Thursday May 9, 2024
THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD (SOLEMNITY)
HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
Office: Proper, Te Deum
Mass prop. Gloria. Creed.
Preface of Ascension
Eucharistic Prayer I Special inserts should be used
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: The Luminous Mysteries
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
Vespers II of the Ascension of the Lord
THE START OF THE CHURCH’S JOURNEY. The first reading and the gospel carry the main message: the Ascension does not mean that Jesus has gone from us. The gospel writers want to tell us that after the resurrection of Jesus the Church began a long journey always in the company of its Master, though he was no longer visibly present. After Easter the Church, now fully grown, is no longer always looking up to heaven. The second reading completes the message and reminds us that the Christian vision of the world is not limited by the boundaries of this life.
KINDLY JOIN US AS WE EMBARK ON A 9-DAY NOVENA WITH FASTING AND PRAYERS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PREPARATION FOR PENTECOST FROM TOMORROW, FRIDAY MAY 10TH TO SATURDAY MAY SATURDAY MAY 18TH 2024
FIRST READING
“As they were looking on, he was lifted up. ”
The beginning of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:1-11)
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me, for John baptised with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted 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.”
The word of the Lord.
Also Read: Daily Reading for Wednesday, May 8th, 2024
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 47:2-3.6-7.8-9 (R. 6)
R/. God has gone up with shouts of joy. The Lord goes up with trumpet blast.
Or: Alleluia.
All peoples, clap your hands.
Cry to God with shouts of joy!
For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome,
the great king over all the earth. R/.
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! R/.
R/. God has gone up with shouts of joy. The Lord goes up with trumpet blast.
Or: Alleluia
God is king of all the earth.
Sing praise with all your skill.
God reigns over the nations.
God sits upon his holy throne. R/.
SECOND READING
“The measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 4:1-13)
Brethren: I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy for the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all the and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Therefore, it is said, “When he ascended on high the led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended.” What does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended for above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
*And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipment of the saints, for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
The word of the Lord*
shorter form: Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13. Read between*
ALLELUIA Matthew 28:19a, 20b
Alleluia. Go and make disciples of all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, to the close of the age. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“He was taken up to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
At that time: (Jesus appearing to the Eleven) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the sign that attended it. Amen.
The Gospel of the Lord
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Forty days after His glorious resurrection from the dead, the Lord Jesus, conqueror of sin and death, ascended to heaven in triumph. On this solemnity the Church commemorates the first and irreversible entry of humanity into divine glory, when Jesus takes His human nature, which is inseparable from His divine nature, into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. “Jesus ascends not to distance Himself from us, but to draw us to Himself. He is the first fruit from the dead and the only way to heaven. This reality illustrates the fact that we who have truly followed Christ and live by His standards will enter into the beatific vision with glorified bodies at the final resurrection. May Jesus, who has gone to prepare a place for us, send us power from on high!
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL IN HONOUR OF B.V.M
The Truth is, our Mother Mary is the Mother of Jesus who is the truth. Whoever knows the truth shall always be set free.
We cannot know the truth if we avoid opportunities that will make us to become friends with and of Jesus. The Holy Spirit will teach us the truth as He taught our Mother Mary and when we have the truth in us we will be able to teach those who do not know about Jesus the truth to come and know Him.
Let us pray,
Lord Jesus Christ, help me to know you deeply as our Mother Mary did so that I will be able to teach the world about you who is the way, the truth and life. Amen. And May the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Meditation: John 16:12-15
MAY DEVOTION
Proposed Program of Daily Events for May Devotion (Personal / Group)
1. Opening / Introduction: Sign of the Cross + / (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament optional)
2. ACT OF CONTRITION:
O my God because you’re so good, I am very sorry that I have sinned against you and by the help of your grace I will not sin again.
3. ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY: O most pure heart of Mary, full of goodness, show your love towards us. Let the flame of your heart, O Mary, descend on all people. We love you immensely. Impress on our hearts true love so that we may long for you. O Mary, gentle and humble of heart, remember us when we sin. You know that all we sin. Grant that through your most pure and motherly heart, we may be healed from every spiritual sickness. Grant that we may always experience the goodness of your motherly heart, and that through the flame of your heart we may be converted. Amen.
4. Rosary Recitation and Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Begin with the invocation of the Holy Spirit: Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the heart……….
5. ART OF REPARATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY:
O Most Holy Virgin, and Our Mother, we listen with grief to the complaints of your immaculate Heart surrounded with the thorns placed therein at every moment by the blasphemies and ingratitude of ungrateful humanity. We are moved by the ardent desire of loving you as Our Mother and of promising a true devotion to your Immaculate Heart. We therefore kneel before you to manifest the sorrow we feel for the grievances that people cause you, and to atone by our prayers and sacrifices for the offenses with which they return your love. Obtain for them and for us the pardon of so many sins. Hasten the conversion of sinners that they may love Jesus Christ and cease to offend the Lord, already so much offended. Turn your eyes of mercy toward us, that we may love God with all our heart on earth and enjoy him forever in Heaven.
6, Talk on Blessed Virgin Mary (optional).
7. Gift of candle light and offering of petition. (Lighting of candles and submission of petition).
8. MEMORARE: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
9. Prayers for the intention of Our Holy Father (One Our Father, One Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father).
10. Closing / Benediction
