The Mass for Pentecost, formerly celebrated during the night, has since been anticipated. It seems as though this vigil were modeled on that of Easter. As on Holy Saturday, a vigil was kept during the night of Pentecost Saturday to prepare for Baptism. The term Whitsunday, another name for Pentecost, is an allusion to the white vestments of the neophytes. The feast of Whitsun is as ancient as that of Easter, and the Saturday following begins the liturgical season called Season after Pentecost.
I added an excellent book to my Reading List this morning, called Isabel of Spain: The Catholic Queen by Warren H. Carroll, who is easily (in my mind) the best Catholic historian writing in the English language.
[Update] Many humble thanks, of course, are due to my dear brother and sister-in-law for lugging this burden-some book (360 pages!) all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to bring it to us. In the face of such awesome self-sacrifice, one can only render woefully inadequate thanksgiving.
2 comments:
John,
Absolutely no need to thank us for bringing the book across the ocean to you. It was our pleasure.
Will and Anna
John,
Though inadequate and belated, your thanksgiving is nevertheless appreciated.
Will
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