Falling Rose Petals and Fire

Last updated on: May 17, 2018 at 8:07 am by Father Pablo Migone

Falling Rose Petals and Fire 2018-05-17T08:07:27-05:00 Father Pablo Migone

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

On Pentecost Sunday nine years ago, I saw thousands of beautiful red rose petals gently fall from the enormous oculus of the Roman Pantheon. A group of fire fighters scaled the oldest building in the world still in regular use, and made these petals fall down as a gentle rain over the faithful after the final blessing of Mass. It was appropriate for fire fighters to do this, Pentecost is their feast day.

This spectacular and little known annual tradition started in 609 AD, and it represents the coming down of the Holy Spirit over the apostles as tongues of fire in the Upper Room. Raising my head to see the petals against the bright light of the oculus, the fluttering petals appeared to be on fire. Audible gasps of amazement rose from the gathered crowd as the petals descended.

Saint Irenaeus, the bishop of Lyons, France over 1800 years ago, wrote that the Holy Spirit is like the water that turns scattered dry flour into a lump of dough. This is a very simple and beautiful image that stands the test of time. The Holy Spirit is that moisture that brings together every bit of flour and turns it into one loaf of bread. Flour scatters all over the place, making a mess. Nothing keeps one particle of flour together with another, but this changes immediately when you add a bit of water or perhaps an egg if you are making pasta.

On the first Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, though people had come to Jerusalem from all over the world, they all became one loaf of bread through the power of the Holy Spirit. They all understood the preaching of the apostles even though they spoke different languages and all rejoiced together in the Good News they preached.

At times the Holy Spirit is trivialized when portrayed as a cute dove or a cut-out flame of fire, yet the Holy Spirit is God among us. It is through the Holy Spirit that we receive our faith, and through the Spirit that we do all things. As Saint Paul wrote, “No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit is our helper and guide, our advocate who pleads our cause. The Holy Spirit takes the little we can offer God and multiplies it. Alone we can do very little or nothing, but when we act in the Spirit, we can do great and amazing things. The Holy Spirit unites all into one mission and allows us to achieve great things for the glory of God.

In the same manner that the rose petals gently fell on all the gathered faithful, the Holy Spirit has been sent by the Father over all his children. In the Second Eucharistic Prayer the priest prays to the Father, “make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray, by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall.” The Holy Spirit gently falls over all in order to transform all, drawing all to the Father. My experience at the Pantheon nine years ago gave me a beautiful visual experience of the Holy Spirit coming down over all of God’s children. As the red petals rested upon the heads of the faithful, they became a tangible reminder of the presence of the Holy Spirit among us.

Picture used with permission, original here

Previous Post

May 8, 2018

An Irreverent Gala - A Catholic Response

Next Post

May 20, 2018 Nuevo Cardenal en Huancayo Peru

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Article Catholic Lima Christmas Commentary History Homily Immigration martyrs Meditation Pope Reflection Saint Story Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 January 2010 June 2009 September 2008 August 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which prophet was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Isaiah Elisha Jeremiah Elijah