"And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father."
Ascension Thursday, an endangered holyday, is very special to me, since my only child was born on this feast. I have previously written a Rosary Meditation on this Mystery, as well as a Litany. This litany is based on the format of the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and the traditional Mass for the Ascension. Please see below and pray with your family tonight! There is also a PDF of the Litany at the bottom.
We should also keep in mind, novenas to the Holy Ghost are often said during the 9 days between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost. Catholic Online states: “This is the prototype of all novenas. It commemorates the nine days between the Ascension of Our Lord and the Descent of the Holy Ghost on the first Pentecost Sunday. During this time Our Lady and the twelve Apostles prayed in the Cenacle for the coming of the Paraclete. Our Lord Himself instituted this novena, and it is celebrated every year by the whole Church.” The Novena to the Holy Spirit for the Seven Gifts is well-known, quite beautiful, and there are indulgences attached.
Meditation on the Ascension of Our Lord
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, has risen triumphantly from the dead, but the Story is not over yet. He appeared to his Mother and the Apostles for forty days, preparing them to cross the threshold, the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth through the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. When this task was sufficient, as the Apostles looked on, "He was raised up: and a cloud received Him out of their sight." (Acts 1:9) The Ascension of Our Lord is paralleled only by His Coming at the End of Time, wholly unique events in human history, singular in glory, majesty and wonder. In the Old Law, the Father condescends to come to earth, as when He speaks to Moses in the Burning Bush and the institution of the Ten Commandments. Now the Son, establishing the New Law, rises up, showing us how real and attainable Heaven is. Our Lord opened access to Heaven on the Holy Cross and in His Ascension, He makes the leap Himself. He wants us to follow Him there-that was the whole purpose of His life on earth and the whole purpose of our own lives. To ensure we get there, He creates the physical, visible bridge to Heaven, the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
A number of the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary involve the meeting of Heaven and earth. The Ascension, the Assumption and the Crucifixion each traverse the distance from earth to Heaven. The Descent of the Holy Ghost, the Annunciation, the Baptism of Our Lord and the Transfiguration each involve Heaven coming down to earth. Heaven also meets earth in the miracles and apparitions of the Church. Lourdes is unique in that the miraculous water stays with us to this day and Fatima was unique in the witnessing of the "Miracle of the Sun" by thousands. Our Holy Church calls down the powers of Heaven in every sacrament. Our Lord's Ascension was His final sign that we are free to enter Heaven with Him, through the Church that could be built only upon His departure.
Heaven and earth are not just places. They represent the relationship between God and His children. As any parent/child relationship, it is bound to be difficult. It’s difficult for the child to see the wisdom of the parent and it’s difficult for the parent to let the child go when it is time. We can easily see the similarity here in how we perceive God. But can we see how God perceives us? As much as we love our own children and grieve over their absence, how much more does the Father love and grieve over us? So much, that He sent His only Son to die for us. The wrenching a parent feels when setting the child free, is only a faint hint of what the Father feels over one lost soul. That is why He cannot leave us alone. That is why He keeps interfering. From the manna in the desert to the Bread of Life, He cannot bear to leave His children starving. How much longer will He allow the innocent to spiritually starve in this corrupt culture? The Ascension tells us there is another world He has prepared for us, that Heaven is our true home, sainthood our natural state.
Though our Blessed Lord rose away from earth on that day when the Apostles saw him lifted up to the sky, He remains with us always. He has established His perennial Presence in the Holy Eucharist, residing in every tabernacle throughout the world. He has built His Church, preserving all His precepts. What more could He have done for us? The Gospel of Saint Matthew ends with these words: "...teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world." (Matt 28:18-20) The angels say, "This Jesus who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come, as you have seen Him going into Heaven," foretelling the Second Coming at the End of Time. (Acts 1:11) Dearest Jesus, Who ascended in glory to show me Heaven, may I always trust that Thou remain with me in this world, even in my most difficult moments. Amen.
Litany of the Ascension of Our Lord
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
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Lord, Ascended to the right Hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
Lord, Ascended forty days after Thy Resurrection, etc.
Lord, Ascended in the company of angels,
Lord, Ascended in the company of Thy Holy Mother,
Lord, Ascended in the company of Thine Apostles,
Lord, Ascended before us, where we are to follow,
Lord, Ascended with a shout and the sound of a trumpet,
Lord, Ascended with great song,
Lord, Who shall so come as we have seen Thee going up,
Lord, Who calls us to mindfulness of heavenly things,
Lord, Who sent Thine Apostles to the uttermost part of the earth,
Lord, Who was raised up into a cloud,
Lord, Who led captivity captive,
Lord, Who saves the believer and the baptized,
Lord, Who condemns the unbeliever,
Lord, Who glorifies Thy children,
Lord, Who protects Thy children,
Lord, Who mercifully grants Everlasting Life,
Lord, Who mounts above the Heaven of Heavens to the east,
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Be merciful, spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord.
Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.
Let Us Pray
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who said: "Go ye into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature," grant we beseech Thee, to wage a fearless war for souls, ever defending the truth of the Good News, that we may one day follow Thee to the place of Thine Ascension, beyond the clouds. May we keep this vision before us always, making all our burdens light, all the darkness of this present life bearable. Make us, O Lord, to reverence and keep pure, our sacred bodies, a reflection of which ascended in glorified form to the Father, Who lives and reigns, world without end. Amen.