SOLEMN VESPERS & BENEDICTION IN RECOGNITION OF THE TRADITIONAL FEAST OF

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

20 MAY 2020

�

The Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord, also called Ascension Thursday, follows 40 days a<er Easter Sunday and is a Holy Day of ObligaBon (in some locaBons such as the Diocese of Richmond this feast is transferred to the following 7th Sunday of Easter). The Ascension is when Jesus le< earth—with his physical, resurrected body—to sit at the Father's right hand in heaven. His mission to save mankind from sin was complete, and he went to reign as King of Heaven and Earth, and as head of his mysBcal Body, the Church, from his heavenly throne. This feast day falls just before the 7th and final Sunday of Easter. From the ResurrecBon to the Ascension (a span of 40 days), Jesus conBnued to appear to his disciples to strengthen, teach, and encourage them. A<er this period of his physical presence was complete, Jesus was raised into heaven. Here is the account of the Ascension from the Bible found in the Book of Acts: "And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was li<ed up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." Historically, the Solemnity of the Ascension is an ancient and major feast for the Church (thus, its status as a holy day of obligaBon). In order to think of it and treat it with the same reverence as ChrisBans of days past, it helps to understand it more deeply. There are three aspects of Ascension Thursday that should be reflected on: First, this was the first Bme the Second Person of the Holy Trinity appeared in heaven a<er He "made Himself a li]le lower than the angels" in His IncarnaBon. A completely new thing took place in heaven; at the Ascension the angles worship human nature in the Person of Jesus Christ for the first Bme, ever. Human nature was created lower than angelic nature, and, because of the Fall, there were no human beings in heaven before Jesus ascended there. That is, not only were we created lower, but through sin we fell from the place that we did have in God's creaBon. Now, because of his IncarnaBon, Passion, and ResurrecBon, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity has a physical, human body in heaven. Human nature has been exalted in Jesus! This feat of the redempBon of mankind was even greater than God's original act of creaBon. Second, even more remarkable is that ChrisBans have a share in the Ascension of Jesus. Christ ascending into heaven in His glorified human body applies to all of the redeemed, in that we through Christ are brought back to the throne of God, back to what we were created for. Through His saving work, the redeemed we will be in heaven for all eternity, soul and body. When we reflect on the Ascension, we should remember that this is the future glory that we are meant for; in God’s mercy He has restored us to Himself through His Son. This desBny that God has planned for us, which is a stunning and remarkable display of His mercy and love, is an eternal reality that should inform our daily acBons for the be]er. Third, Ascension Thursday is closely connected with Pentecost. A<er Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples were instructed to go to Jerusalem and wait. They, together with the Blessed Virgin Mary, waited and prayed for a period of 9 days unBl the Holy Spirit was poured out on them at Pentecost. Although Jesus' physical presence was taken from them with His

Ascension into heaven, He did not leave them as orphans; He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in their souls and to guide them into all truth. “I have said these things to you while I am sBll with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you" (Jn. 14). In fact, Jesus told His disciples that unless He ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit would not come to them. This period of 9 days that the Apostles prayed and waited, from the Ascension to Pentecost, was the Church's first novena, and the biblical precedent for all the various novenas that believers pray today. This period of nine days of prayer to the Holy Spirit is something that we can enter into again. This evening we will pray the first part of the Novena Prayer, a way of sharing in the prayer of the Apostles and the Blessed Mother of 2,100 years ago.

PERSONAL TIME FOR ADORATION PRAYER AND REFLECTION The Eucharist will be exposed at 6:30 p.m. Bll 7:00 p.m.

OPENING HYMN:

OPENING PRAYER

INCENSATION HYMN O SAVING VICTIM O saving vicBm open wide, the gates of heaven to us below. Our foes press on from every side, Your aid supply, Your strength bestow.

To Your great name be endless praise, Immortal Godhead, One in Three O grant us endless length of days in our true naBve land with Thee. Amen

P. God, come to my assistance. C. Lord, make haste to help me. P. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: C. as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia

ANTIPHON I P. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, alleluia PSALM 110:1-5, 7 The Lord’s revelaBon to my Master:

“Sit on my right: your foes I will put beneath your feet.”

The Lord will wield from Zion your scepter of power: rule in the midst of all your foes.

A prince from the day of your birth on the holy mountains; from the womb before the dawn I begot you.

The Lord has sworn an oath He will not change. “You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.”

The Master standing at your right hand will sha]er kings in the day of his great wrath. He shall drink from the stream by the wayside and therefore he shall li< up his head.

P. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: C. as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia C. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, alleluia. ANTIPHON II P. God ascends to shouts of joy, the Lord to the blast of trumpets, alleluia.

