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Psalm45_9
Guest
You know what else I can’t understand? Why if a Holy Day falls on a Saturday or a Monday, it is no longer a day of obligation? Heaven forbid that you might have to go to church two days in a row. 
Are you disappointed that the Feast of Ascension has been moved to a Sunday?
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forthright
Guest
Can someone help me understand this? (I’m a convert and don’t know the history.) Last week my priest told the congregation about Ascension being celebrated on Sunday instead of Thursday. When I asked him after mass about this type of move only happening on Saturdays/Mondays, he gave me the following impression . . . .
“Many years ago, it was always celebrated on Thursdays. Then several years ago they changed the official celebration to Sunday. The confusion arises from those who were raised in the Church and used to celebrating it on Thursdays. The correct day on the modern US church calendar is Sunday.”
This morning, I checked out the USCCB site and saw today listed as a holy day of obligation. That seems to contradict what my priest said. I’ve already missed my church’s daily mass. If today is the correct day, I’d like to celebrate it.
What do you think?
“Many years ago, it was always celebrated on Thursdays. Then several years ago they changed the official celebration to Sunday. The confusion arises from those who were raised in the Church and used to celebrating it on Thursdays. The correct day on the modern US church calendar is Sunday.”
This morning, I checked out the USCCB site and saw today listed as a holy day of obligation. That seems to contradict what my priest said. I’ve already missed my church’s daily mass. If today is the correct day, I’d like to celebrate it.
What do you think?
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msproule
Guest
The norm is still to celebrate the Ascension on Thursday. However, in the United States the Bishops, if they so choose, are allowed to move the Ascension Liturgy to the Seventh Sunday of Easter. It is decided by each individual province. For example, I am in the province of the Archdiocese of Detroit, which includes all six of Michigan’s Dioceses. For our entire province, the feast day has been moved to Sunday.
I would check your local Diocese website for the answer.
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Panis_Angelicas
Guest
My pastor announced on Sunday that “Thursday is a holy day of obligation,” and thank you, thank you! - for reminding me! :getholy:
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Mickey
Guest
Yes, I just returned from The Divine Liturgy for Ascension. I don’t believe the Eastern Rites(Churches) will ever move it.
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axolotl
Guest
Psalm45:9:
It depends on the Holy Day. Christmas and the Immaculate Conception are never abrogated. Assumption, All Saints, and Mary Mother of God are abrogated.You know what else I can’t understand? Why if a Holy Day falls on a Saturday or a Monday, it is no longer a day of obligation? Heaven forbid that you might have to go to church two days in a row.
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Melissa
Guest
It was not moved where I live. We went to the 9am Mass in my parish (one of the times that only happens on Holy Days of Obligation–our usual daily Masses are very early in the morning, and then at lunch time).
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mikev
Guest
Ours is still on Thursday, that’s fine with me. If it were moved to Sunday, that would be fine with me too.
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axolotl
Guest
I think the only places that haven’t moved it are New York, Newark, Boston, Hartford, and Nebraska. And possibly Philadelphia, I’d have to go look it up.
Lucky you.
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space_ghost
Guest
…No, this way more will celebrate it…
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stbruno
Guest
If you go to the Catholic Bishops website for daily readings, they will give you both Ascension’s readings and the Thursday after The 6th Sunday of Easter. They are both listed to accomodate all the ways we celebrate this day liturgically.
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kage_ar
Guest
My son’s Jr High did the same thing! We will be sitting in a stuffy gym tonight - I’ll say a prayer for those of us in Band Concert purgatory!
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Livnlove55
Guest
As a new Catholic, no, I’m not disappointed. Why should I be?
I learned a long time ago that I don’t have the authority to make these decisions and that it is my duty to obey those who the Church has authorized to decide. Who am** I** to question my bishop???
No, thanks. I prefer to obey him rather than pretend I know better than him.
In His love,
Rhonda
I learned a long time ago that I don’t have the authority to make these decisions and that it is my duty to obey those who the Church has authorized to decide. Who am** I** to question my bishop???
No, thanks. I prefer to obey him rather than pretend I know better than him.
In His love,
Rhonda
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Yvonne_Angel
Guest
When I was young, it was called Ascension Thursday so I always get a little pang of disappointment when it isn’t celebrated on the Thursday. However, I accept it because I know God allows everything to happen for a reason even though I often don’t understand why. “God is in charge” is what I tell myself. So, let’s celebrate on Sunday.
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travellinmike
Guest
Yes I’m disappointed. This is my first year back after a long absence and this is just another way that the religion of my youth is no more.
I went to mass today anyway. Just seemed like the right thing to do. I’ll go again on Sunday of course.
Some celebrate today, others on Sunday, so much for a “Universal” Church.
Mike
I went to mass today anyway. Just seemed like the right thing to do. I’ll go again on Sunday of course.
Some celebrate today, others on Sunday, so much for a “Universal” Church.
Mike
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Panis_Angelicas
Guest
There is no prohibition on questioning those in authority.
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Psalm45_9
Guest
From reading my calendar, it states that The Ascension of the Lord observed on the 7th Sunday in Easter is the norm in the Western USA. As well as Alaska and Hawaii. The Eastern part of the USA still retains the traditon of observing the solemnity on the 40th day (the Thursday after the 6th Sunday in Easter.) As said here though, the Bishops have the authority to move the Solemnity to any of those two days. It seems that the central states have moved the solemnity to Sunday. EWTN did not celebrate it this morning, and I heard from others that Chicago is observing it on Sunday.
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travellinmike
Guest
And if the priest showed up in a gorilla suit and passed out consecrated banana chips, some people would be OK with that too.
BTW- not implying you’re one of those people by any means
It’s about tradition, another tradition named Ascension THURSDAY bites the dust.
I’ll be obedient, but I don’t have to like it. :banghead:
Mike
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Psalm45_9
Guest
I feel the same way. As I said before, Ascension is not the only day to be moved. Epiphany is observed on January 6th in Europe, the 12th day of Christmas. (Now you know where the song came from.) Corpus Christi is observed in Europe on the Thursday after Holy Trinity Sunday. The Sacred Heart is thankfully still observed in this country on the same day it is in Europe. The Friday after the old Corpus Christi octave. And before I forget, Ascension used to be an Octave and so was Pentecost. So there used to be 3 octaves durring the Paschal season.It’s about tradition, another tradition named Ascension THURSDAY bites the dust.
I’ll be obedient, but I don’t have to like it. :banghead:
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Swiss_Guard
Guest
Psalm45:9:
The observation of the feast of the Ascension of our Lord into heaven was moved from Thursday to Sunday in Illinois back in 2000. I go to the Tridentine Mass, so I will be going to the Mass for Ascension Thursday, the day when Christ ascended into heaven.
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