23-1 THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION.

from God so long as we have in our hearts hatred against any

one.
In the sixth petition, " and lead us not into temptation,"
we acknowledge our frailty, and Mk God to remove temptations
from us, or, if He permit us to fall into those which the world,
the flesh, and the devil prepare for us, to give us grace not to
consent to them, but, by combating and overcoming them, to
gain tl1e merit and the crown of justice.
In the seventh petition, "but deliver us from evil," we pray
to God to preserve us from sin, and the occasions of sin; an evil
death and hell; also from all temporal evils, so far as may be
for the salvation of our souls.

�ogatton JDaps.
T HE Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before the Ascension
are observed as days of solemn supplication, and are called
Rogation Days, from the Latin word rogatw, meaning Litany,
because the Litany of the Saints is chanted on those days in the
processions which take place.
The Rogation days originated in France. In the year 469
the city of Vienne suffered from earthquakes, failure of crops,
and other calamities. The pious Bishop Mamertus, who saw iu
the events the judgment of God, called upon his flock to appease
Heaven by penances, processions, and prayers during the three
days before Ascension day. The example of Mamertus was fol­
lowed by all the French bishops, and the custom finaUy became
general. These three Rogation days serve also as a preparation
for the feast of the Ascension, which reminds us that we have
the most powerful intercessor in Onr Saviour, Who is now en­
throned at the right band of the Father.

'ttbe Yeast of tbe Bscenston.

A T the Introit of the Mass the Church sings the words
spoken by the angels to the apostles when Jesus ascended
to heaven : " Ye men of Galilee, why wonder ye, looking up
to heaven? Alleluia. He shaU so come as you have seen Him
going up into heaven, alleluia I alleluia I a11eluia I Oh, clap your
hands, a11 ye nations, shout unto God with the voice of joy."
Glory be to the Father, etc.
 THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION. 235

Prayer.
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who be­
lieve that Thy only-begotten Son, our Redeemer, ascended this
day into heaven, may ourselves also, in mind, dwell in heavenly
things. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.

EPISTLE. �ct, i. 1-11.

The former treatise I made, 0 Theopl1ilus, of all things
which Jesus began to do and to teach until the day on which,

giving commandments by the Holy Ghost to the apostles whom

He had chosen, He was taken up: to whom also He showed
Himself alive after His passion, by many proofs, for forty days
appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And
eating together with them, He commanded them that they should
not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of
the Father, which you have heard, saith He, by my mouth: for
John, indeed, baptized with water, but you shall be baptized
with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. They therefore
who were come together asked Him, saying: Lord, wilt Thou
236 THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION.

at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? But He said

to them: It is not for you to know the times or moments which
the Father hath put in His own power. But you sl1all receive
the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be
witnesses unto Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria,
and even to the uttermost part of the earth. And when He had
said these things, while they looked on, He was raised up: and
a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they were
beholding Him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by
them in white garwents, who also said: Ye men of Galilee, why
stand you lookiug up to heaven? This Jesus Who is taken up
from you into heaven, shall so come as you have seen Him going
into heaven.
Explanation.
For forty days after His resurrection, Jesus remained with
His disciples, to convince them of the truth of His resurrection,
to teach them in regard to His kingdom, that is, His Church,
and their vocation; and as they were still thinking of an earthly
kfogdom to be established by Christ, He referred them to the
instruction of the Holy Ghost, and then ascended to heaven,
whence He shall come to be our judge.
Rejoice over the instructions which are preserved for you
through the Church; but rejoice especially that Jesus has taken
possession of the glory gained by His most profound humiliations,
for now He is there an intercessor for you; there He prepares
for you a mansion; there is now your home. To-day look np
to heaven where Christ is, hope, suffer, love, and pray.

GOSPEL. Mark xvi. 14-20.

At that time, as the eleven were at table, Jesus appeared to

them and He upbraided them with their incredulity and hardness
of heart: because they did not believe them who had seen Him
after He was risen again. And He said to them: Go ye into
the whole world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved : but he that be­
lieveth not shall be condemned. And these signs shall follow
them that believe: In My name they shall cast out devils: they
shall speak with new tongues: they shall take up serpents: and
if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they
 SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. 237
shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recov�. And
the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into
heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God. But they going
forth preached everywhere, the Lord working withal, and con­
firming the word with signs that followed.
" Let us," says St. Augustine, " in spirit, ascend with
Christ, that when the time comes we may follow Him in body·
also. But we must know, dear brethren, that neither pride, nor
avarice, nor impurity can ascend with Christ, our Lord, for
pride does not keep company with the teacher of humility, nor
wickedness with the source of all good, nor impurity with the
Son of the Virgin."
.A spiration.
0 King of glory ! Who didst on this day ascend victoriously
above the heavens, leave us not orphans, but send us, from the
Father, the Spirit of truth Whom Thou hast promised, and re­
ceive us all into Thy glory.
Why, on this day, is the Easter-candle extinguished and car­
ried away after the gospel?
It is done in remembrance of the hour in which Christ, Who
is typified by the Easter-candle, left this earth.