The age-herald., 1900-06-04
PENTECOSTAL SERVICES
 AT ST. PAUL'S CHURCH
Festival in CommemoraIIon of the Descent of the Holy host-Special Prayers
 of the Novena.

Yesterday was Pentecost, a festival ob-
 served by all liturgical Christians in com
 memoration of the descent of the Holy
 Ghost. In the ecclesiastical calendar in
 many countries, the day is styled also Whit
 Sunday of White Sunday.
 At St. Pauls church the services were
 especially interesting. From the epistle side
 of the altar the priest read Acts II: 1st to
 11th verses-the simple, but impressive mar
 rative of the eleven tongues, like as of fire" and of the apostles being filled with
 the Holy Ghost, and speaking with "other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance.' From the gospel side he read St. John 14: 23rd to 31st verseS-a record of the words o1 Christ to His disciples about loving Him and keeping His commandments and of His promise that the Comforter or Paraclete,
 which is the Holy Ghost would be sent by the Father to teach all things and bring all ll..ngs to your remembrance whatsoever have said unto you.'
 At low mass a large number of the faith full received holy communion, and at high
 mass Father OReilly delivered a sermon of pith and eloquence the Scripture lessons of the day. In beginning his dis course the preacher reminded his hearers that Pentecost was one of the most an- cient festivals of the church, the observ-
 ance of the day dating, no doubt from the
 
 apostles and the other disciples who had enlisted in the Masters work sitting to- gether in a room, "of one accord in one
 place." waiting for the descent of the Holy Ghost. Here was the nucleus of the church that was to spread over the world. These disciples had received the Spirit al-
 ready, but not in His fullness. It was the day of Pentecost that was to mark this momentous event, that was to mark the i time when the Holy Ghost was to come l with power and inform their minds fully. | The Holy Ghost not only came upon them, but, in the form of cloven tongues of fire, sat upon them. This was sign of perma- hence. The disciples were forthwith fired with zeal and were filled with wisdom and strength; and wisdom, strength and zeal were to characterize the church in the coming years. The church, he said, had been harassed and plotted against, but since "the day of Pentecost was fully | come" truth has abided with her and the Holy Spirit will guide her to the end of | time. Her influence and power are ever | increasing through the office of the Holy Ghost.
 Father O'Reilly explained briefly, but 1 clearly, the Trintarian creed-three Per sons in one God: the same in essence and equal in glory God, the Father, is the Creator; God, the Son, proceeding from the Father, is the Redeemer; and God, the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is the Sanctifer. Through the Holy Ghost the sacraments were made effica. cious.
 The preacher concluded his sernon by exhorting his congregation to be feryent ir their devotion to the Holy Ghost-the Third Person of the Adorable and Undivided Trim ity
 At the close of the mass Father O'Reily read the special prayers of the Novena oi the Holy Ghost, which began on last Sat, urday week and which had it's completion l yesterday, the first prayer being: Come, Holy Ghost, replenish the hearts l of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy divine love. O God, who by the light of the Holy Ghost didst teach the hearts of the faithful; grant that we guided by the same spirit, may relish what is right l and always enjoy His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen" The closing prayer was as follows: Grant, O mercful Father that Thy di- vine spirit may enlighten, infiame and cleanse our hearts: that He may penetrate us with His heavenly dew, and make us fruitful in good works. Through Christ our Lord. Amen"