Ascension celebrated this weekend

“Today our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven; let our hearts ascend with him. Listen to the words of the Apostle: If you have risen with Christ, set your hearts on the things that are above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God; seek the things that are above, not the things that are on earth. For just as he remained with us even after his ascension, so we too are already in heaven with him, even though what is promised us has not yet been fulfilled in our bodies.” —Written by St. Augustine

God our Father, make us joyful in the ascension of your Son Jesus Christ. May we follow him into the new creation for his ascension is our glory and our hope. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Blog Note: The Ascension occurred on the 40th day of Easter, so it falls on a Thursday, and thus is often called Ascension Thursday. However, in most dioceses in the United States, the celebration of the Ascension has been transferred to the following Sunday, six weeks after Easter 2011.