Meditation on the Descent of
the Holy Spirit
Richard Salbato
Before Each Hail Mary
1. In spite of seeing the Transfiguration; in spite of
seeing the resurrected Jesus, who walked with them for 40 days; and in spite of
seeing Christ ascend to the Heavens, the followers of Jesus were still held in
terror by the crucifixion. The Jews were out in force looking for all followers
of Jesus, and arresting anyone with even a suspicion of being His disciple. The
Apostles picked Matthias to replace Judas, who had hanged himself. Including
the Virgin Mary and the holy women, about 120 of Jesus’ most devoted followers
locked themselves in the upper room of the Last Supper.
2. Hidden in the upper room, the 120 followers of Christ prayed in fear of
being found and killed. It was now 80 days since the death and resurrection of
Christ and the Passover. Thousands of Jews from all over the world still lodged
in
from all over the world.
3. Before rising into the Heavens, Christ had told them that they would receive
the power of the Holy Spirit and become witnessed throughout the world. Even
before this, at the Last Supper, Jesus had told them that He would send another
Paraclete, the Spirit of Truth, to confirm them in
truth. Christ is the first Paraclete (defender) and
the Holy Spirit, will proceed from the Father and the Son, to confirm the Son
in truth. (John 14:16 and 15:26) In spite of these statements, the Apostles did
not understand what was about to happen to them. They remained paralyzed by
their fear in the Upper Room.
4. Suddenly a strong wind came up from the east, the west, the north, and the
south, pushing people towards the house of the Last Supper. At the same time,
the people could see a large, luminous fog coming down out of heaven, and
engulfing the two story house. This fog became brighter and brighter until it
became like a ball of fire and then disappeared into the roof of the house. The
crowds of people outside looked on in wonder.
5. Inside the house the disciples, Apostles and holy women were overwhelmed
with joy, confidence and courage, as the bright fog divided into tongues of
fire that hovered over each of their heads. Suddenly they were filled with
knowledge of prophesies from the older prophets and how they consummated in
Christ. Filled with knowledge and joy they hugged each other and began to speak
out their own prophesies.
6. Peter, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, broke open the doors to the
upper terrace and balcony, and went out to look down at the people below. The
Apostles and disciples followed in confidence, prophesying what the Holy Spirit
prompted them. The crowds below were
dumbfounded because they were Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians,
Judeans, Cappadocians, Asians, and Romans, all different languages; and yet
each person heard the Apostles in their own language.
7. Peter, the Apostle who had denied Christ three times and was arguably the
most cowardly, shouted:
“You men of Judea and you that live in
“Men of
8. Everyone hearing Peter in their own language, answered
back: “What shall we do?’
Peter answered: “Do penance and be baptized everyone
of you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Then you, also,
will receive the Holy Spirit.
9. Peter went down into the crowd with his Apostles and brought the crowds of
people to the Pool of Bethsaida. That day Peter
baptized 3000 people in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
These people also received the Holy Spirit and prophesied. They became the
first followers of the Apostles and disciples, and daily their numbers grew.
10. The next day, Peter celebrated the first Mass with the Apostles and holy
women. “And continuing daily with one accord the breaking bread, the Lord
increased their number from day to day. Wonders and signs followed them from
place to place. Joy and courage overcame them.