PSALM 47 All peoples, clap your hands, cry to God with shouts of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, we must fear, great king over all the earth.

He subdues peoples under us and naBons under our feet. Our inheritance, our glory, is from Him, given to Jacob out of love. God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast. Sing praise for God, sing praise,

sing praise to our king, sing praise.

God is king of all the earth. Sing praise with all your skill. God is king over the naBons; God reigns on His holy throne.

The princes of the peoples are assembled with the people of Abraham’s God. The rulers of the earth belong to God, to God who reigns over all.

P. Glory to the Father, and to the son, and to the Holy Spirit: C. as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia. C. God ascends to shouts of joy, the Lord to the blast of trumpets, alleluia.

ANTIPHON III P. Now the Son of Man has been glorified and God has been glorified in Him. Alleluia CANTICLE REVELATION 11:17-18; 12:10-12 We praise You, the Lord God Almighty, who is and who was. You have assumed Your great power, You have begun Your reign.

The naBons have raged in anger, but then came Your day of wrath and the moment to judge the dead: the Bme to reward Your servants the prophets

and the holy ones who revere You, the great and the small alike.

Now have salvaBon and power come, the reign of our God and the authority of His Anointed One. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who night and day accused them before God.

They defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their tesBmony; love for life did not deter them from death. So rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell therein! P. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: C. as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia C. Now the Son of Man has been glorified and God has been glorified in Him, alleluia. MEDITATION HYMN

READING 1 PETER 3:18, 22 The reason why Christ died for sins once for all, the just man for the sake of the unjust, was that He might lead us to God. He was put to death insofar as fleshly existence goes, but was given life in the realm of the spirit. He went to heaven and is at God’s right hand, with angelic rulers and powers subjected to Him.

RESPONSORY P. I am ascending to My Father and your Father, alleluia, alleluia. C. I am ascending to My Father and your Father, alleluia, alleluia.

P. To My God and your God, C. alleluia, alleluia

P. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; C. I am ascending to My Father and your Father, alleluia, alleluia.

CANTICLE OF MARY ANTIPHON P. O Victor King, Lord of power and might, today You have ascended in glory above the heavens. Do not leave us orphans, but send us the Father’s promised gi<, the Spirit of truth, alleluia.

GOSPEL CANTICLE LUKE 1:46-55 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, My spirit rejoices in God my Savior For He has looked with favor on His lowly servant. From this day all generaBons will call me blessed: The Almighty has done great things for me, And holy is His Name. He has mercy on those who fear Him In every generaBon. He has shown the strength of His arm, He has sca]ered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, And has li<ed up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. He has come to the help of His servant Israel For He has remembered His promise of mercy, The promise He made to our fathers, To Abraham and his children for ever.

P. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: C. as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia C. O Victor King, Lord of power and might, today You have ascended in glory above the Heavens. Do not leave us orphans, but send us the Father’s promised gi<, the Spirit of truth, alleluia.

INTERCESSIONS

LORD’S PRAYER

INCENSATION HYMN DOWN IN ADORATION FALLING Down in adoraBon falling, this great Sacrament we hail; Over ancient forms deparBng newer rites of grace prevail, Faith for all defects supplying when our feeble senses fail.

To the everlasBng Father and the Son who reigns on high And the Spirit blest proceeding forth from each eternally Be salvaBon, honor, blessing, might and endless majesty.

BENEDICTION DIVINE PRAISES

PRIVATE ADORATION / REFLECTION TIME UNTIL 8:00 P.M. CLOSING PRAYER

CLOSING HYMN: Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia! To His throne beyond the skies; Alleluia! Christ the Lamb for sinners given, Alleluia! Enters now the highest heaven! Alleluia!

There for Him high triumph waits; Alleluia! Li< your heads, eternal gates; Alleluia! He has conquered death and sin; Alleluia! Take the King of glory in. Alleluia! See! He li<s His hands above. Alleluia! See! He shows the wounds of love. Alleluia! Hark! His gracious lips bestow, Alleluia! Blessings on His Church below, Alleluia!

Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, license #A621173. All rights reserved.

NOVENA PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me,

the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only a<er the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of For`tude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvaBon, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear of the Lord that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.

!

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT On my knees before the great mulBtude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself soul and body to Thee, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy purity, the unerring keenness of Thy jusBce, and the might of Thy love. Thou art the Strength and Light of my soul. In Thee I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace, and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against Thee. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Thy light and listen to Thy voice and follow Thy gracious inspiraBons. I cling to Thee and give myself to Thee and ask Thee by Thy compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds and trusBng in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore Thee Adorable Spirit, helper of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy grace that I may never sin against Thee. Give me grace O Holy Ghost, Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to Thee always and everywhere, "Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth." Amen.