Waiting for the Holy Spirit with Mary the Mother of Jesus

The Cenacle Icon

Compiled from Knox-Cox “The Gospel Story”
………………. (combining extracts from: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts)

Then, from the mountain which is called Olivet, went back full of joy to Jerusalem  into the upper room where they dwelt. All with one mind, gave themselves up to prayer, together with Mary the mother of Jesus, and the rest of the women and his brethren.  Matthias was added to their number as a witness of Jesus resurrection and took rank with the eleven apostles.  They spent their time continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.

When the day of Pentecost came round, while they were all gathered together in unity of purpose, all at once a sound came from heaven like that of a strong wind blowing, and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then appeared to them what seemed to be tongues of fire, which parted and came to rest on each of them; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in strange languages, as the Spirit gave utterance to each.

Compiled by W.J.W. 

The Gospel Story, Knox and Cox. Appendix:  p.431.

'With Mary the Mother of Jesus' (p. 428)
We must go to Mary, the Mother of the Mystical Body,
for all the graces we need; no work can prosper without her prayerful assistance.

Via Lucis - Stations of the Resurrection. CTS.

Waiting for the Holy Spirit
with Mary  the Mother of Jesus

From the Acts of the Apostles

... All these joined in Continuous prayer, together with several women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:12-14)

First Meditation

They were waiting for the Holy Spirit. After coming down from the mountain, they begin to pray. Jesus is no longer visible. The cloud of the Ascension has placed Jesus in glory. The Risen Lord, no longer visible to our

human eyes, can now only be seen with the eyes of faith. The Easter people now call on the Holy Spirit. His coming is eagerly awaited, for in the fullness of his gifts he will give birth to the Church, and guide its first steps to becoming the herald of his resurrection. The invocation of the Holy Spirit is always efficacious. This was guaranteed by Christ when he said: "If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him" (Lk 11:13). From this moment on the Easter people is united in the name of the Risen Lord. With him in our midst, we implore the Father for the Holy Spirit, the spirit of love who renews the face of the Earth. Then will come an eternal Pentecost. The Easter prayer is marked by the presence of Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was present from the beginning at Cana, where people first began to believe in his signs. She was present at Calvary where the Church was conceived. Now she is present in the Upper Room, where the Church is born. Mary the mother of Jesus; she it is who knows best the Easter mysteries: death and life, cross and resurrection.