2.  In the Old Testament, Pentecost was the
harvest festival Shavuot.
 It takes place 50 days after Passover and Greek
Jews gave it the name Pentecost.
 This festival celebrated the harvest, no one was
to work and celebrate the blessings of God.

3.  Jewish people believe that Pentecost celebrates
God giving Moses the Ten Commandments
and is the birth of Judaism and Jewish Law.

4.  In Jewish tradition, all Jews should travel to the
Holy Land to celebrate Pentecost. The seven
first fruits: wheat, barley, grapes, figs,
pomegranates, olives, and dates were to be
presented at the Temple in Jerusalem in
thanksgiving for God’s gifts.

5.  In ancient Israel, Jewish farmers would tie a
reed around the first ripening fruits from each
of these species in their fields. At the time of
harvest, the fruits with the reed would be cut
and placed in baskets of gold and silver. The
baskets would be loaded on oxen whose horns
were gilded and laced with garlands of
flowers, and led in procession to Jerusalem. As
they passed through cities and towns, they
would be accompanied by music and parades.

6.  It was this holiday that the Disciples were
celebrating when they were in the “Upper
Room” 50 days following Easter.

7.  And suddenly there came
a sound from heaven as of
a rushing mighty wind,
and it filled all the house
where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto
them cloven tongues like
as of fire, and it sat upon
each of them. And they
were all filled with the
Holy Spirit, and began to
speak with other
languages, as the Spirit
gave them utterance.

8.  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews,
devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Now when this was noised abroad, the
multitude came together, and were
confounded, because that every man heard
them speak in his own language.

10.  The Holy Spirit had come upon the apostles
and given them charis or grace to make them
the first priests to spread His teachings.

11.  This event is considered the birth of the
Catholic Church. The ability of the disciples to
speak in all languages and be understood made
them ready to convert all to Christ.
 Catholic means universal in Greek, the Holy
Spirit’s gift of the ability to preach Christ’s
word made the church truly universal.