which is 50 days after Easter Sunday. After the Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven, for nine days Our Lady, the Apostles, and many other disciples including cousins of Our Lord, were in prayer in the Upper Room. In total the crowd was about 120 people. During this time, in addition to constant prayer, Peter had ordered that the Apostleship of Judas Iscariot should be filled and they cast lots for the replacement who was Matthias. This tradition of praying for nine days became known as a novena (which comes from the Latin word for nine).
Then the day of Pentecost arrives. Pentecost (which means 50 days) was a major festival under the Old Covenant and happened 50 days after the Passover. This prefigured the New Covenant with Christ transforming the Passover into Easter/Pasch. The Mass/Divine Liturgy is the transformed Passover liturgy. Our Lord also transformed the Old Covenant feast of Pentecost into the new Pentecost with the descent of the Holy Ghost to mankind.
As Our Lady, the Apostles, and other disciples were praying, a violent wind like a tornado filled the Upper Room. Imagine everything being tossed around, knocked over and broken. God Himself is announcing His arrival with a small taste of His power. This was not just a stiff breeze, but a violent wind. Then complete silence as tongues of flame come down from above and rest above their heads like a crown. This event was astonishing to the people who had witnessed three years of miracles from Our Lord, to give you some perspective.
The Apostles and disciples had been given the Holy Spirit and were now given the gift of speaking other languages, so they could proclaim the Gospel to all the different people in Jerusalem and ultimately the world. Even the people there are amazed at what they are witnessing, as common poor people can speak clearly to them.
John 14:25 “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. 28 You heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over Me; 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.
15:26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, He will testify on My behalf. 27 You also are to testify because you have been with Me from the beginning.
The Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, is called the Advocate by Our Lord. That’s an interesting title and we absolutely should not overlook it or fail to ponder it. One reason He is called the Advocate is because, as Our Lord says, He will testify on behalf of Christ. He advocates for Our Lord and mostly does so through us in the Church. That is why we are also commanded to testify on behalf of Our Lord. We must proclaim the Gospel and that Christ is King.
Another reason the Holy Spirit is called the Advocate is because He also intercedes for us according to the will of the Father. Paul teaches on this in Romans:
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Our Lord is the mediator of the New Covenant with the Father for us, while He also intercedes for us with the Father. The Holy Ghost also intercedes for us as well. So not only do we have the saints in Heaven interceding for us to the Father, we also have two of the three Divine Persons interceding for us as well.
1 Cor 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
We are given different gifts for the specific works of God that the Father has laid out before us. We do not need to strive to attain gifts that were not given to us. Assess yourself honestly and recognize the talents that you were given. Cultivate these talents so they may be used to support and expand the Kingdom of God. Your gifts may be those of simple service to the Church and mankind. Yet they are crucial to bringing about the Kingdom of God. Always focus on humility and sit in quiet silence listening to the Holy Spirit so that He can guide you in how to use your gifts for the glory of God.
Galatians 5:16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.
To have and keep the Holy Spirit residing in your soul, you need to shun and flee from sin and keep yourself holy. You can do this through the grace of the sacraments, which are poured out to us from the Holy Spirit. Read again what St Paul says in Galatians and the fruits of the flesh versus the fruit of the Spirit. If you ever think the Holy Spirit is leading you towards any of the sins listed above, know that you are wrong. The Holy Spirit only leads to the holy virtues, never to sin. Be guided by the Holy Spirit rather than your own desires. You will find peace and joy with Him.
Acts 8:1 4 Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. 6 The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, 7 for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
9 Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. 10 All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place.
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16 (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Notice how these believers in Samaria did not receive the Holy Spirit upon hearing the word of God, as the Gentiles did with Peter (Acts 10:44-48). Nor did they receive the Holy Spirit at baptism like those did at Pentecost (Acts 2:38). These believers in Samaria had to receive the sacrament of Confirmation to receive the Holy Spirit. Notice how the deacon Philip had baptized them, but he could not anoint them with the sacrament of Confirmation, since he was only a deacon. So they have the Apostles Peter and John (who are bishops) confirm the believers there. Once they receive the sacrament of Confirmation, they receive the Holy Spirit.
Now this is a very special circumstance, where God is showing that Confirmation also gives us the Holy Spirit along with Baptism. This is not a case of teaching that Baptism does not confer the Holy Spirit. It was a special moment in Scripture to reinforce a truth about Confirmation.
Always remember that the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation continue to pour out the Holy Spirit onto us, as long as we remain in a state of grace. They are conferred on us one time, but have permanent effects so long as we remain holy. If you have committed mortal sin, make sure to go to Confession to cleanse your soul so that the grace of the Holy Spirit from Baptism and Confirmation start flowing into your soul once again.
Links to the other Mysteries of the Rosary
JOYFUL MYSTERIES
Fifth Joyful Mystery - The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (coming soon)
SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
GLORIOUS MYSTERIES
Third Glorious Mystery - The Descent of the Holy Ghost
LUMINOUS MYSTERIES
Second Luminous Mystery - The Wedding at Cana (coming soon)
Third Luminous Mystery - The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (coming soon)
Fourth Luminous Mystery - The Transfiguration (coming soon)