Tag: Ascension

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Church Seasons and Feasts

When is Ascension Celebrated?

Father Reginald Martin

April 17, 2020 6:33 am April 17, 2020

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The Church’s Code of Canon Law includes the ascension of Jesus among the solemn feast days to be observed by Latin-rite Catholics throughout the universal Church. The text also remarks,…

The Church’s Code of Canon Law includes the ascension of Jesus among the solemn feast days to be observed by Latin-rite Catholics throughout the universal Church. The text also remarks, “The conference of bishops can abolish certain holy days of obligation or transfer them to a Sunday with the prior approval of the Apostolic See” (Canon 1246.2).

In many places, as we have seen, the Ascension has been transferred to Sunday, and for a twofold reason. First, holy days are to be observed with the same regard as Sundays. The Catechism of the Catholic Church notes, “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God … and [partake in] the appropriate relaxation of mind and body” (No. 2185). This is often impossible on weekdays, so moving the feast to a Sunday makes a great deal of sense.

Some will ask why the Church does not maintain the feast of the Ascension on Thursday but remove the obligation to attend Mass that day. This leads to the second reason for moving the feast. Doing so allows those who cannot attend Mass on Thursday to share an important, common prayer experience.

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Church Seasons and Feasts

Ascension or Assumption?

Father Ray Ryland

February 21, 2019 1:46 pm February 21, 2019

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After His resurrection Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples. In that time His glorified resurrection body was veiled under the ordinary appearance of humanity. After His final words to…

After His resurrection Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples. In that time His glorified resurrection body was veiled under the ordinary appearance of humanity. After His final words to His disciples (see Acts 1:7-8), the New Testament reports, “as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). Men in white garments then reported that Jesus had been taken to heaven. This is His glorious ascension.

The Assumption of Mary is depicted in a window at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Providence, R.I. (CNS photo/Crosiers)

By use of the term “Assumption” we designate the entrance of the Blessed Virgin into glory. Here is the Second Vatican Council’s summary of this event in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church: “The Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all guilt of original sin, on the completion of her earthly sojourn, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen of the universe, that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and the conqueror of sin and death” (No. 59).

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