Ascension and Pentecost
Ascension
After Jesus鈥 resurrectionChristian belief that Jesus rose from the dead after the crucifixion; the rising from the dead of believers on the Last Day; the new, or risen, life of Christians., he spent time with the apostles and told them that God would send down the Holy Spirit to them just as he had promised. He sent the apostles out to tell people about him and the Word of God. He led them out to Bethany, outside of the city, and blessed them. Jesus was then taken up in a cloud into heaven. Two men then appeared clothed in white robes and asked why the apostles were watching the heavens. They said 鈥淛esus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!鈥 (Acts1:11). The ascensionFor Christians, when Jesus went up to Heaven 40 days after he rose from the dead. shows Jesus returning to his Father.
The ascension is recognised as a Holy Day of ObligationA holy day when Catholics are expected to attend Mass., which means that Catholics must attend Mass on that day. The feast takes place 40 days after Easter. The liturgical colours are white.
Pentecost
Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after Easter and is when Christians remember the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third part of the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - which is how Christians understand God, and is the means by which God is active on Earth.
In Acts 2:3 it says that after the ascension, Jesus' disciples were gathered together when the Holy Spirit descended on them like tongues of fire
. It was after this event that the disciples began to preach Jesus' message throughout the world, and for this reason Pentecost is viewed as the birthday of the Christian Church and the start of its mission to the world.
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Pentecost is a festival of celebration and the liturgical colours are red symbolising of the "tongues of fire", a symbol of the Holy Spirit.