Feast of the Ascension
Processional Hymn - 545 - A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing!
A hymn of glory let us sing!
New songs throughout the world shall ring:
Alleluia, alleluia!
Christ, by a road before untrod,
Ascends unto the throne of God.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The holy apostolic band
Upon the Mount of Olives stand,
Alleluia, alleluia!
And with his foll’wers they see
Their Lord ascend in majesty.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
To whom the shining angels cry,
“Why stand and gaze upon the sky?”
Alleluia, alleluia!
“This is the Savior,” thus they say.
“This is his glorious triumph day.”
Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
“You see him now, ascending high
Up to the portals of the sky.”
Alleluia, alleluia!
“Hereafter Jesus you shall see
returning in great majesty.”
Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
O Lord, our homeward pathway bend,
That our unwearied hearts ascend,
Alleluia, alleluia!
Where seated on your Father’s throne,
You reign as King of kings alone.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
First Reading - Acts 1:1-11
In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.
They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?
This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”
Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 47
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy. A blare of trumpets for the LORD.
All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness!
For the LORD, the Most High, is the great king over all the earth.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy. A blare of trumpets for the LORD.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the LORD amid trumpet blasts.
Sing Praise to our God, to God sing Praise; Praise to our king, sing Praise.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy. A blare of trumpets for the LORD.
For the king of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy. A blare of trumpets for the LORD.
Second Reading -Ephesians 1:17-23
Brothers and sisters:
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Gospel - Luke 24:46-53
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.
And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them.
As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.
They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.
Prayer for Our Lady of Angels Parish
Heavenly Father, we thank you for gathering us together and calling us to serve as your disciples.
You have charged us through your Son, Jesus, with the great mission of evangelizing and witnessing your love to the world.
Send your Holy Spirit to guide us as we discern your will for the spiritual renewal of our parish.
Give us strength, courage, and clear vision as we use our gifts to serve you.
We entrust our parish family to the care of Mary, our mother, and ask for her intercession and guidance, as we strive to build a parish that loves God, embraces all people, and shares the Gospel joyfully.
Offertory Hymn - 574 - Crown Him with Many Crowns
Crown Him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon His throne.
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns
All music but it's own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of Him who set us free,
And hail Him as your heavenly King
Through all eternity.
Crown Him the Lord of life,
Who triumphed o’er the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife
For those He came to save.
His glories now we sing,
Who died, and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring,
And lives that death may die.
Crown Him the Lord of love,
Behold His hands and side,
Those wounds, yet visible above,
In beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky
Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his burning eye
At mysteries so bright.
Crown Him the Lord of peace,
Whose power a scepter sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease,
And all be prayer and praise.
His reign shall know no end,
And round His pierc-èd feet
Fair flowers of paradise extend
Their fragrance ever sweet.
Crown him the Lord of years,
The master of all time,
Creator of the rolling spheres,
And risen Lord sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
For you have dies for me;
Your praise and glory shall not fail
Throughout eternity.
Communion Hymn - 949 - Alleluia, Sing to Jesus
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!
His the scepter, His the throne;
Alleluia! His the triumph,
His the victory alone!
Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion
Thunder like a mighty flood:
“Jesus out of every nation
Has redeemed us by His blood.”
Alleluia! Not as orphans
Are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us;
Faith believes, nor questions how.
Though the cloud from sight received Him,
When the forty days were o’er,
Shall our hearts forget His promise?—
“I am with you evermore.”
Alleluia! Bread of angels,
Here on earth our Food, our Stay;
Alleluia! Here the sinful
Flee to You from day to day.
Intercessor, friend of sinners,
Earth’s Redeemer, plead for me;
Where are the songs of all the sinless
Sweep across the crystal sea.
Alleluia! King eternal,
You are the Lord of lords we own;
Alleluia! Born of Mary,
Earth Your footstool, Heav’n Your throne.
You within the veil have entered,
Robed in flesh, our great high priest;
Here on earth both priest and victim
In the Eucharistic feast!
Recessional Hymn - 539 - Sing with All the Saints in Glory
Sing with all the saints in glory,
Sing the resurrection song!
Death and sorrow, earth's dark story,
To the former days belong.
All around the clouds are breaking,
Soon the storms of time shall cease;
In God's likeness we awaken,
Knowing everlasting peace.
O what glory, far exceeding
All that eye has yet perceived!
Holiest hearts, for ages pleading,
Never that full joy conceived.
God has promised, Christ prepares it,
There on high our welcome waits.
Ev’ry humble spirit shares it;
Christ has passed th'eternal gates.
Life eternal! heav’n rejoices;
Jesus lives, who once was dead.
Shout with joy, O deathless voices;
Child of God, lift up your head!
Patriarchs from the distant ages,
Saints all longing for their heav’n,
Prophets, psalmists, seers, and sages,
All await the glory giv’n.
Life eternal! O what wonders
Crowd on faith; what joy unknown,
When, amid earth's closing thunders,
Saints shall stand before the throne!
Oh, to enter that bright portal,
See that glowing firmament;
Know, with you, O God Immortal,
Jesus Christ whom you have sent!
