For 24 May 2026, Pentecost Sunday, based on Acts 2:1-11, sent in from St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
(Photo by Gregory Heille, OP, at the Santa Maria de la Vid Norbertine Abbey)
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 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. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”
——
One of my favorite places to visit and to pray is Santa Maria de la Vid Norbertine Abbey in the high desert overlooking Albuquerque. For one thing, I am drawn to the Abbey’s distinctive New Mexico architecture and its remarkable collection of Southwest art. When you visit and pass from the narthex into the nave of the Abbey Church, you see a traditional icon of Pentecost, with Mary at the center, the disciples lit with tongues of fire as they are filled with the Holy Spirit. They are gathered in a circle of community, with Mary at the center, in front of an image of the Abbey Church. This traditional icon, cast in the context of Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey, reminds me that the Church, after all, is a tabernacle of the Holy Spirit, both in its places of worship and in its gathered people.
If this biblical account of Pentecost were to be rewritten today, I would like to add Albuquerque to its long list of cities and places, and I would certainly add Español to the list of languages in which we hear of God’s deeds of power. What languages, what churches, what cities and places would you add to this Pentecostal list?
Stretch your tent pegs of imagination to envision a worldwide list of places and languages. Come, Holy Spirit. Cast us into a holy confusion in which we hear one another speaking in our native tongues and see each other touched by tongues of fire. Come with a mighty wind. Cast out fear and hatred. Unite us with zeal for the goodness, the good news of God’s love. Commission us as missionary disciples speaking peace to the whole world. Veni Sancti Spiritus.
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 
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24 May 2026
0 CommentsThe Coming of the Holy Spirit
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(Photo by Gregory Heille, OP, at the Santa Maria de la Vid Norbertine Abbey)
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 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. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”
——
One of my favorite places to visit and to pray is Santa Maria de la Vid Norbertine Abbey in the high desert overlooking Albuquerque. For one thing, I am drawn to the Abbey’s distinctive New Mexico architecture and its remarkable collection of Southwest art. When you visit and pass from the narthex into the nave of the Abbey Church, you see a traditional icon of Pentecost, with Mary at the center, the disciples lit with tongues of fire as they are filled with the Holy Spirit. They are gathered in a circle of community, with Mary at the center, in front of an image of the Abbey Church. This traditional icon, cast in the context of Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey, reminds me that the Church, after all, is a tabernacle of the Holy Spirit, both in its places of worship and in its gathered people.
If this biblical account of Pentecost were to be rewritten today, I would like to add Albuquerque to its long list of cities and places, and I would certainly add Español to the list of languages in which we hear of God’s deeds of power. What languages, what churches, what cities and places would you add to this Pentecostal list?
Stretch your tent pegs of imagination to envision a worldwide list of places and languages. Come, Holy Spirit. Cast us into a holy confusion in which we hear one another speaking in our native tongues and see each other touched by tongues of fire. Come with a mighty wind. Cast out fear and hatred. Unite us with zeal for the goodness, the good news of God’s love. Commission us as missionary disciples speaking peace to the whole world. Veni Sancti Spiritus.
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.