11 MAY – SATURDAY AFTER THE ASCENSION

Dom Prosper Gueranger:

Jesus, then, the Man who dwelt on the Earth and was perfect in all holiness, has ascended into Heaven. This earth, accursed of God as it was, has produced the fairest fruit of Heaven, and Heaven, with its gates shut against our race, has had to open them for the entrance of a Son of Adam. It is the mystery of the Ascension, but it is only a part, and it imports us to know the mystery in its fullness. Let us give ear to the Apostle of the Gentiles: “God who is rich in mercy, through His exceeding charity with which He loved us even when we were dead in sin, has quickened us together with Christ; and has raised us up together with Him, and has made us sit in the heavenly places together with Him” (Ephesians ii. 4-6). We have celebrated the Pasch of our Saviour’s Resurrection as our own Resurrection. We must, agreeably to the Apostle’s teaching celebrate also His Ascension as our own. Let us weigh well the expression: God has made us sit in the heavenly places together with Christ. So, then, in the Ascension, it is not Jesus only who ascends into Heaven. We ascend there with Him: it is not He only that is enthroned there in glory. We are enthroned through and together with Him.

That we may the better understand this truth, let us remember that the Son of God did not assume our human nature with a view to the exclusive glorification of the flesh which he united to His own Divine Person. He came to be our Head. We, consequently, are His Members, and where He is, we also are to be; at least, such is His intention as He implied at the Last Supper when He said: “Father! I will that where I am, they also whom you have given me may be with me, that they may see my glory which you have given me” (John xvii. 24). And what is the glory given to Him by His Father? Let us hearken to the Royal Prophet, who, speaking of the future Ascension, says: “The Lord said to my Lord: Sit you at my right hand” (Psalms cix. 1) It is, then, on the very throne of the Eternal Father, it is at His right hand, that we will see Him whom the Apostle calls our fore-runner (Hebrews vi. 20). We will be united with this Jesus, as Members to our Head. So that His glory will be ours, we will be kings. With His Kingship He would make us partake of all that He Himself has, for He tells us that we are His joint-heirs (Romans viii. 17).

From this, it follows that the august mystery of the Ascension, which began on the day of Jesus’ entering into Heaven, is to be continued, and will continue, until His mystical body has received its completion by the ascension of the last of the elect. Look at that countless host of holy souls who were the earliest companions of His triumph: foremost are our First Parents, then the Patriarchs, the Prophets, and the Just of every generation!... They had been imprisoned in Limbo, but He liberated them, gave them of His own brightness, and made them His partners in the glory of His Ascension. They were His trophy. They formed His court as He passed from Earth to Heaven. Well did we exclaim in the words of holy David: “Sing to God, ye kingdoms of the earth! Sing ye to the Lord; Sing ye to God, who mounts above the Heaven of heavens, towards the East” (Psalm lxviii. 33, 34). The angels were ready to receive our Emmanuel, and then began that sublime dialogue which the Royal Psalmist was permitted to hear and prophesy. The glad countless legion of the holy souls who escorted the Divine Conqueror cried out to the guardians of the heavenly Jerusalem: “Lift up your gates, ye Princes! Be ye lifted up, eternal gates! and the King of glory will enter in.” The faithful Angels replied: “Who is this King of glory? It is the Lord, responded the elect of earth: it is the Lord who is strong and mighty; the Lord mighty in battle.” Well might they say this of our Jesus, who had vanquished Satan, Death and Hell, and brought themselves to the City’s Gate as a sample of His stupendous conquest. The Angels repeated their question. The Saints re-echoed their reply: the Eternal Gates were thrown open, and the King and His Courtiers entered into Heaven.

The Gates, then, are opened to receive our Redeemer, and opened He would have them remain for us to follow Him. Admirable Ascension! Oh let us linger in its contemplation. Jesus inaugurates the grand mystery by His own entrance into Heaven, and then perpetuates it by the Ascension of His elect of each successive generation. There is a ceaseless procession up to Heaven, for some happy souls are ever finishing their purification in Purgatory, while some still happier ones are winging their rapid flight direct from this earthly vale of sorrows. Hail, then, glorious Mystery! Fruit of the flowers of so many mysteries! Term, fulfilment, perfection of our Creator’s decree! Alas! You had a long interruption by Adam’s sin, but Jesus’ triumph restored your reign on Earth, and this Earth will live in your beauty and grace till that word will be uttered by the Angel: “Time will be no more!” (Apocalypse x. 6) Mystery, of joy and hope, be you accomplished in me!”

Permit us, then, Jesus, to apply to ourselves what you said to your Apostles: “I go to prepare a place for you” (John xiv. 2). This has been your aim in all you have done for us: you came into this world to open Heaven for us. Your holy Spouse, the Church, bids us fix our eyes on Heaven. She points to its opened gates and shows us the bright track through which is passing up, from Earth, an unbroken line of souls. We are still in exile, but the eye of our faith sees you in that land above, you “the Son of Man” throned at the right hand of “the Ancient of days” (Daniel vii. 13). How are we to reach you, dear Jesus? We cannot, as you did, ascend by our own power: you must needs fulfil your promise, and our desire, of “drawing us to yourself” (John xii. 32). It was the object after which your Blessed Mother also sighed when you left her on Earth. She longed for the blissful hour of your taking her to yourself and awaited your call with faith, labouring meanwhile for your glory, and living with you, though not seeing you. Give us to imitate the faith and love of this your Mother, that so we may apply to ourselves those words of your Apostle: “We are already saved, by hope” (Romans viii. 24). Yes, we will be so if you send us, according to your promise, the Holy Spirit whom we so ardently desire to receive, for He is to confirm within us all that your mysteries have produced in our souls. He is to be to us a pledge of our future glorious ascension.