Holyday Tomorrow, May 17th

[Resurrexi]

Just wanting to remind everyone that tommrow, May 17th, 2007 (40 days after Easter Sunday) is Ascension Thursday, a Holyday of obligation.

[homeschoolmom]

Thanks for the reminder. People should check with their diocese, however. In our diocese, we celebrate the Ascension next Sunday.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1275288' date='May 16 2007, 05:15 PM']Thanks for the reminder. People should check with their diocese, however. In our diocese, we celebrate the Ascension next Sunday.[/quote]
i was just gonna say that in my diocese as well it is abrogated to Sunday the 20th.

thanks, st. thomas more!

[cappie]

So, what is the deal with the Ascension? To many people, especially unbelievers, the story of Jesus ascending into heaven is just some sort of fairy tale. Even if it was true, unbelievers can only see Jesus as going up somewhere into outer space-to some hidden flying saucer.

To true believers, however, the ascension of Jesus was not just a journey into outer space, but a journey home to his Father. And, just because Jesus went to his home in heaven, we must not think that he has abandoned us-that he once lived here on earth, but has now gone back to where he really belongs. Nothing could be further from the truth.

If this was true, Christianity would be nothing more than a religion of remembrances like many other non-Christian religions, especially the one from which I came. You know, religions that believe that we only live on in the memories of our children. What a depressing thought that is! After 2 or 3 generations who would remember us?

We have to understand that, when Jesus walked the earth, he could only be in one place at a time. Now, he is present everywhere.

There is a story that says that, when Jesus returned to heaven, his Father asked him whom he had left on earth in order to carry out his mission. Jesus proudly told his Father that his friends would do it. "And", God replied, "you mean Peter who betrayed you, and Judas who sold you and all the rest of the disciples who ran away when you were crucified? You mean to tell me that they are going to carry out your work"?

Jesus answered, "Yes, Father, they are the only ones, except for Judas". His Father said, "What is your backup plan"? Jesus said, "There is no backup plan. Either they do it or it does not get done. There is no plan B.

My brothers and sisters, we are the only plan that God has to bring His Good News to other people. We are His only witnesses. We are the ones with the power to show others how to go to heaven. And, if we think about it, this power that God has given us comes with an awesome responsibility-the responsibility to use His gifts to us for His glory-and not just for our own pleasures.

For example, do we use His gift of sexuality only in marriage, where it belongs or do we use it in an unholy and in an unhealthy way? Do we use the gift of our brains to help others or do we use them only to make as much money as possible, even if it means sticking a knife into the back of someone we perceive as competition? Whatever gifts that God has given us, He wants us to use them to help others see how good He is. Remember, we are His only plan.

Think of someone in the past who helped you. Think of what they said or did for you that changed you for the better-that influenced you to do some of the good things that you do today. That is all that God asks of us. It is like we are beggars showing other beggars where the food is.

Every baptized Catholic must obey the call of Christ to be his witnesses in a world that too often seems indifferent to Christ-a world that regards our faith as an "option"-an "extra"-sort of like gardening or playing baseball-you know, do whatever you like. I'm OK and you're OK.

But, everyone, regardless of their beliefs, down deep, has a spiritual hunger. They want someone to reassure them that there is something beyond our life on this earth. They want to know that there is a happy ending, despite all of our wars and famines and illnesses and, most of all, death. This is our opportunity to bring Christ and his "Good News" to them-that there is hope, both on this earth and beyond the grave.

Remember, we must bring Jesus to others. We have no choice if we consider ourselves faithful Catholics. We must live as people who are absolutely convinced that life does have meaning; that this world, with all of its problems, is still God's world; that the most powerful force in the universe is not hatred but love-not death but life.

Like Jesus said to his Father-we are his only option. There is no plan B.

[White Knight]

Ya the Archdioceses here in Oklahoma have said that the Ascension Thursday Mass as been moved to Sunday. Kind of curious, why did they move the Ascension Mass to Sunday, this is approved by Rome I hope.

[CatholicCid]

How can we find out if the day was moved? My diocese's website and the usccb site didn't say.

[cathoholic_anonymous]

[quote]Thanks for the reminder. People should check with their diocese, however. In our diocese, we celebrate the Ascension next Sunday.[/quote]

Same here. And I wish they hadn't moved it. Apparently it was transferred to the next available Sunday in order to increase Mass attendances, and I don't think that is going to work.

[Totus Tuus]

Yup, we too have "Ascension Thursday Sunday". Weird, I know, but maybe someday it'll be moved back to Ascension Thursday Thursday.

It is also the feast day of St. Paschal Baylon (I guess Ascension would take its place if it were being officially celebrated today) He was a Franciscan!

