The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Ascensione by Vincenzo degli Azani

God mounts His throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. – Psalm 47

The 40th Day of Easter is Holy or Ascension Thursday. A holy day of obligation, it commemorates the bodily Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Heaven. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer for Ascension Day from Blessed Be God: A Complete Catholic Prayer Book (p.229) by Very Rev. Charles J. Callan, OP., S.T.M. and Very Rev. John A. McHugh, OP., S.T.M (Preserving Christian Publications, 2010). Pictured is the Ascensione altarpiece by Vincenzo degli Azani (d. 1557) at the Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio (La Martorana) in Palermo.

Ascension Day prayer

Ant. God is ascended in jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of trumpet. Alleluia.
V. The Lord is in Sina, in the holy place. Alleluia.
R. Ascending on high, He hath led captivity captive. Alleluia!

Let us Pray
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who believe Thine only-begotten Son, our Redeemer, to have this day ascended into heaven, may ourselves dwell in spirit amid heavenly things. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.