Feria II in Pentecost Octave: Missa “Spiritus Domini“
The liturgy recalls the Descent of the Holy Ghost on the Apostles; and the Church extends the commemoration of it over eight days Originally the feast of Pentecost brought to an end in Rome the fifty days of the Easter celebrations and introduced the fast of the Ember Days of the summer quarter. Afterwards it became customary to continue the festivity for two more days, the Monday and the Tuesday, and, finally, after the time of Pope St. Leo the Great it was extended like the Octave of Easter through the entire week. The station was at St. Peter in Chains to avoid having two successive stations at the Vatican. Today’s Gospel shows the immense contrast between God and man. God so loves the world that, in order to save it, He sacrifices His only-begotten Son, whilst mankind repays this supreme love with utter ingratitude and obstinately chooses darkness rather than light.
Wisdom is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit enumerated in Isaiah 11:2-3. They are present in their fullness in Jesus Christ, Whom Isaiah foretold (Isaiah 11:1), but they are available to all Christians who are in a state of grace. We receive the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit when we are infused with sanctifying grace, the life of God within us—as, for example, when we receive a sacrament worthily.
Wisdom is the perfection of faith. Through wisdom, we judge the things of the world in light of the highest end of man—the contemplation of God. Wisdom helps us to love the world properly, as the creation of God, rather than for its own sake.
The material world, though fallen as a result of the sin of Adam and Eve, is still worthy of our love; we simply need to see it in the proper light, and wisdom allows us to do so. Knowing the proper ordering of the material and spiritual worlds through wisdom, we can more easily bear the burdens of this life and respond to our fellow man with charity and patience.
INTROIT Wisdom 1: 7
He fed them with the fat of wheat, alleluia; and filled them with honey out of the rock, alleluia, alleluia. (Ps. 80: 3) Rejoice to God our helper; sing aloud to the God of Jacob. v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Repeat He fed them…
COLLECT
O God, Who didst give the Holy Spirit to Thine apostles, grant to Thy people the effect of their pious petition, and, as Thou hast given us faith, bestow also upon us peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R.Amen.
LESSON Acts 10: 42-48
Lesson from the Acts of the Apostles. In those days, Peter opening his mouth, said: Men, brethren, the Lord commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He Who was appointed by God to be judge of the living and of the dead: to Him all the prophets give testimony, that through His name all receive remission of sins, who believe in Him. While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word; and the faithful of the circumcision, who came with Peter, were astonished, for that the grace of the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the Gentiles also: for they heard them speaking with tongues, and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, Can any man forbid water, that these men should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Acts 2: 4) The apostles spoke in divers tongues the wonderful works of God. Alleluia.
Here all kneel
V. Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful: and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.
SEQUENCE “Veni Sancte Spiritus”
Come Thou Holy Spirit, come,
And from Thy celestial home Shed a ray of light divine.
Come, Thou Father of the poor,
Come, Thou source of all our store,
Come, within our bosoms shrine,
Thou of Comforters the best,
Thou the soul’s delightful guest,
Sweet refreshment here below.
In our labour rest most sweet,
Pleasant coolness in the heat,
Solace in the midst of woe.
O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of Thine,
And our inmost being fill.
Where Thou art not, man hath nought,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew,
On our dryness pour Thy dew,
Wash the stains of guilt away.
Bend the stubborn heart and will,
Melt the frozen, warm the chill,
Guide the steps that go astray.
On Thy faithful who adore,
And confess Thee evermore,
In Thy sevenfold gifts descend.
Give them virtue’s sure reward,
Give them Thy salvation, Lord,
Give them joys that never end. Amen. Alleluia.
GOSPEL St. John 3: 16-21
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “God so loved the world, as to give His only-begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting. For God sent not His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by Him. He that believeth in Him is not judged, but he that doth not believe is already judged, because he believeth not in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the judgement: because the light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil: for every one that doth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, that his works may not be reproved: but he that doth truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest,because they are done in God.”
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 17: 14, 16
The Lord thundered from Heaven, and the Highest gave His voice; and the fountains of waters appeared, alleluia.
SECRET
Graciously sanctify these gifts, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and, accepting the offering of the spiritual sacrifice, perfect us as an eternal offering to Thee. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the same Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever. R.Amen.
PREFACE of Pentecost
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: through Christ our Lord. Who, ascending above all the heavens and sitting at Thy right hand, poured out on (this day) the promised Holy Spirit upon the children of adoption. Wherefore the whole world doth rejoice with overflowing joy and the heavenly hosts also and the angelic Powers sing together the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:
COMMUNICANTES
Communicating with, and keeping the most holy day of Pentecost, whereon the Holy Ghost appeared to the Apostles in countless tongues and also reverencing the memory, first, of the glorious Mary, ever Virgin, Mother of the same our God and Lord Jesus Christ: as also of the blessed Apostles and Martyrs Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Thaddeus: Linus, Cletus, Clement, Xystus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, and of all Thy Saints, through whose merits and prayers, grant that we may in all things be defended by the help of Thy protection. (He joins his hands.) Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen
HANC IGITUR
We therefore beseech Thee, O Lord, graciously to accept this oblation of our service, as also of Thy whole family, which we make unto Thee on behalf of these whom Thou hast vouchsafed to bring to a new birth by water and the Holy Ghost, granting them remission of all their sins: and to dispose our days in Thy peace, preserve us from eternal damnation and rank us in the number of Thine Elect. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON John 14: 26
The Holy Ghost shall teach you, alleluia, whatsoever I shall have said to you, alleluia, alleluia.
POSTCOMMUNION
Be present, we beseech Thee, O Lord, with Thy people and defend against the fury of the enemy those whom Thou hast imbued with Heavenly mysteries. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R. Amen.
The Brighton Oratory 