let those who hate him flee before him.
as the wax melts at the fire, so let the wicked perish at the
presence of God.
let them also be merry and joyful.
exalt him who rides upon the heavens; *
YAHWEH is his Name, rejoice before him!
God in his holy habitation!
freedom; *
but the rebels shall live in dry places.
Ant 1. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; now I leave the world to return to the Father, alleluia.
Ant 2.After he spoke to the disciples, the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven where he is seated at the right hand of the Father, alleluia.
when you marched through the wilderness,
at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, *
at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
you refreshed the land when it was weary.
in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor.
great was the company of women who bore the tidings:
the women at home are dividing the spoils."
you shall be like a dove whose wings are covered with silver,
whose feathers are like green gold.
it was like snow falling in Zalmon.
Ant 2. After he spoke to the disciples, the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven where he is seated at the right hand of the Father, alleluia.
Ant 3.No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven alleluia.
O rugged mountain, O hill of Bashan!
at the hill which God chose for his resting place? *
truly, the LORD will dwell there for ever.
even thousands of thousands; *
the Lord comes in holiness from Sinai.
you have received gifts even from your enemies, *
that the LORD God might dwell among them.
the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens.
God is the LORD, by whom we escape death.
Ant 3. No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven alleluia.
First Reading
2 Kings 2:1-15
Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.” Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over. When the company of prophets who were at Jericho saw him at a distance, they declared, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
Canticle
Benedictus es, Domine
Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers; *
you are worthy of praise; glory to you.
Glory to you for the radiance of you holy Name; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.
Glory to you in the splendor of your temple; *
on the throne of your majesty, glory to you.
Glory to you, seated between the Cherubim; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.
Glory to you, beholding the depths; *
in the high vault of heaven, glory to you.
Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
Second Reading
Revelation 5:1-14
Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. They sing a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
Second Canticle
Magnificat
Antiphon: Father, I have manifested your name to those whom you gave me; / and now I am praying for them, not for the world, because I am coming to you, alleluia.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
Antiphon: Father, I have manifested your name to those whom you gave me; / and now I am praying for them, not for the world, because I am coming to you, alleluia.
Responsory
God ascends to shouts of joy, alleluia, alleluia.
God ascends to shouts of joy, alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord to the blast of trumpets,
alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to he Holy Spirit
God ascends to shouts of joy, alleluia, alleluia.
Collect
Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Intercessions
In Joy of spirit, let us acclaim Christ, who sits at the right hand of the Father:
(R.)Lord Jesus, you are the king of glory.
King of glory, you took with you our frail humanity to be glorified in heaven; remove the sins of the world,
- and restore us to the innocence which was ours before the Fall.(R.)
You came down from heaven on a pilgrimage of love,
- grant that we may take the same path to your presence.(R.)
You promised to draw all things to yourself,
- do not allow anyone of us to be separated from your body.(R.)
Where you have gone before us in glory,
- may we follow you in mind and heart.(R.)
True God, we await your coming as our judge,
- may we see the vision of your glory and mercy in company with all the dead.(R.)
Our Father…
Closing Prayer:
God our Father,
make us joyful in the ascension of your Son Jesus Christ.
may we follow him into the new creation,
for his ascension is our glory and our hope.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Who live and reigns with you and Holy Spirit
One God, forever and ever, Amen.