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PENTECOST NOVENA My guess is that most young people have no idea whatsoever what a novena is. The word is strange and they probably have not been exposed to making a novena. As the Catholic Church prepares for the Coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, it might be a good time to reflect on novenas and the First Novena. Admittedly, the Church was in a very difficult state when the apostles and Our Lady, along with some other devout Christians, experienced the First Novena. Fear was on all sides. There was a tremendous fear of imminent persecution and there was a great deal of uncertainty about the future of the Church. Christ had returned to Heaven and the apostles were disconsolate and were not at all sure what they should do. They had heard the promise of the Holy Spirit so they gathered in the Upper Room in the city of Jerusalem and waited and prayed. They knew they needed guidance and they were quite aware of their own weaknesses and limitations. In that context, they awaited the action of God and the Promised Spirit. In the Book of the Acts of the Apostles St. Luke tells us that the Holy Spirit did indeed come and filled all there with His power. The result was that a tremendous enthusiasm filled those early Christians and they went into the streets of Jerusa-lem proclaiming Jesus Christ. This resulted in some 3000 people em-bracing the faith and accepting baptism. That First Pentecost was a great day. Since that time there has grown up in the Church the practice of praying for nine days or nine weeks for a special intention. This is called a novena and gets its name from the Latin word novem which means nine. At various times in the life of the Church novenas of all kinds have been very popular. Today, while among some people they are practiced, I think generally they have (unfortunately) grown into disuse. I am hoping that the novena will experience a revival. Bishop Murphy has called us all to make a special Pentecost Novena this year. The novena will focus on forgiveness and reconciliation. We are all asked to pray on each day of the novena that God will grant us the grace to be people of forgiveness and peace. The novena begins on Friday, May 21st and concludes on Pentecost Sunday, May 30th. The first day of the Novena will be a day of prayer and penance in the Diocese. It is suggested that Catholics abstain from meat, fast and do special works of prayer and charity. Please try to do something; especially attend Holy Mass, if possible. We will have an extra Mass on Friday, May 21st at 8 p.m. A novena is a time of grace and healing. Please participate in this Dio-cesan prayer as we ask for the grace and peace of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus and Mary, Monsignor James M. McDonald
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