Liturgical Information
The Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord [Vigil Mass] (C)

Liturgical Color: White [Note: On more solemn days, festive, that is, more precious, sacred vestments may be used, even if not the color of the day [GIRM #346-g]. The colors gold or silver may be worn on more solemn occasions [GIRM #346-h].

Themes: glory, majesty, fulfillment, promise of Holy Spirit, baptism & mission

Entrance Antiphon [Introit]:

You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
praise the Lord, who ascends above the highest heavens;
his majesty and might are in the skies, alleluia. Psalm 68:33, 35 [Roman Missal]

Viri Galilæi, quid admiramini aspicientes in cælum? alleluia: quemadmodum vidistis eum ascendentum in cælum, ita veniet, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Ps. Omnes gentes plaudite manibus: iubilate Deo in voce exsultationis. [Graduale Romanum, p.235]

Viri Galilæi, quid aspicitis in cælum? Hic Iesus, qui assumptus est a vobis in cælum, sic veniet, alleluia. [Graduale simplex, pp.178]
Psalm 68, verses 1-8

Collect:

O God, whose Son today ascended to the heavens
as the Apostles looked on,

grant, we pray, that in accordance with his promise,
we may be worthy for him to live with us always on earth,
and we with him in heaven.

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Ho-ly Spirit,
one God, for ev-er and ev-er. A-men.

Lectionary Readings:

Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 [He was lifted up while they were looking on. /v.9]
Psalm 47:2-3 / 6-7 / 8-9 [R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. /v.6]
Ephesians 1:17-23 [God seated Christ at His right hand in the heavenly places. /v.20]
— or —
Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23 [Christ entered into heaven itself. /v.24]
Gospel Verse: Mt 28:19a,20b [Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world.]
See Renaissance Alleluia [Eastertide verses]
Luke 24:46-53 [And it came to pass that while He was blessing them, He parted from them. /v.51]
See CNP's Book of Sung Gospels - 4th Edition

Offertory Antiphon:

Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking in the sky? The Lord will return, just as you have seen him ascend, alleluia. Acts 1:11 **
Verses of Psalm 136 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.

Ascendit Deus in iubilatione, Dominus in voce tubæ, alleluia. [Graduale Romanum, p.237]

— or —

Viri Galilæi, quid admiramini aspicientes in cælum? Hic Iesus, qui assumptus est a vobis in cælum, sic veniet, quemadmodum vidistis eum ascendentum in cælum, alleluia. [Graduale Romanum, p.237]

Ascendit Deus in iubilatione, Dominus in voce tubæ, alleluia. [Gregorian Missal, p.389]

— or —

Viri Galilæi, quid admiramini aspicientes in cælum? Hic Iesus, qui assumptus est a vobis in cælum, sic veniet, quemadmodum vidistis eum ascendentum in cælum, alleluia. [Gregorian Missal, p.383]

Ascendit Deus in iubilatione, Dominus in voce tubæ, alleluia. [Graduale simplex, pp.182]
Psalm 47, verses 1-4

Prayer over the Offerings:

O God, whose Only Begotten Son, our High Priest,
is seated ever-living at your right hand to intercede for us;

grant that we may approach with confidence the throne of grace
and there ob- tain your mercy.

Through Christ our Lord. A-men.

Preface I of the Ascension of the Lord: [The mystery of the Ascension]

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

For the Lord Jesus, the King of glory,
conqueror of sin and death,
ascended today to the highest heavens,
as the Angels gazed in wonder.
Mediator between God and man,
judge of the world and Lord of hosts,
he ascended, not to distance himself from our lowly state
but that we, his members, might be confident of following
where he, our Head and Founder, has gone before.

Therefore, overcome with paschal joy,
every land, every people exults in your praise
and even the heavenly Powers, with the angelic hosts,
sing together the unending hymn of your glory,
as they acclaim:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts…

Communion Antiphon:

Christ, offering a single sacrifice for sins,
is seated for ever and God's right hand, alleluia. Hebrews 10:12 [Roman Missal]

(C) Psallite Domino, qui ascendit super cælos cælorum ad Orientem, alleluia. Psalm 68:33-34 [Graduale Romanum, p.238]
Psalm 34 can also be sung between repetitions of this antiphon.

Sede a dextris meis, dixit Dominus Domino meo, alleluia. [Graduale simplex, pp.183]
Psalm 110, verses 1-6

Prayer after Communion:

May the gifts we have received from your altar, Lord,
kindle in our hearts a longing for the heavenly home- land

and cause us to press forward, following the Savior's footsteps,
to the place where for our sake he en- tered be- fore us.

Who lives and reigns for ev-er and ev-er. A-men.

Solemn Blessing: [7. The Ascension of the Lord]

May almighty God bless you,
for on this very day his Only Begotten Son
pierced the heights of heaven
and unlocked for you the way
to ascend to where he is.
Amen.

May he grant that,
as Christ after his Resurrection
was seen plainly by his disciples,
so when he comes as Judge
he may show himself merciful to you for all eternity.
Amen.

And may you, who believe he is seated
with the Father in his majesty,
know with joy the fulfillment of his promise
to stay with you until the end of time.
Amen.

** An official, approved English translation of the Offertory Antiphon has never been published. The offertory antiphon used here is from the New American Bible, a Scripture translation approved for liturgical use in the United States.

The English translation of the Entrance Antiphon [Introit], Collect, Psalm Refrain, Gospel Verse, Prayer over the Offerings, Preface, Communion Antiphon, Prayer after Communion and Solemn Blessing from The Roman Missal, © Copyright 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corp. All rights reserved.

Liturgical InformationThe Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord [Vigil Mass] (C)