Resources for Pentecost Sunday Mass (Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms)

Resources for the Vigil Mass (Ordinary Form) can be found here. Resources for the entire week (20th–27th) are here.

This post contains resources for the Pentecost Sunday Mass, including both the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms of the Roman Rite. The content is as follows: 1. General Resources, consisting of homilies, blog posts, podcasts, etc.  2. Resources for the Ordinary Form, consisting mostly of commentaries on all the readings (including the alternate readings), applicable catechism texts, and homilies on specific texts.  3. Resources for the Extraordinary Form, also consisting of commentaries on the readings, applicable catechism texts, and homilies on specific texts. I hope to add some more resources before Pentecost.

GENERAL RESOURCES

Catechism of the Catholic Church.  Contains links to all the articles on the Holy Spirit. For catechism texts quoting or referencing the specific Mass readings see the “Homilist’s Catechism” links in the Ordinary and Extraordinary sections below.

Catholic Encyclopedia on Pentecost.

Pentecost Meditation on the Coming of the Holy Spirit.

Let the Fire Fall! Reflections on the Readings for Pentecost. From Catholic biblical Scholar Dr. John Bergsma.

St Ambrose On The Holy Spirit.  From Bk. 3 of his famous treatise De Spiritu Sancto. A Modern translation of the entire treatise can be found here.

St Basil On The Holy Spirit.

Pentecost Tongues and the Universal Church. Excerpt from an anonymous African Father of the 6th century.

Pope St Leo’s First Sermon on Pentecost.

Pope St Leo’s Third Sermon on Pentecost.

St Gregory Nanzianzen’s Pentecost Oration (Oration 41

Update: Niceta of Remesiana on the Power of the Holy Spirit.

UPDATE: St Thomas Aquinas’ Catechetical Instruction on the Holy Spirit. Scroll down slightly.

Pope Benedict’s Homily for Pentecost (June, 2006).

Pope Benedict’s Homily for Pentecost (May, 2008).

UPDATE: The Pentecost Readings. From Catholic biblical scholar Dr. John Bergsma of The Sacred Page blog.

UPDATE: The Church and the Mystery of Pentecost. Audio lecture by catholic biblical scholar Dr. Brant Pitre.

• Pope John Paul II’s Catechesis on the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit:

Reflection on the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit .
1. Gift of Wisdom.
2. Gift of Understanding.
3. Gift of Knowledge.
4. Gift of Counsel.
5. Gift of Fortitude. 
6. Gift of Piety. 
7. Gift of Fear of the Lord.

ORDINARY FORM OF THE ROMAN RITE FOR PENTECOST SUNDAY

READINGS AND OFFICE: Please Note: the Lectionary for today allows for an alternate second reading and an alternate Gospel reading. I’ve supplied commentary for all.

• Today’s Mass Readings (NAB). Translation used in the USA.

• Today’s Mass Readings (NJB). Scroll down slightly. The NJB is used in most other English speaking countries.

• Today’s Divine Office.

COMMENTARIES ON THE FIRST READING: Acts 2:1-11.

• Father Callan’s Commentary on Acts 2:1-11.

• Navvare Bible Commentary on Acts 2:1-11.

• St John Chrysostom’s Homiletic Commentary on Acts 2:1-11.

• Homilist’s Catechism on Acts 2:1-11.

COMMENTARIES ON THE RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

• St Augustine’s Notes on Psalm 104.

• Lection Divina Notes on Psalm 104.

COMMENTARIES ON THE SECOND READING: 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13. Alternate: Gal 5:16-25.

• Father Callan’s Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13.

• Cornelius a Lapide’s Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13.

• Navarre Bible Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13.

• Update: St John Chrysostom’s Homiletic Commentary on 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13.

• Update: St Thomas Aquinas’ Commentary on 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13. Read all three lectures. English translation in the right column.

• Homilist’s Catechism on 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13.

• Alternate: Cornelius a Lapide on Gal 5:16-25.

• Alternate: Bernardin de Piconio on Gal 5:16-25.

• Alternate: Father Callan’s Commentary on Galatians 5:16-25.

• Update Alternate: St John Chrysostom’s Commentary on Galatians 5:16-25.

• Update Alternate: St Thomas Aquinas’ Lectures on Galatians. Read lectures 4-7. English text in right column.

COMMENTARIES ON THE GOSPEL: John 20:19-23. Alternate: John 15:26-27; 16:12-15.

• Cornelius a Lapide’s Commentary on John 20:19-23.

• St Cyril of Alexandria’s Commentary on John 20:19-23.

• Aquinas’ Catena Aurea on John 20:19-23.

• Father MacIntyre’s Commentary on John 20:19-23.

• Navarre Bible Commentary on John 20:19-23.

• Update: St Thomas Aquinas’ Commentary on John 20:19-23. Scroll down and read lecture 4.

• Homilist’s Catechism on John 20:19-23.

• Alternate: Fathers Nolan’s and Brown’s Commentary on John 15:26-27, 26:12-15.

• Alternate: Aquinas’ Catena Aurea on John 15:26-27, 16:12-15.

• Alternate:St Cyril of Alexandria’s Commentary on John 15:26-27, 16:12-15.

• Update Alternate: Sunday Gospel Scripture Study on John 15:26-27, 16:12-15. Video.

HOMILIES ON THE FIRST READING: Acts 2:1-11.

• St Thomas Aquinas’ Homily for Pentecost. A gem. Few of his homilies have survived.

• A Homily on Acts 2:1-11. Pdf document. By Father Johann Evangelist Zollner, a famed preacher of his day.

EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE ROMAN RITE
DOMINICA PENTECOSTES

READINGS AND OFFICE:

• Roman Missal. Latin and English side by side. Be sure correct date is set.

• Roman Breviary. Latin and English side by side. Be sure correct date is set.

COMMENTARIES ON THE LESSON: Acts 2:1-11.

• Father Callan’s Commentary on Acts 2:1-11.

• Navvare Bible Commentary on Acts 2:1-11.

• St John Chrysostom’s Homiletic Commentary on Acts 2:1-11.

• Homiletic Catechism on Acts 2:1-11.

COMMENTARIES ON THE GOSPEL: John 14:23-31.

• Cornelius a Lapide’s Commentary on John 14:23-31.

• St Cyril of Alexandria’s Commentary on John 14:23-31.

• Aquinas’ Catena Aurea on John 14:23-31.

• Update: St Thomas Aquinas’ Lectures on John 14:23-31. Scroll down and read lectures 6-8.

• Homilist’s Catechism on John 14:23-31. Actually on 23-29, the Gospel for the 6th Sunday of Easter in the Ordinary Form, Year C.

HOMILIES ON THE LESSON READING: Acts 2:1-11.

• St Thomas Aquinas’ Homily for Pentecost. A gem. Few of his homilies have survived.

• A Homily on Acts 2:1-11. Pdf document. By Father Johann Evangelist Zollner, a famed preacher of his day.

HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL READING: John 14:23-31.

• Pentecost, Doctrinal Sermon (PDF). By Fr. Zollner.

• Pentecost, Moral Sermon (PDF). By Fr. Zollner.