Pentecost (from the Greek word pentēkostē, meaning “fiftieth”) is celebrated seven weeks and one day after Easter. But why? The Holy Spirit first came to the apostles and the Blessed Mother as they gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Weeks, which begins on the fiftieth day after Passover.  

Acts 2 says they were all together in one place celebrating the festival when a violent wind filled the whole house, and tongues of fire rested on each of them. This seems to be the moment Navarro Pérez Dolz has depicted in the painting that graces our front cover. The apostles are gathered in prayer around the mother of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is suggested in the dove-like form at the image’s upper left, and the wind’s strength is portrayed in the rays emanating from that same corner. The tongues of fire have appeared, but no one has yet begun to proclaim any message to the city’s pilgrims.  

Then we learn that they were “filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4). Peter spoke to the crowd to remind them of all that Scripture says of the Messiah. He said, “Let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2:36). Some of those present believed and were baptized. The artist uses the technique of “continuous narrative” to show some of those new disciples, who can be seen in the background setting out to spread the Gospel.  

May the Holy Spirit kindle in us, today and every day, the courage we need to share the Good News we profess to believe.