Ascension MMXII

The Ascension of our Lord

Grant, we beseech thee Almighty God that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son, our Redeemer, to have ascended this day into the heavens; so may we also in mind in heavenly places with him dwell:

O King of Glory, Lord of Hosts, who didst this day ascend in triumph far above all heavens: we beseech thee leave us not orphans, but send to us the Spirit of Truth promised of the Father. 

Latin

Concede quaesumus omnipotens Deus, ut qui hodierna die unigenitum tuum redemptorem nostrum ad coelos ascendisse credimus, ipsi quoque mente in coelestibus habitemus, per eumdem. 

Gelasian Sacramentary

O rex gloriae, Domine virtutum, qui triumphator hodie super omnes coelos ascendisti, ne derelinquas nos orphanos; sed mitte promissum Patris in nos spiritum veritatis, allel.

Gregorian Liber Responsalis

The High Feast of the Ascension has two prayers this day. The first is a confession of faith: We Believe in the physical Ascension of our Lord as witnessed by his disciples and recorded in Acts.  We petition that we may in our minds dwell with him in those heavenly places. We "seek those things that are above where Christ sits".

The second collect is a festive proclamation of Christ's victory. It begins with majestic titles and then concludes with the petition that reflects the promise our Lord made to his disciples--that the Father would send them a Comforter, his Holy Spirit.

Finis

Mobilis