Universalis

Sunday 20 May 2007

Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia!

I know that many disagree with me, but I am delighted that we are now celebrating the Ascension of the Lord on the Seventh Sunday of Easter, rather than on the Thursday of the Sixth Week!

I am not at work today, and so can celebrate all day - not just at church, but also at the dining table! I like a Holy Day to be a holiday! I have grown tired of minimalist celebrations in my parish, and hope we will celebrate this great feast with every possible sign of festal joy and triumph.

Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia!
Glorious to his native skies; Alleluia!
Christ, awhile to mortals given, Alleluia!
Enters now the highest heaven! Alleluia!

Happy Feast!

2 comments:

John the organist said...

I take your point but Ascension will always be on a Thursday for me! Isn;t it the shortage of priests not the style of celebration which has caused the change? Super Mass last night - very worthy of the occasion! That Chilcott Agnus Dei is still in my mind.

Peter Simpson said...

I got a letter published in The Tablet last Auugust in which I expressed the view that I was more concerned about how we celebrated the Epiphany, the Ascension, and Corpus Christi, than exactly when. I got a pat on the back from a couple of bishops - though not everyone agreed with me! I am not aware that the change was anything to do with the number of priests available.

We had a good celebration at Ham this morning. Hail the day that sees him rise; Lord enthroned in heavenly splendour; and New praises be given to Christ newly crowned. We also sang the Paschal Mass (Alan Rees). A vast improvement on the said Masses of recent years. Gold vestments also added to the sense of festivity.