Send us, O Lord Jesus! the Paraclete, that He may console and strengthen us in all our afflictions. Enlighten us by Thy Holy Spirit that we may learn and live in accordance with the truths of faith. Amen.
We continue to await the Holy Ghost on this Sunday after the Ascension.
“O King of Glory, Lord of hosts, who has this day mounted in triumph above all the heavens, leave us not orphans; but send unto us the Promise of the Father, the Spirit of truth, alleluia” (Magnificat antiphon of the Ascension).
Dom Prosper Gueranger gives us the following instruction for this Sunday Within the Octave of the Ascension.
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On this Thy coronation-day, receive our devoted homage, O Jesus, our King, our Lord, our Judge! By our sins, we were the cause of Thy humiliations and sufferings; so much the more fervently, then, do we nite with the acclamations made to Thee by the angels when the royal diadem was placed on Thy head by the eternal Father.
As yet, we but faintly see Thy grandeur; but the holy Spirit, whom Thou art about to send upon us, will teach us more and more of Thy sovereign power, for we are, and wish to be eternally, Thy humble and faithful subjects!
In the middle-ages, the Sunday within the octave of the Ascension was called the Sunday of roses, because it was the custom to strew the pavement of the churches with roses, as a homage to Christ who ascended to heaven when earth was in the season of flowers.
How well the Christians of those times appreciated the harmony that God has set between the world of grace and that of nature!
The feast of the Ascension, when considered in its chief characteristic, is one of gladness and jubilation, and spring’s loveliest days are made for its celebration. Our forefathers had the spirit of the Church; they forgot, for a moment, the sadness of poor earth at losing her Emmanuel, and they remembered how He said to His apostles: ‘If ye loved Me, ye would be glad, because I go to the Father!’
Let us do in like manner; let us offer to Jesus the roses wherewith He has beautified our earth: their beauty and fragrance should make us think of Him who made them, of Him who calls Himself the flower of the field and the lily of the valleys. He loved to be called Jesus of Nazareth; for Nazareth meaus a flower; and the symbol would tell us what a charm and sweetness there is in Him whom we serve and love as our God.
Archbishop Lefebvre gives us the following instruction; “
“This Sunday is a preparation for Pentecost. Before ascending to heaven, our Lord had promised, at the Last Supper, that He would not leave us orphans, but would send us the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete (Gospel, Alleluia); that in all things we might glorify God, through Jesus Christ our Lord (Gospel – John XV. 26-27., to XVI. 1-4).
Therefore, like the Apostles assembled in the Cenacle, we must prepare by prayer and charity (Epistle – 1 Peter IV. 7-11.) for the holy day of Pentecost, when Christ, who is our Advocate with the Father, will obtain for us from Him the Holy Ghost.
On Pentecost, by tongues of flame descending, the Holy Ghost will give His testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The Apostles will bear witness of what they have seen and heard, and seal their testimony with their blood. They will go forth to convert the nations, teaching them by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.”
Fr. Leonard Goffine offers us pertinent and concise instruction on how we ought to be preparing for Pentecost.
INSTRUCTION ON PREPARATION FOR PENTECOST
1). We should withdraw, after the example ef the Blessed Virgin and the apostles, to some solitary place, or at least avoid, intercourse with others, as much as possible; speak but little, and apply ourselves to earnest and persevering prayer; for in solitude God speaks to man.
2). We should purify our conscience by a contrite confession, become reconciled to our neighbor, it we have lived in enmity; for the Holy Ghost, as a spirit of peace and purity, lives only in pure and peaceful souls. (Ps. IXXV. 3.) 3). We should give alms according to our means, for it is said in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts X.) of the Gentile centurion Cornelius, that by prayer and alms-deeds he made himself worthy of the gifts of the Holy Ghost.
4). We should fervently desire to receive the Holy Ghost, and should give expression to this longing by frequent aspirations to God, making use of the prayer: “Come, O Holy Ghost, etc.”
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