Wednesday 8 May 2013

Mass for Ascension Thursday


The on-line Catholic Encyclopedia describes The Ascension thus:  
The fortieth day after Easter Sunday, commemorating the Ascension of Christ into heaven, according to Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, and Acts 1:2...
...The observance of this feast is of great antiquity. Although no documentary evidence of it exists prior to the beginning of the fifth century, St. Augustine says that it is of Apostolic origin, and he speaks of it in a way that shows it was the universal observance of the Church long before his time. Frequent mention of it is made in the writings of St. John Chrysostom, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and in the Constitution of the Apostles.
So, forty days after Easter...  of great antiquity... attested to by the early Saints, Fathers of the Church...the Universal Church will keep this great feast.

While here, in the Twilight Zone, we will be keeping the Feast forty three days after Easter.  Well, you know the 'arguments'...............

However, if you are offering Mass according to the 1962 calendar or simply offering a votive Mass on Thursday you can keep the traditional date of the Ascension.  We will be doing so here:

Missa Cantata at 7pm 

followed by some light refreshments 
and a celebratory glass, 
to which all are invited.




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