Jesus said to the apostles, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. Acts 1:8-9
The Ascension of Jesus has been celebrated by Christians since the earliest times as a commemoration of the Lord’s ascension and glorification as related in the Acts of the Apostles. In Christ’s ascension and heavenly glorification, we find the hope of our own glorification and the promise of a dwelling place in heaven.
Preparing for Mass
“He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father,” is part of the Nicene Creed from the Mass. Reflect on the meaning of the Ascension of the Lord as it relates to Jesus’ words, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” John 14:3
A Little More Information
Before it became a separate feast, the Ascension was celebrated on Easter day itself in some countries. In other places, it was celebrated along with Pentecost. Eventually it settled into a celebration 40 days after Easter, following Acts 1: 3, and became known as Ascension Thursday.
Since Ascension Thursday always falls on a work day in the United States, the obligation to attend Mass is considerably more difficult for some Catholics. The Ascension is one of the central events of the Gospel. If we do not hear the readings of the feast of the Ascension and ponder their meaning, we miss an important aspect of our faith. We believe that Christ was both human and divine. Christ transformed our human nature, and we see this in his ascension and glorification, seated at the right hand of God. St. Augustine said, “For just as Christ remained with us even after his ascension, so we too are already in heaven with him, even though what is promised us has not yet been fulfilled in our bodies.” (Sermo de Ascensione Domini)
Each conference of bishops may make changes in holy days with the approval of the Apostolic See. On November 16, 1998, the United States bishops approved a procedure whereby the bishops of each ecclesiastical province would determine whether the Solemnity of the Ascension would be transferred to the Seventh Sunday of Easter in their province. This action was approved by Pope John Paul II on July 5, 1999.
The provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and Omaha still celebrate on the Thursday that is 40 days after Easter. All other Provinces in the U.S. moved the celebration to the following Sunday.
