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Above: Giotto (1266–1337)
From the Roman office.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May God the Father Omnipotent, be to us merciful and clement.
℟. Amen.
Reading 4
From the Sermons of St. Maximus, Bishop of Turin.
43rd, 2nd on Pentecost.
My holy brethren, ye remember that I have likened the Saviour to that eagle, touching which it is written in the Book of Psalms (cii.
5,) “thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” There are many points of likeness. The eagle riseth above ground, wingeth his way aloft, and mounteth skyward even so did the Saviour rise from the depth of the grave, mount up unto the exalted mansions of Paradise, and enter the heights of heaven. The eagle leaveth below him the foul mists of earth, flieth above, and drinketh in health from a purer air even so did the Lord leave below Him the filthy slough of sinners on earth, and rejoice Himself with the honesty of a purer life, when He soared again into His Own holy home.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. My time is come that I should return unto Him That sent Me, saith the Lord. Be not sorrowful, neither let your heart be troubled.
* I pray the Father for you, that He may keep you. Alleluia, Alleluia.
℣. If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; when I am ascended, I will send Him unto you.
℟. I pray the Father for you, that He may keep you. Alleluia, Alleluia.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May Christ to all His people give, for ever in His sight to live.
℟. Amen.
Reading 5
In all ways, therefore, is the Saviour aptly likened to an eagle. But what can we make of this, that the eagle is a bird of prey, oft-times a plunderer? Even in this he is like to the Saviour. He bore off His prey, when He carried off from the jaws of hell to heaven the Manhood Which He had swooped to take to Himself, yea, when He led captive to an higher home him whom He had delivered from the mastership of another lord, namely the devil, even as it is written in the Prophet (Ps. lxvii. 19), “Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive, Thou hast received gifts among men.”
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. Let not your heart be troubled; I go unto the Father, and when I am taken from you, I will send unto you, alleluia.
* The Spirit of truth, and your heart shall rejoice. Alleluia.
℣. I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter.
℟. The Spirit of truth, and your heart shall rejoice. Alleluia.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May the Spirit’s fire Divine in our hearts enkindled shine.
℟. Amen.
Reading 6
“Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive.” O how nobly doth the Prophet paint the Triumph of the Lord! We hear how that of old time, when kings marched in triumph, the procession of prisoners walked before the chariot of their conqueror. Lo, the Lord entereth the heavens, not after, but amid a most glorious band of captives. That band are not led before His chariot, but themselves bear up their Saviour. In some mystic sense, when the Son of God bore to heaven the Son of man, captivity both led and was led.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. When Christ ascended up on high, He led captivity captive.
* He gave gifts unto men. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
℣. God is gone up with a shout, and the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
℟. He gave gifts unto men. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. He gave gifts unto men. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May the Gospel’s holy lection Be our safety and protection.
℟. Amen.
Reading 7
From the Holy Gospel according to Mark
Mark 16:14-20
At that time, Jesus appeared unto the eleven disciples as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen. And so on.
Homily by Pope St. Gregory the Great.
Same as before.
We must ponder the meaning of these words of Mark, “He sat on the right hand of God,” and how that Stephen said (Acts vii. 56), “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” Wherefore doth Mark say that He sat, whereas Stephen testifieth that he saw Him standing. But ye know, my brethren, that to sit is for him that judgeth, to stand, for him that fighteth, or helpeth.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter.
* That He may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth. Alleluia.
℣. For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.
℟. That He may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth. Alleluia.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. God’s most mighty strength alway be His people’s staff and stay.
℟. Amen.
Reading 8
Since therefore, our Redeemer is ascended up into heaven, and even now is Judge of all, beside that at the end of the world He will so come, therefore doth Mark say that He sitteth where He hath gone up, because we look for Him, after that His glorious Ascension, that He will come again at the end to be our Judge. But Stephen, while yet he was in the throes of the battle, saw Him That was helping him standing. Stephen on earth was overcoming the unbelief of his persecutors, but it was the grace of Him That is in heaven that fought in him all the while.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. Thou makest the clouds the chariot, O Lord,
* Thou walkest upon the wings of the wind. Alleluia.
℣. Thou art clothed with honour and majesty, covering thyself with light as with a garment.
℟. Thou walkest upon the wings of the wind. Alleluia.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. Thou walkest upon the wings of the wind. Alleluia.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May He that is the Angels’ King to that high realm His people bring.
℟. Amen.
Reading 9
“And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.” What are we to see in this, what are we to remember, but that obedience followed commandment, and signs obedience. But now, since, by the will of God, we have lightly run over our reading from the Gospel, it remaineth that we should say somewhat by way of reflection on this great Festival.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
Te Deum.