My dear parishioners,
Peace! The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights the “prayer of the rosary” as a popular substitute for the Liturgy of the Hours in the Western Church (§ 2678). In praying the rosary we “meditate on the mysteries of Christ” engaging our “thought, imagination, emotion, and desire” leading not only to “knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus” but “union with Him” (§ 2708). In fact the rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an “epitome of the whole Gospel” and is also an expression of “devotion to the Virgin Mary” (§ 971). Here we consider the Second Glorious Mystery, the Ascension.
The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Jesus is traditionally celebrated on the fortieth day from Easter. Some places have the Ascension Thursday feast transferred to the following Sunday. On the Thursday or the Sunday, regardless, the Ascension is a Holy Day of Obligation. The 1962 Roman Missal directs the extinguishing of the Paschal Candle following the Gospel as a visual reminder of Christ’s Ascension, taking our human nature to Heaven. Saint Thomas Aquinas, OP (+1274) when considering the Ascension of the Lord in three sets of questions (cf. III Q. 57-59). Saint Thomas reminds us how fitting it is for the Lord Jesus in His risen and glorified body to go to Heaven, a place of glory and incorruptibility. The sacred humanity of Christ ascended to Heaven because of His divine power. He did not need a fiery chariot like Elijah or angels to take Him up on high (cf. Genesis 28:12; 2 Kings 2:11-12; John 1:51; Revelation 7:2). In taking His place at the Father’s right hand, the Ascension of the Lord teaches us that the risen and ascended Lord Jesus reigns together with the Father, ruling and Judging with Him.
We read about the Ascension of the Lord in Mark 16:19; Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-11. The Ascension of the Lord occurred forty days after Jesus’ resurrection based on Acts 1:3 where we read that He “showed Himself alive after His passion by may proofs, appearing to them by the space of forty days…” The Ascension of the Lord is alluded to in John 6:62; 20:17. The Ascension of the Lord is presumed in Acts 2:30-33; Ephesians 4:8-10; 1 Peter 3:22; and 1 Timothy 3:16.
The fruit of the mystery of the Annunciation is hope, longing for Heaven. The supernatural theological virtue of hope is not just about sunny weather or a boom economy. Hope is a about Heaven, God’s grace and mercy upon us, His providence leading us to Heaven, where all the Saints await us and intercede for us. The hope and longing we have for Heaven is a part of our faith, no less than the Incarnation and Resurrection. Our hope for Heaven is based on the Lord’s Ascension: Where He has gone, we hope to follow. The Lord Jesus has opened for us the gates of Heaven, by His death, Resurrection and Ascension.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr