During St. Vincent’s lifetime he desired for everyone to realize their own call to be sent out by the grace of the Holy Spirit proclaiming the works of Jesus.  A part of Pallotti’s charism that has been passed down to the Pallottine family – the ordained, consecrated and lay members – has been Pallotti’s mediation on the Cenacle, which means “the Upper Room.”

The Cenacle was the site in which the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, Mary and “others” on the day of Pentecost.  Additionally, the model of the Cenacle is one of retreat.  It is a place for prayer and discernment, a place to know that we are in the presence of the Holy Spirit and that we do not minister alone.

A scene from the Cenacle

St. Vincent writes of that Cenacle scene in the voice of Mary:

I want to recall to your mind the necessity of prayer in order to obtain the fullness of the gifts of the Spirit.  There in the Cenacle, the Apostles and I, according to each one’s disposition, were filled with the Spirit, the Paraclete.  O son [daughter], I wish to see you further enriched with the treasures of the divinity; I wish to see you transformed in God, in order that I may see you a minister of the Gospel, more useful for souls and able to work effectively for the Father’s glory.

(Messe di Maggio [for Clerics], 70, par. 3)

Mary represents the apostolate of the laity

In the Cenacle, Mary represents the apostolate of the laity.  She, a simple traditional Jewish mother,was the first apostle of her son from the beginning.  At the presentation of Jesus in the temple, Simeon revealed to Mary that “a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Lk 2:35)  She knew she would suffer for being the Mother of God and she still chose to be his apostle.  At the wedding in Cana, Mary saw the needs of the people and knew this was the time and place for Jesus to begin his ministry and begin revealing publicly that he was the Son of God.

Modeling ourselves after Mary, we are called to recognize and respond to the needs of the times.  We know that Mary was present when Jesus was on the cross.  In John 19:25-27, Jesus says, “Woman, here is your son,” and then to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”  This scene goes beyond Jesus making sure that his mother is taken care of after his death.  It is him telling his mother that her ministry will continue.  She will see all as her spiritual children and help guide them to the heart of Jesus.  Jesus is telling his disciple to pay attention to Mary as your mother because she will teach you much and be your support.

Finally, it is Mary and the “others” in the Cenacle at the time of Pentecost that Luke refers to in Acts 1: 12-14 that help to explain and summarize our charism. The Pentecost event in the Cenacle did not include just those initial 11 disciples.  Luke makes sure to write, “They all joined constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers”. (Acts 1:14)  This indicates the co-mingling of the chosen with the person of faith, or if you prefer the ordained with the laity.  It is obvious that Jesus never meant for the ordained were to work or pray alone but as a community.  It was in that time of constant prayer that they unknowingly prepared themselves to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  They were then missioned to spread the word of Jesus using the gifts they had been given.

Imagining Oneself in the Cenacle

St. Vincent cherished this image of the disciples with the believers praying together in the Cenacle.  He wrote:

“Wherever I shall be, I intend to imagine myself to be together with all creatures in the Cenacle in Jerusalem where the Apostles received the Holy Spirit.  I shall remind myself to renew this desire often.  As the Apostles were there with Mary, so will I be in spirit with my most beloved Mother and Jesus.  As they are my special intercessors, I am confident that they will help me and all other creatures to receive the abundance of the Holy Spirit”.  So, I intend to stay in the Cenacle always.”

(OOCC X, 86-87)

In the spirit of Pallotti, we invite you to come to the Cenacle and find your unique place in the Pentecost experience.  We invite you to listen to the Spirit stirring within you, and we accept the gifts and graces we are given for ministry.  As people of God, all of us can dwell within the Cenacle with all creation acknowledging that we do not follow Jesus isolated from the rest of the world.

As Pallottine Missionary Sisters, Vincent encouraged us to “live in the convent or monastery as you would in the Cenacle, awaiting always the increase of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.”

(MMR, 16th day)