Let us pray (in silence) [that we rejoice in the Spirit guiding our lives]
pause
O God,
on this day you taught the hearts of the faithful
by the light of your Holy Spirit,
may we, by the same Spirit, be truly wise
and ever rejoice in your consolation;
through Jesus Christ
who is alive with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
The above is my reworking for my Book of Prayers in Common in which I seek to provide a set of collects with history and commentary.
Christians have been praying this collect for at least 13 centuries. The Day of Pentecost ends a season, the Great Season of Easter. Hence this collect is not used during the week following – the collect on weekdays, this year, is that for Ordinary Week 7. The Easter candle is now given a place of honour by the font and brought to be placed lit by the coffin at funerals.
The traditional ember days (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday) that follow the Day of Pentecost are a return to the routine practice of fasting forbidden during the Great Fifty Days.
From at least the second century, the Day of Pentecost has been a time to baptise catechumens who were unable to be baptised on Easter Day. These two primary baptismal days, Easter Day and the Day of Pentecost, have expanded to include the feast of the Baptism of Christ, All Saints’ Day (or the Sunday following), and when the bishop is present.
My commentary: on the collect for Pentecost.
Ideas: for the Day of Pentecost service.
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