Hail the day that sees Him rise! Alleluia!

Greetings to you all! Today we celebrate a glorious day! The mystery of the Ascension of our Lord, when on the fortieth day after the Resurrection He passed from the Apostles' sight, is a celebration of God's desire that all men should be saved. Today Jesus Christ, true God and true man, body and soul, ascended to the right hand of the Father. We pray that thither we might also go by the grace our Saviour won for us at so great a price.

Fr Ian's homily (given at St Edward's, Peverell):

StEdwards · Homily - Ascension of the Lord

I would also like to share a couple of the hymns I love to sing during Ascensiontide. This first one by Charles Wesley is forever associated in my mind with the entrance procession at mass:



Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia!
to his throne above the skies; Alleluia!
Christ, the Lamb for sinners given, Alleluia!
enters now the highest heaven! Alleluia!

There for him high triumph waits; Alleluia!
lift your heads, eternal gates! Alleluia!
he hath conquered death and sin; Alleluia!
take the King of glory in! Alleluia!

Lo! the heaven its Lord receives, Alleluia!
yet he loves the earth he leaves; Alleluia!
though returning to his throne, Alleluia!
still he calls mankind his own. Alleluia!

See! he lifts his hands above; Alleluia!
See! he shows the prints of love: Alleluia!
Hark! his gracious lips bestow, Alleluia!
blessings on his Church below. Alleluia!

Still for us he intercedes, Alleluia!
his prevailing death he pleads, Alleluia!
near himself prepares our place, Alleluia!
he the first fruits of our race. Alleluia!

Lord, though parted from our sight, Alleluia!
far above the starry height, Alleluia!
grant our hearts may thither rise, Alleluia!
seeking thee above the skies. Alleluia!

There we shall with thee remain, Alleluia!
partners of thy eternal reign, Alleluia!
there thy face forever see, Alleluia!
find our heaven of heavens in thee, Alleluia!


And another wonderful hymn is the Office Hymn for Ascension: "Eternal Monarch"


1 Eternal Monarch, King most high,
Whose blood hath brought redemption nigh,
By whom the death of Death was wrought
And conquering grace’s battle fought:

2 Ascending to the throne of might,
And seated at the Father’s right,
All power in heaven is Jesu’s own,
That here his manhood had not known.

3 Yea, angels tremble when they see
How changed is our humanity;
That flesh hath purged what flesh had stained,
And God, the flesh of God, hath reigned.

4 Be thou our joy and strong defence,
Who art our future recompense:
So shall the light that springs from thee
Be ours through all eternity.

5 O risen Christ, ascended Lord,
All praise to thee let earth accord,
Who art, while endless ages run,
With Father and with Spirit One. Amen.


And you can also sing this in choir with this virtual choir video! Why not sing along? I did!