The Ascension of the Lord
Sing to the Lord with shouts
of joy; let all creation rejoice!
Come join the song of praise
to our God! //He is the Lord!//
Cry out with joy to the
Lord, all you nations!
Serve the Lord!
Serve the Lord! Come before Him singing for joy.
Sing to the Lord with shouts
of joy; let all creation rejoice!
Come join the song of praise
to our God! //He is the Lord!//
Give thanks to God our father,
for His love. Bless our God!
Bless our God!
His mercy is forever!
Sing to the Lord with shouts
of joy; let all creation rejoice!
Come join the song of praise
to our God! //He is the Lord!//
Great is the King of creation,
He is faithful. Praise His name! Praise His name!
Sing of His salvation!
Sing to the Lord with shouts
of joy; let all creation rejoice!
Come join the song of praise
to our God! //He is the Lord!//
Psalmody
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Men of Galilee, why are you looking up into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up into heaven will return in the same way, alleluia.
Psalm 63:2-9
A soul thirsting for God
O God, you are my God, for you I long; *
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you *
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary *
to see your strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life, *
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life, *
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet, *
my mouth shall praise you with joy.
On my bed I remember you. *
On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help; *
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you; *
your right hand holds me fast.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Father, creator of unfailing light, give that same light to those who call to you. May our lips praise you; our lives proclaim your goodness; our work give you honor, and our voices celebrate you for ever.
Ant. Men of Galilee, why are you looking up into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up into heaven will return in the same way, alleluia.
Ant. 2 Give glory to the King of kings, sing praise to God, alleluia.
Canticle: Daniel 3:57-88, 56
Let all creatures praise the Lord
Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord. *
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord. *
You heavens, bless the Lord.
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord. *
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord. *
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.
Every shower and dew, bless the Lord. *
All you winds, bless the Lord.
Fire and heat, bless the Lord. *
Cold and chill, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord. *
Frost and chill, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord. *
Nights and days, bless the Lord.
Light and darkness, bless the Lord. *
Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.
Let the earth bless the Lord. *
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord. *
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.
You springs, bless the Lord. *
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord. *
All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord. *
You sons of men, bless the Lord.
O Israel, bless the Lord. *
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord. *
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord. *
Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord. *
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. *
Let us praise and exalt him above all forever.
Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven. *
Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all forever.
Ant. Give glory to the King of kings, sing praise to God, alleluia.
Ant. 3 As they watched, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight, alleluia.
Psalm 149
The joy of God’s holy people
Sing a new song to the Lord, *
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its maker, *
let Zion’s sons exult in their king.
Let them praise his name with dancing *
and make music with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes delight in his people. *
He crowns the poor with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory, *
shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips *
and a two-edged sword in their hand,
to deal out vengeance to the nations *
and punishment on all the peoples;
to bind their kings in chains *
and their nobles in fetters of iron;
to carry out the sentence pre-ordained; *
this honor is for all his faithful.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Let Israel rejoice in you, Lord, and acknowledge you as creator and redeemer. We put our trust in your faithfulness and proclaim the wonderful truths of salvation. May your loving kindness embrace us now and for ever.
Ant. As they watched, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight, alleluia.
Dan Schutte, SJ
Glory to God! Glory to God!
Glory to God in the highest!
And on earth, peace on earth,
peace to people of good will.
We praise You, we bless You,
We adore You, we glorify You,
We give You thanks
for Your great glory,
Lord God, Heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
Son of the Father,
You take away the
sins of the world,
have mercy on us;
You take away the sins of
the world, receive our pray'r;
You are seated at the
right hand, the right hand of
the Father, have mercy on us.
For You alone
are the Holy One;
You alone are the Lord.
You alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
With the Holy Spirit, in the
glory of God, the Father.
Glory to God! Glory to God!
Glory to God in the highest!
And on earth, peace on earth,
peace to people of good will.
Amen! Amen!
1st Reading
Acts 1:1-11
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles
In the first book, Theophilus,
I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught
until the day he was taken up,
after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit
to the apostles whom he had chosen.
He presented himself alive to them
by many proofs after he had suffered,
appearing to them during forty days
and speaking about the kingdom of God.
While meeting with them,
he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem,
but to wait for “the promise of the Father
about which you have heard me speak;
for John baptized with water,
but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
When they had gathered together they asked him,
“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons
that the Father has established by his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
throughout Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.”
When he had said this, as they were looking on,
he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going,
suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.
They said, “Men of Galilee,
why are you standing there looking at the sky?
This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven
will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”
Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
℟. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
℟. Alleluia.
All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.
℟. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
℟. Alleluia.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise.
℟. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
℟. Alleluia.
For king of all the earth is God;
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.
℟. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
℟. Alleluia.
2nd Reading
Eph 1:17-23
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians
Brothers and sisters:
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation
resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call
what are the riches of glory
in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
for us who believe,
in accord with the exercise of his great might,
which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead
and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,
far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,
and every name that is named
not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he put all things beneath his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the church,
which is his body,
the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Thanks be to God.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Go and teach all nations, says the Lord;
I am with you always, until the end of the world.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Gospel
Mt 28:16-20
✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
The eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
Then Jesus approached and said to them,
“All power 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,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:
The Gospel of the Lord.
All reply:
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Then he kisses the book, saying quietly:
Through the words of the Gospel
may our sins be wiped away.
The Creed is said.
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of
the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right
hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the
Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in One, Holy,
Catholic and Apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism
for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to
the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Apostles Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
On the third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
M.V. Francisco, SJ
Holy, holy, holy
Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and Earth
are full of Your glory,
full of Your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna in the highest.
Dan Schutte, SJ
When we eat this Bread
and drink this Cup,
we proclaim your Death,
O Lord, until you come again.
until you come again.
M.V. Francisco, SJ
Our Father,
who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day
our daily bread, and
forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who
trespass against us;
and lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us,
deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and forever.
M.V. Francisco, SJ
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins
of the world, have mercy,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins
of the world, have mercy,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins
of the world, grant us peace,
grant us peace.
Gospel Canticle
Ant. I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God, alleluia.
Canticle of Zechariah
Luke 1:68-79
The Messiah and his forerunner
Blessed + be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old †
that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God, alleluia.
God’s spirit is in my heart.
He has called me and set me apart.
This is what I have to do.
What I have to do.
He sent me to give the
good news to the poor,
tell pris’ners that they are pris’ners no more.
Tell blind people that they
can see and set the downtrodden free
And go tell ev’ryone the
news that the kingdom of God has come.
And go tell ev’ryone the news that God's kingdom has come.
Just as the father sent me,
so I’m sending you out to be
my witnesses throughout the world, the whole of the world.
He sent me to give the
good news to the poor,
tell pris’ners that they are pris’ners no more.
Tell blind people that they
can see and set the downtrodden free
And go tell ev’ryone the
news that the kingdom of God has come.
And go tell ev’ryone the news that God's kingdom has come.