[quote name='New Advent']St. Pascal Baylon

Born at Torre-Hermosa, in the Kingdom of Aragon, 24 May, 1540, on the Feast of Pentecost, called in Spain "the Pasch of the Holy Ghost", whence the name Pascal; died at Villa Reale, 15 May, 1592, on Whitsunday. His parents, Martin Baylon and Elizabeth Jubera, were virtuous peasants. The child began very early to display signs of that surpassing devotion towards the Holy Eucharist, which forms the salient feature of his character. From his seventh to his twenty-fourth year, he led the life of a shepherd, and during the whole of that period exercised a salutary influence upon his companions. He was then received as a lay brother amongst the Franciscan friars of the Alcantarine Reform. In the cloister, Paschal's life of contemplation and self-sacrifice fulfilled the promise of his early years. His charity to the poor and afflicted, and his unfailing courtesy were remarkable. On one occasion, in the course of a journey through France, he triumphantly defended the dogma of the Real Presence against the blasphemies of a Calvinist preacher, and in consequence, narrowly escaped death at the hands of a Huguenot mob. Although poorly educated, his counsel was sought for by people of every station in life, and he was on terms of closest friendship with personages of eminent sanctity. Pascal was beatified in 1618, and canonized in 1690. His cultus has flourished particularly in his native land and in Southern Italy, and it was widely diffused in Southern and Central America, through the Spanish Conquests. In his Apostolic letter, Providentissimus Deus, Leo XIII declared St. Pascal the especial heavenly protector of all Eucharistic Congresses and Associations. His feast is kept on 17 May. The saint is usually depicted in adoration before a vision of the Host.[/quote]

Edited May 17, 2007 by Totus Tuus

[Theologian in Training]

Excellent homily cappie....I guess I will share mine as well...
_______________________________

Today we celebrate the feast of the Ascension, when Christ ascended to heaven 40 days after His Resurrection. He takes His leave and we are left alone. It almost seems strange celebrating such a departure, because, truth be told, no one is happy when the one we love leaves us, if even for a time. Yet that is what Christ does and needs to do because this departure is necessary. In fact, this is the fulfillment of what He has been saying all along and it was not His death that marked His end on earth but His Ascension. For, everything He has endured, the cross, the Passion, death itself is now being raised, redeemed, exalted. And this could only happen once He ascended, because, as He ascends the Holy Spirit descends, and His promise, the great promise of the Father will become a reality.

And it is with that grace of the Holy Spirit that the Apostles and we, ourselves, become witnesses to the ends of the earth because St. Paul’s hope for us, as we heard in our second reading, will be made real, the eyes of our hearts will be enlightened, and we may know the hope that belongs to this call, the riches of glory and the greatness of His power.

This is why the words of the angels should echo in our own hearts as well: “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven
will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

His Ascension does not mean He is not with us, no, He has not left us but become even closer to us. When He was Resurrected He destroyed death but now, now that He has ascended, He has opened Heaven for us, because now what we see Christ doing, we hope to be able to do as well.

And we can, because He has give us this hope, this hope of Heaven, because He has given us everything we need, His own Body and Blood in the Eucharist and the guidance and grace of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, today is a feast, it is a day of celebration, and if sadness touches our hearts, as many saints before us have said, it is proof of the love we feel for Him. So that as He departs, raising His hand and blessing us, we know that He has not abandoned us, but has taken us with Him, closer to Himself, at the right hand of His own Father constantly and always making intercession for us and presenting us, in love, before Him.

[premed_jakey]

[quote name='CatholicCid' post='1275630' date='May 17 2007, 02:21 AM']How can we find out if the day was moved? My diocese's website and the usccb site didn't say.[/quote]

Im pretty sure the Holy day move to Sunday is all over the United States.

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='Premed_Jakey' post='1275710' date='May 17 2007, 11:41 AM']Im pretty sure the Holy day move to Sunday is all over the United States.[/quote]

Not all over, accordingly: "The ecclesiastical Provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and the state of Nebraska have retained its celebration on the proper Thursday; all other Provinces have transferred this solemnity to the Seventh Sunday of Easter."

[Theologian in Training]

I just realized...I was ordained a Deacon on Ascension Thursday, almost 2 years ago...man, how time flies!

[White Knight]

I know its been moved but I'll just say this. "Yes, Jesus has ascended and lives forevermore!"

[bonoducchi]

If memory serves, the arch/dioceses of Boston, New York, Newark, Philidelphia, and Nebraska are the only providences that celebrate Ascension on Thursday. THe remaining US dioceses have all transferred it to Sunday.

If memory serves....my ordo is in my office at the parish.

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='VaticanIILiturgist' post='1275936' date='May 17 2007, 06:08 PM']If memory serves, the arch/dioceses of Boston, New York, Newark, Philidelphia, and Nebraska are the only providences that celebrate Ascension on Thursday. THe remaining US dioceses have all transferred it to Sunday.

If memory serves....my ordo is in my office at the parish.[/quote]

Memory is not that bad...a few others you missed...I posted what the Ordo said above