Twenty-one years ago, I preached on Acts 1:14. In response to God's word, about a dozen people decided to devote "themselves to constant prayer" by gathering daily for prayer during the days before Pentecost. To our surprise, we found that Pentecost is for all times, for us, and for the present.

The Father and Son poured out the Holy Spirit on us and renewed our Baptisms and Confirmations in amazing ways. We began to devote ourselves to the apostles' instruction (Acts 2:42), that is, we devoured the teachings of the Church and the Bible. They became the joy and happiness of our hearts (Jer 15:16). We also began to see the implications of our brotherhood and sisterhood in Christ. We saw the necessity of a Christian community where we could share our daily life in Christ (see Acts 2:42). Thirdly, the Holy Spirit drew us to the Eucharist, "the breaking of bread" (Acts 2:42). Many of the people who were at that Pentecost in 1975 have been going to Mass daily for the twenty-one years since then. They have also promoted adoration and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in several parishes. Furthermore, those who devoted themselves to constant prayer in 1975 have continued to devote themselves to prayer (Acts 2:42). They have encouraged married couples to pray together, family prayer, prayer groups, rosary groups, praying the Liturgy of the Hours, etc.

Pentecost is for you now. Devote yourself to constant prayer. Then the Holy Spirit will give you a life of devotion to many other aspects of life in the Spirit.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Edward J. Gratsch, October 10, 1995

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 13, 1995