When you join the Mass for the feast of Pentecost, notice that the priests and deacons are wearing red. Red vestments recall the “tongues of fire” witnessed by the Apostles. If you happen to read this in time, encourage the family to wear red to Mass this weekend, as well!

We will hear the story of how the apostles and all of Jerusalem experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Remarkably, even though there were gathered people from many different places and ethnic groups, “each one heard [the message of the spirit] speaking in his own language.” God, in the person of the Spirit, makes sure that each of us can fully understand our mission to keep Christ alive among us.

Pentecost is often referred to as the “birthday” of the church. This is because, empowered by the dramatic message heard in each’s mother tongue, the apostles and the faithful of Jerusalem were empowered to go out from that place and that day and preach the gospel widely.

Pentecost is a day of commissioning members of the church--that is, all of us--to make Christ and his Resurrection known and loved. Here are some ideas:
 

Pray:

Veni Sancti Spiritus. We will sing the Pentecost Sequence on at Mass. In our liturgies, a Sequence is a poetic chant that is sung before the gospel and that thematically reinforces the meaning of the feast. In this short hymn, we will call down the Holy Spirit as we sing “Veni Sancti Spiritus,” which is Latin for “Come Holy Spirit.”  

“Come Holy Spirit.” Teach this short prayer to your family and pray it together. In English or in Latin, the Church gives us this powerful invocation. We can ask for an infusion of the Holy Spirit’s grace and gifts at any time. 

Praying for our aunt newly diagnosed? Desiring guidance for making a difficult family decision? Hoping a challenging interview goes well? Waiting out a frightening summer storm? Come Holy Spirit!
 

Eat:

Pentecost is the conclusion of the Easter season, so celebratory foods are called for. Isn't it fun that our church reminds us to bring joy to our meals through good foods?

A simple cake would do the trick, but strawberries seem an especially apt inspiration for today's dessert — Make strawberry shortcake! The smallest child can help to wash and mash the berries. An older child could whip the cream or bake up an angel food cake or biscuits.  

Not only do the bright red berries say that summer is finally here, but they remind us of our liturgical celebration in red vestments.
 

Do:

Reinforce the Spirit’s missionary call on this feast day by spreading the spirit in your own home, neighborhood, and family.  

Cut some flowers for the dinner table. The columbine are blooming now. Did you know that “columbine” comes from the Latin word for dove? The petals resemble this symbol of the Holy Spirit. And the Minnesota native columbines are red — perfect!

Or choose some red petunias or zinnias and create a hummingbird pot to sit on your patio to encourage the hummingbirds to come and animate your home with their beauty.
Or whip up some buttercream frosting, allow the children to dye it red, and then frost some graham crackers to make treats for visiting cousins and friends.

Pentecost is the perfect feast to reach out to those around us, simply but meaningfully sharing the Spirit whose gifts are manifest in our community always. This site offers more good ideas ideas: teachingcatholickids.com/eight-things-to-do-with-your-kids-on-pentecost.
 
Come Holy Spirit!

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Image credit: Ruby throated hummingbird hovering near a red flower while sucking up the nectar by Jack Nevitt | commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ruby-Throated_hummingbird_on_red_flower.jpg