Commentary: Wayback Machine. It is also permitted, at the discretion of the local bishop, to transfer the observance of the solemnity to the following Sunday, the Seventh Sunday of Easter.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter one, verses one thru eleven;
Psalm Forty-seven, verses two & three, six & seven, & eight & nine;
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter one, verses seventeen thru twenty-three;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-eight, verses sixteen thru twenty.
Commentary: Video Easter Gospel reflection by Jeff Cavins: Encountering the Word.
Easter Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus gently tells his disciples of his impending return to his Father in heaven. We tend to read the Ascension along essentially Enlightenment lines, rather than Biblical lines—and that causes a good deal of mischief. Enlightenment thinkers introduced a two-tier understanding of heaven and earth. They held that God exists, but he lives in a distant realm called heaven, from which he looks at a human project moving along pretty much on its own steam, on earth.* * * * *
On this Enlightenment reading, the Ascension means that Jesus goes up, up, and away, off to a distant and finally irrelevant place. But he Biblical point is this: Jesus has gone to heaven so as to direct operations more fully here on earth. That’s why we pray, “Thy kingdom come, they will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Jesus has not gone up, up, and away, but rather, if I can put it this way, more deeply into our world. He has gone to a dimension that transcends but impinges upon our universe.
In those dioceses where Ascension is observed on the following Sunday, 25 May is the Optional Memorial of Saint Bede the Venerable, Priest & Doctor of the Church, O.S.B. (circa 672-735): Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Wayback Machine. Even without the Ascension, 25 May is a bit of a traffic jam; so, settle in. Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:
St. Bede was born in the neighborhood of the Wearmouth monastery in 673. He was trained by St. Benedict Biscop (12 January) & later entered the monastery. Ordained to the priesthood, he spent his ministry in teaching & writing. St. Bede wrote theological & historical works in the patristic tradition & explained Sacred Scripture. He died in 735. He is a Doctor of the Church.'Tis also be the Optional Memorial of Saint Gregory VII, Pope, O.S.B. (circa 1020-1085), one hundred fifty-seventh Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:
St. Gregory VII was born in Tuscany about the year 1028. He was elected pope in 1073. He instituted what became known as the "Gregorian Reform," abolishing simony, the immorality of the clergy, & lay investiture. He tried to end the schism of the Eastern Churches, & launch a crusade to free Jerusalem from the hands of the Turks. He was besieged by (Holy Roman Emperor) Henry IV & died in exile at Salerno in 1085.'Tis also be the Optional Memorial of Saint Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi, Virgin, O.Carm. (1566-1607): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duae, & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:
St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi was born in Florence in 1566 & after a religious upbringing she entered the Carmelites. She led a solitary life of prayer & self-denial, prayed fervently for Church reform, & directed her fellow sisters on the road to perfection. She was blessed by many gifts from God & died in 1607.'Tis also be the festival of Saint Zenobius of Florence, Bishop (circa 337-417): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Easter Weekday
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter eighteen, verses one thru eight;
Psalm Ninety-eight, verses one, two & three(a,b), & three(c,d) & four;
The Gospel according to John, chapter sixteen, verses sixteen thru twenty.
Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Bede the Venerable
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter two, verses ten(b) thru sixteen;
Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, verse twelve;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter seven, verses twenty-one thru twenty-nine.
Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Gregory VII
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter twenty, verses seventeen, eighteen(a), twenty-eight thru thirty-two, & thirty-six;
Psalm One Hundred Ten, verses four(b);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter sixteen, verses thirteen thru nineteen.
Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter seven, verses twenty-five thru thirty-five;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-eight, verses twelve(a) & thirteen(a);
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter three, verses thirty-one thru thirty-five.
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