Veni Creator Spiritus

The sun sets on Pentecost and Eastertide draws to a close 50 days after the Resurrection. Did you celebrate for 50 days as well as you kept your Lenten fast for 40?

But like the apostles on the first Pentecost, we are not called to hide behind locked doors in the Upper Room, we are sent out to share the Good News. The message of Christianity is not about rules and regulations, it is a message of joy, hope and freedom. It is about personal relationship with Christ.

This morning in Rathmines I watched as two young women were welcomed into the Catholic Christian community with baptism, confirmation and first Eucharist. One of the reasons they gave for wanting to become Catholic Christians was the welcome and witness of the Rathmines faith community. Think it says a lot about faith in Ireland, it is not all doom and gloom!

Come Holy Spirit!

Shane

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
and in our hearts take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heav’nly aid,
To fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

O Comforter, to Thee we cry,
Thou heav’nly gift of God most high,
Thou Fount of life, and Fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.

O Finger of the hand divine,
the sevenfold gifts of grace are thine;
true promise of the Father thou,
who dost the tongue with power endow.

Thy light to every sense impart,
and shed thy love in every heart;
thine own unfailing might supply
to strengthen our infirmity.

Drive far away our ghostly foe,
and thine abiding peace bestow;
if thou be our preventing Guide,
no evil can our steps betide.

Praise we the Father and the Son

and Holy Spirit with them One;

and may the Son on us bestow

the gifts that from the Spirit flow.

'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth' (Acts 1:8).