Today's the Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord

Vivificat! - A Personal Catholic Blog of News, Commentary, Opinion, and Reflections ^ | 25 May 2006 | Teófilo

[Teófilo]

The Ascension marks the end of our Lord's earthly ministry. It is not really a departure, but rather, a change in His mode of Presence. Whereas before his Ascension He continued a conventionally, "human" way of interaction, after the Ascension the mode of His Presence continued in the Holy Spirit that indwells the inner beings of all believers. Even more so, having previously recognized the Lord "in the breaking of the Bread," the disciples understood that the hidden in that Bread and Wine was Jesus Himself, substantially present in yet another mode.

The Ascension, then, is not a "farewell." Instead, it is a "change in visibility." Christian believers, attuned to the Lord's Presence, still recognize him in the Bread and Wine, in each other, and in the Church.

The Ascension is the second-to-last Theophany or "divine manifestation" of God in Person recorded in the Bible. It ends with the promise of a "last Theophany" at the End of Time. The Ascension, then, is a milepost in our road of Faith, Hope, and Charity; it is the first marker in a Christian's messianic expectation. From the Mount of Olives, the Mount of the Ascension, we see in the horizon the first rays of the New Dawn.

Amen! Maran'atha! Come Lord Jesus!

- Source for the Icon: Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Marietta, GA

- Today's Readings @ Universalis.com.

[Teófilo]

Blunders, typos, mine.

[Teófilo]

PING!

[Leifur]

Happy Ascension Day, to all christians and others!

It is a day to remember, day of joy that should be celebrated with your family. Here in Iceland it is a public holiday, although its value has been a little lessened in this year as shops have been allowed to have open unlike before. But most people can stay home and celebrate this important event with the family, now it is mostly done as this is a popular day for confirmation cervices.

As municipal elections are taking place in just two days here, it is popular with the parties to use it for events for the families and such.

How is this day celebrated in the US?

Best wishes from Iceland,

Leifur

[k omalley]

Ascension Thursday no longer exists in my diocese. It has been relegated to Sunday.

[Teófilo]

In the highly secularized USA, if you were to ask people on the street what day is today, most will answer "Thursday." A handful will answer with a "lemme think" and a blank stare.

The holy day is only meaningful to observant Catholics and a handful of Protestant churches that might follow some sort of liturgical calendar paralleling the Roman Catholic one. Not much of a public celebration here, I am sad to report.

-Theo

[jrny]

Unfortunately, only a handful of Catholic dioceses in the US now even celebrate today as the Ascension. Ironically, the few dioceses which did not cave into "Ascension Sunday" madness are all located in the liberal Northeast with the exception of Lincoln, NE.

Happy Feast of Ascension to you!

[bboop]

Ascension Day was mentioned yesterday at Mass. They will talk about it today (but I slept in...) and Sunday (here in Los Angeles) it will be celebrated -- in the churches.

You are in Iceland? My husband's dad's mom came from Iceland. Greetings to the Icelanders and Happy Ascension Day.

[NYer]