Deus in adjutorium meum intende,
Domine ad adjuvandum me festina
Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One,
have mercy on us.
Agios o Theos, Agios Ischyros, Agios Athanatos,
Eleison imas.
Sanctus Deus, Sanctus Fortis, Sanctus Immortális,
miserére nobis.
OPENING PROCESSION
Jesus led the disciples out as far as Bethany,
and blest them with uplifted hands, alleluia.
As they watched, he was lifted up,
and a cloud removed him from their sight.
As they were gazing intently into the sky,
all at once there stood beside them two men in white, alleluia.
Men of Galilee, why stand there looking up into the sky?
This Jesus, who has been taken away from you up to heaven, will come in the same way you have seen him go, alleluia.
They returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
and spent all their time in the temple praising God, alleluia.
But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 2:4-6
The Psalter
68 Exsurgat Deus
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.
1
Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; *
let those who hate him flee before him.
2
Let them vanish like smoke when the wind drives it away; *
as the wax melts at the fire, so let the wicked perish at the
presence of God.
3
But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; *
let them also be merry and joyful.
4
Sing to God, sing praises to his Name;
exalt him who rides upon the heavens; *
The LORD is his Name, rejoice before him!
5
Father of orphans, defender of widows, *
God in his holy habitation!
6
God gives the solitary a home and brings forth prisoners into
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.
7
O God, when you went forth before your people, *
when you marched through the wilderness,
8
The earth shook, and the skies poured down rain,
at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, *
at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9
You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance; *
you refreshed the land when it was weary.
10
Your people found their home in it; *
in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor.
11
The Lord gave the word; *
great was the company of women who bore the tidings:
12
"Kings with their armies are fleeing away; *
the women at home are dividing the spoils."
13
Though you lingered among the sheepfolds, *
you shall be like a dove whose wings are covered with silver,
whose feathers are like green gold.
14
When the Almighty scattered kings, *
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.
15
O mighty mountain, O hill of Bashan! *
O rugged mountain, O hill of Bashan!
16
Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountain,
at the hill which God chose for his resting place? *
truly, the LORD will dwell there for ever.
17
The chariots of God are twenty thousand,
even thousands of thousands; *
the Lord comes in holiness from Sinai.
18
You have gone up on high and led captivity captive;
you have received gifts even from your enemies, *
that the LORD God might dwell among them.
19
Blessed be the Lord day by day, *
the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens.
20
He is our God, the God of our salvation; *
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 your 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 the Holy Spirit God ascends to shouts of joy, alleluia, alleluia.
APOLYTIKION
O Christ our God,
You ascended in Glory and gladdened Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Your blessing assured them that You are the Son of God,
the Redeemer of the world.
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…
COLLECTS
KONTAKION
O Christ our God,
upon fulfilling Your dispensation for our sake,
You ascended in Glory,
uniting the earthly with the heavenly.
You were never separate but remained inseparable,
and cried out to those who love You,
"I am with you and no one is against you."
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 Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
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.