In this rich work by Titian, we are invited into the upper room where the apostles are gathered. This painting depicts the main event of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descends in tongues of fire upon the apostles and Mary. In this dramatic event, the Church is born. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us more about this special feast:
This fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the Messiah’s, but was to be communicated to the whole messianic people. On several occasions Christ promised this outpouring of the Spirit, a promise which he fulfilled first on Easter Sunday and then more strikingly at Pentecost. Filled with the Holy Spirit the apostles began to proclaim “the mighty works of God,” and Peter declared this outpouring of the Spirit to be the sign of the messianic age. Those who believed in the apostolic preaching and were baptized received the gift of the Holy Spirit in their turn. (CCC 1287)
Both the striking manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s presence and the weightiness of this feast for the whole messianic people are beautifully captured in this work of art by Titian. When we first approach this work of art we see that it is visually divided horizontally into three segments. At the top, the domed ceiling is curved. Circles fittingly signify the heavens since they have no beginning and no end.
Conversely, on the bottom segment, the dominating shape is rectangular, symbolizing the sturdiness of the earth. This visual division shows the heavenly (the backdrop for the Holy Spirit) coming down to the earthly (the backdrop for the apostles).
At the same time, when our eye is drawn to the figures of the apostles and Mary, we are greeted with a flurry of movement and activity. The young Church is ripe with zeal and love. The figures eagerly reach upward, while others seem to be inexplicably pulled towards the radiating light from the dove. The light rays can be seen pointing directly to each figure but spread even beyond that in an abundance of light. The light spreads in every direction, illuminating the faces of those who look upon it. The light shines even outwards, to you.
Rest with this passage from the Act of the Apostles before returning to the painting:
“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4, RSVCE)
Reflection:
Look back at the painting by Titian. When in the story do you think it is occurring? The Scripture tells us that “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” What signs of that can you see visually depicted? Look at the different individual body languages of the followers of Jesus. Which one is most striking to you? To close, reflect on the opening sentences of the Holy Spirit prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit. Fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
