The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

[hcruz402]

Hello. Is it a possibility, in the near future, that the USCCB will restore the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord to the proper Thursday (The Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter), in every ecclesiastical province in the United States, as opposed to being transferred to the (The Seventh Sunday of Easter), in most ecclesiastical provinces of the United States? Moreover, why did most ecclesiastical provinces transfer the Ascension to a Sunday? Quite frankly, I do not understand what their (the bishops’) train of thought was, on this issue (Could someone also clarify this for me? When did this begin to happen?). Being more of a traditional (Roman Rite) Catholic, I am not too fond of this change (Likewise with the bishops transferring the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord and the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) to Sundays, but the Epiphany and Corpus Christi are not on trial, here).

I feel as if this is a disservice to most Catholics of the Roman Rite in the United States (those outside of the ecclesiastical provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Omaha, and Philadelphia, who continue to observe the Ascension on the proper Thursday). In adherence to tradition, as well as the fact that the Ascension occurred 40 days after Easter, the Ascension should be celebrated when it is supposed to be celebrated (on the Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter), everywhere in the United States, NOT on the Seventh Sunday of Easter, which deserves its own celebration of Mass.

Pax Vobiscum,
Herbert Cruz

 

[Vico]

Hello. Is it a possibility, in the near future, that the USCCB will restore the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord to the proper Thursday (The Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter), in every ecclesiastical province in the United States, as opposed to being transferred to the (The Seventh Sunday of Easter), in most ecclesiastical provinces of the United States? Moreover, why did most ecclesiastical provinces transfer the Ascension to a Sunday? Quite frankly, I do not understand what their (the bishops’) train of thought was, on this issue (Could someone also clarify this for me? When did this begin to happen?). Being more of a traditional (Roman Rite) Catholic, I am not too fond of this change (Likewise with the bishops transferring the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord and the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) to Sundays, but the Epiphany and Corpus Christi are not on trial, here).

I feel as if this is a disservice to most Catholics of the Roman Rite in the United States (those outside of the ecclesiastical provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Omaha, and Philadelphia, who continue to observe the Ascension on the proper Thursday). In adherence to tradition, as well as the fact that the Ascension occurred 40 days after Easter, the Ascension should be celebrated when it is supposed to be celebrated (on the Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter), everywhere in the United States, NOT on the Seventh Sunday of Easter, which deserves its own celebration of Mass.

Pax Vobiscum,
Herbert Cruz

I think it will not change because it has been a trend in many other countries since Australia in 1992.

Ascension was made a holy day of obligation in the 1917 canon law, for Latin Catholics. Later, many calendar changes have been made to allow for difficult work schedules, such as holy day obligation fulfillment on the evening of the day before. This allows for the public celebration of the feast at a time when more can receive it. The principle is that the Sunday celebration is a lower rank than the Ascension feast that replaces it.

The Latin Church has six vigil Masses: Easter, Christmas, Pentecost, Ascension, Nativity of St. John the Baptist, and the Feast of Ss. Peter & Paul. Sunday observance allows for more people with difficult weekday work schedules, to celebrate the Ascension vigil (on Saturday evening), although that is not obligatory.

In the Byzantine Catholic Church (which is my sui iuris church) we observe on Thursday, and I like that, although less people are celebrating that evening.

 

[jediliz]

In my diocese it IS on Thursday…

 

[Dorothy]

I don’t believe I should get irritated or hung up about it. It is best to obey the rules set down by those in charge.

 

[Usige]

In an era when many Catholics think showing up for mass 2 or 3 out of every 4 Sundays makes them a good Catholic? I don’t think so. Tomorrow is a Holy Day of obligation and my local parish has 1 mass. We normally have 6 masses on Sundays and had 8 for Christmas. This is the whole reason many Holy Days are transferred. People can’t be bothered to attend more than once a week, so the feeling is it is better for those that consent to going on Sundays hear it then than simply skipping it on it’s proper day.

They could move it and the Epiphany to their proper days, but people would just continue to skip them. I still read the appropriate readings on the correct day, even if the feast is abrogated or moved. For me it just doesn’t seem right to say the ascension happened 40 days after Easter and then just celebrate it a few days late. It would be like telling my kids we never celebrate their birthday on the appropriate day, because the date isn’t important so much as making it convenient for others.