Vigil of the Ascension
This Wednesday, May 8, on the Vigil of the Ascension, there will be a Rogation Mass at 6:00 p.m. with the blessing of church grounds.
Ascension Thursday
This Thursday, May 9 is the Ascension of Our Lord and a holy day of obligation. As usual, the holy day Mass schedule is 7:00 a.m. (Low), 11:00 a.m. (Low) and 7:00 p.m. (Sung).
“Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as you have seen him going into heaven.”
– Acts 11:11., Introit (Ascension Thursday)
The Angelic Doctor of the Catholic Church – Saint Thomas Aquinas – says the Ascension of Christ is beneficial for us in three ways:
“Firstly, as our Leader, because He ascended in order to lead us; for we had lost the way, but He has shown it to us. ‘For He shall go up that shall open the way before them,’ [ Micah 2:13.] and thus we may be made certain of possessing the heavenly kingdom: ‘I go to prepare a place for you.’ [John 14:2.] Secondly, that He might draw our hearts to Himself: ‘For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart so.’ [Matthew 6:21.] Thirdly, to let us withdraw from worldly things: ‘Therefore, if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth.'” [Colossians 3:1.]
Source: The Catechetical Instructions of Saint Thomas Aquinas, “The Apostles Creed”, art. 6.
