Which event marks the descent of the Holy Spirit and is considered the Church's birthday?

• A. Pentecost
• B. Purgatory
• C. Indulgence
• D. Original Justice

Answer: (A)

The main concept is recognizing the moment when the Holy Spirit descends on the apostles, establishing the Church. This event, called Pentecost, happens fifty days after Easter. It is celebrated as the Church’s birthday because the Spirit’s coming empowers the apostles to witness to Jesus and to preach to people from many nations, marking the beginning of the Church’s mission in the world. The scene of the Spirit appearing as tongues of fire and the apostles speaking in various languages shows that the Gospel is for all peoples and that the community of believers is now empowered to carry on Jesus’ work.

Purgatory refers to a purification after death, not an event in salvation history. An indulgence relates to the remission of temporal punishment tied to spiritual practices, not the descent of the Spirit or the founding of the Church. Original Justice describes the state of humanity before the Fall, not a historical event in the life of the Church.