Archive | May 17, 2012

Feast of the Ascension in the United States

20120517-121711.jpg

In the United States the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus, a Holy Day of Obligation used to be celebrated on “Ascension Thursday,” which is 10 days, before the Feast of Pentecost.

After Vatican II attendance on this Holy Day of Obligation fell off, many Archdioceses petitioned the Pope to have the Feast of the Ascension moved, to the following Sunday. The Pope allowed it, however he left it up to each ecclesiastical province (Archdiocese).

Only these ecclesiastical provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and Omaha (the state of Nebraska) continue to celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord on Thursday.

The rest of the ecclesiastical provinces celebrate the Feast of the Ascension on the following Sunday. Therefore, the 7th Sunday of Easter is for most of us, in the USA, the Feast of the Ascension.

Have a Happy Feast Day, on whatever day you celebrate it.