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Mass of the Ascension PDF Print E-mail

Summary of comments of this office by Dom Schuster, in his work L'année liturgique.

The liturgical solemnity of the Ascension, while less ancient than that of Pentecost, is nonetheless among the most ancient of the cycle, and while no documentary evidence prior to Eusebius can be found, this feast was already so universal that St. Augustine could attribute its institution to the Apostles themselves.

In antiquity, the celebration of this feast was characterized by a solemn procession that took place about noon in memory of the Apostles' accompanying Jesus outside the city to the mount of Olives. At Rome, the Pope, after the recitation of the Divine Office and the Mass celebrated on St. Peter's altar, was crowned by the cardinals, and towards the hour of Sext, proceeded to the Lateran, accompanied by the bishops and the clergy.

On this day, the liturgy, in the Introït, with a melody that is among the loveliest of the Gregorian repertory, repeats to us the words of the angels to the Apostles: "Ye men of Galilee, why wonder you, looking up to heaven? He shall so come as you have seen Him going up into heaven."


The versicle of the Alleluia is taken from Psalm 46: "God is ascended with jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of a trumpet."


The versicle preceding the Gospel comes from Psalm 67: "The Lord is in Sina, in the holy place; ascending on high He has led captivity captive," that is to say, He triumphs over sin and the devil, whose power, which He chained, He tramples under foot.


The antiphon of the Offertory also comes from Psalm 46: "God is ascended with jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of a trumpet, alleluia."


The antiphon for the Communion is taken from Psalm 67: "Sing ye to the Lord, who mounteth above the heaven of heavens to the east, alleluia."

 

 
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