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.
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight people, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. - 1 Peter 3:18,20-21
The Psalter
Ant. 1: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, alleluia.
24 Domini est terra
1
The earth is the LORD'S and all that is in it, *
the world and all who dwell therein.
2
For it is he who founded it upon the seas *
and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep.
3
"Who can ascend the hill of the LORD? *
and who can stand in his holy place?"
4
"Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, *
who have not pledged themselves to falsehood,
nor sworn by what is a fraud.
5
They shall receive a blessing from the LORD *
and a just reward from the God of their salvation."
6
Such is the generation of those who seek him, *
of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
7
Lift up your heads, O gates;
lift them high, O everlasting doors; *
and the King of glory shall come in.
8
"Who is this King of glory?" *
"The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle."
9
Lift up your heads, O gates;
lift them high, O everlasting doors; *
and the King of glory shall come in.
10
"Who is he, this King of glory?" *
"The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory." Ant. 1: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, alleluia.
Ant. 2: God ascends to shouts of joy, the Lord to the blast of trumpets, alleluia.
110:1-5,7 Dixit Dominus
1
The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, *
until I make your enemies your footstool."
2
The LORD will send the scepter of your power out of Zion, *
saying, "Rule over your enemies round about you.
3
Princely state has been yours from the day of your birth; *
in the beauty of holiness have I begotten you,
like dew from the womb of the morning."
4
The LORD has sworn and he will not recant: *
"You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."
5
The Lord who is at your right hand
will smite kings in the day of his wrath; *
he will rule over the nations.
7
He will drink from the brook beside the road; *
therefore he will lift high his head. Ant. 2: God ascends to shouts of joy, the Lord to the blast of trumpets, alleluia.
Ant. 3: Now the Son of Man has been glorified and God has been glorified in him, alleluia.
96 Cantate Domino
1
Sing to the LORD a new song; *
sing to the LORD, all the whole earth.
2
Sing to the LORD and bless his Name; *
proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day.
3
Declare his glory among the nations *
and his wonders among all peoples.
4
For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; *
he is more to be feared than all gods.
5
As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *
but it is the LORD who made the heavens.
6
Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence! *
Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary!
7
Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples; *
ascribe to the LORD honor and power.
8
Ascribe to the LORD the honor due his Name; *
bring offerings and come into his courts.
9
Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; *
let the whole earth tremble before him.
10
Tell it out among the nations: "The LORD is King! *
he has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity."
11
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
let the sea thunder and all that is in it; *
let the field be joyful and all that is therein.
12
Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy
before the LORD when he comes, *
when he comes to judge the earth.
13
He will judge the world with righteousness *
and the peoples with his truth. Ant. 3: Now the Son of Man has been glorified and God has been glorified in him, alleluia.
First Reading
Daniel 7:9-14
As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne, his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence. A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. I watched then because of the noise of the arrogant words that the horn was speaking. And as I watched, the beast was put to death, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.
Canticle Benedicite
Glorify the Lord, all you works of the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, you angels and all powers of the Lord, *
O heavens and all waters above the heavens.
Sun and moon and stars of the sky, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, every shower of rain and fall of dew, *
all winds and fire and heat.
Winter and Summer, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O chill and cold, *
drops of dew and flakes of snow
Frost and cold, ice and sleet, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O nights and days, *
O shining light and enfolding dark.
Storm clouds and thunderbolts, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Let the earth glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O mountains and hills,
and all that grows upon the earth, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O springs of water, seas, and streams, *
O whales and all that move in the waters.
All birds of the air, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O beasts of the wild, *
and all you flocks and herds.
O men and women everywhere, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Let the people of God glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O priests and servants of the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O spirits and souls of the righteous, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
You that are holy and humble of heart, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Let us glorify the Lord: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Second Reading
Matthew 28:16-20
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Second Canticle Magnificat
Antiphon: O Victor King, Lord of power and might, today you have ascended in glory above the heavens. Do not leave us orphans, but send us the Father's promised gift, the Spirit of truth, 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: O Victor King, Lord of power and might, today you have ascended in glory above the heavens. Do not leave us orphans, but send us the Father's promised gift, the Spirit of truth, alleluia.
Responsory
I am ascending to my Father and your Father, alleluia, alleluia. I am ascending to my Father and your Father, alleluia, alleluia.
To my God and your God, alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit I am ascending to my Father and your Father, alleluia, alleluia.
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.