Every day, we will post a few brief prayers inspired by the Liturgy of the Hours.
For dioceses where Ascension is celebrated on Thursday, see the end of this post.
O Lord, open my lips. And my mouth shall declare your praise.
Antiphon: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Canticle: Isaiah 12:1-6
I give you thanks, O Lord; though you have been angry with me, your anger has abated, and you have consoled me. God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior. With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation, and say on that day: Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name. Sing praise to the Lord for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth. Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!
Antiphon: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reading: 1 John 3:1-2
See what love the Father has bestowed on us in letting us be called children of God! Yet that is what we are. The reason the world does not recognize us is that it never recognized the Son. Dearly beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall later be has not yet come to light. We know that when it comes to light we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
The Canticle of Mary
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.
Intercessions
Lead us to the Father. Lord, have mercy on us! Increase our faith. Lord, have mercy on us! Forgive us our sins. Lord, have mercy on us!
Dear Jesus, You are our source of hope. Do not let us be overcome by evil but help us with your grace. We ask the Father for this in your name in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Solemnity of the Ascension
Psalm 47
All peoples, clap your hands, cry to God with shouts of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, we must fear, great king over all the earth. He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet. Our inheritance, our glory, is from him, given to Jacob out of love. God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast. Sing praise for God, sing praise, sing praise to our king, sing praise. God is king of all the earth, sing praise with all your skill. God is king over the nations; God reigns on his holy throne. The princes of the people are assembled with the people of Abraham's God. The rulers of the earth belong to God, to God who reigns over all.
Reading: From a sermon by St. Augustine
Today our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven; let our hearts ascend with him. Listen to the words of the Apostle: If you have risen with Christ, set your hearts on the things that are above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God; seek the things that are above, not the things that are on earth. For just as he remained with us even after his ascension, so we too are already in heaven with him, even though what is promised us has not yet been fulfilled in our bodies.
The Canticle of Mary
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.
Intercessions
Help us to spread the Gospel throughout the world. Send us the Holy Spirit! Be with us on our journey of life. Send us the Holy Spirit! Fill us with joy. Send us the Holy Spirit!
Dear Jesus, When your mission was accomplished you returned to your Father. Send us the Holy Spirit so that we too may return to the Father. We ask the Father for this in your name in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
