Pentecost (Whitsunday)

But before Jesus went he told his Apostles to remain in Jerusalem and wait there for the Holy Spirit of God whom he would send to their souls to strengthen them and to guide them into all truth.  And when the Holy Spirit came, Jesus himself would come too and, although they would not see him, he would now be with them “always, to the end of the age” (NRSV, Matthew 28:20).

So 10 days later, on the Day of Pentecost (Whitsunday), God the Holy Spirit filled their souls, and at once the Apostles began their work for which Jesus had chosen and trained them.  They told the people how Jesus had risen from the dead and how he was Saviour of the world.  And on that same day they baptised about 3,000 of them.  These were the first members of the Church, and each of them received the Holy Spirit of God.  So Pentecost is not only the Feast of God the Holy Spirit, but is also the Birthday of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Trinity Sunday

We have already seen how God the Father made the world and how God the Son came to save us from our sins.  Now we have seen how God the Holy Spirit gives us the power to become holy like himself.  And yet we know that these Three Persons are together One God, and we call them the Holy Trinity.  We remember this truth on Trinity Sunday, which is the Sunday after Pentecost.

Corpus Christi

The following Thursday is the Feast of Corpus Christi, which is the Latin for the Body of Christ.  This is a day kept in honour of the Blessed Sacrament which we receive in Holy Communion and in which Jesus is truly present in his Risen and Ascended Body.  Jesus instituted the Blessed Sacrament on Maundy Thursday, but we cannot really rejoice then because he was betrayed and crucified so soon afterwards.  Instead, we keep this Feast of Corpus Christi on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.