Ascension Thursday Morning 2026
This day marks the completion of Our Lord’s work on Earth 2,000 years ago.  The Ascension is the departure of Christ from His Apostles to His place at the right hand of the Father, and it completes the Paschal Mystery.  Our Lord’s Passion and death is renewed at every Mass, and on a feast day such as this, we receive the graces given to the Apostles and disciples.  In reading the Holy Scriptures we read about the persecution of Our Lord’s followers.  Just as they did, we rejoice when we must endure persecution.  Before He departed, Christ rebuked the Apostles for being slow to believe and hard of heart.  Are we better than they?  We always feel a sense of melancholy when the Paschal Candle is extinguished.  The symbol of Our Lord’s physical presence is now gone, but we are destined to be reunited with Him in Heaven.  Those who remain faithful are rewarded on this day.
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