Ascension Sunday: A Defence

Look, I understand very clearly the whole argument: The Ascension occurred 40 days after the resurrection and that means Our Lord ascended on a Thursday.  I get it, and in a perfect Catholic state I would agree.  But in a perfect Catholic state, I, and Bear and our kids would get that particular Thursday off from work, as it stands we don't.  Now, it isn't about committing a sin or one is excused if one "REALLY can't observe the Feast, through no fault of their own" It's about Celebrating the Feast.  The fact the in my Archdiocese, The Ascension was celebrated on Sunday, and I am grateful that it was: It means that my husband and the rest of us were able to commemorate and celebrate our Lord's triumphant ascension to Heaven. 

On several other posts, both in blogs and on Facebook, people (who insist that, damn what other people can or can't do on Thursdays, they deserve to celebrate on Ascension Thursday) are very insulting toward Ascension Sunday.  The very moniker of Ascension Thursday Sunday is insulting to the feast day: Our Lord's Feast Day! Many Feasts are not celebrated on the actual day of the year when it happened originally in Our Lord's Life: Christmas is hardly celebrated on the Lord's actual birthday.  How do we know Mary was actually born in September?

One poster actually called those of us who appreciate the Ascension Sunday as Liturginazis.  Really, Nazis.  Nazis were purists; and since the pure celebration of the Ascension is for it to be celebrated on Thursday wouldn't the name liturginazi be more suited to those who insist on it being on the celebration purely on a Thursday.

If the archdiocese were to remove the Ascension Sunday Option and go back to Ascension Thursday, I would then accept it, but it would sadden to me know that I would probably have to wait a very long time before I could celebrate the Lord's Ascension again.  We are Catholic, yes, but the rest of society don't give a crap about what our Holidays are. 

Bear's co-worker who is Coptic  almost didn't get his Good Friday off, because it landed in a black out period.  Would he have sinned to miss his Good Friday, no, but he would have been distressed by it. Bear himself would not be able to get the day off for a "minor" Feast like the Ascension. If you have the luxury of getting the day off and can attend. 

But what the bells do I know?

Ascension of The Lord

Entrance Antiphon [Introit]:

Option 1: Proper of the Day from the Graduale Romanum

Viri Galilæi, quid admiramini aspicientes in cælum? alleluia: quemadmodum vidistis eum ascendentum in cælum, ita veniet, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Ps. Omnes gentes plaudite manibus: iubilate Deo in voce exsultationis. (p.235)

• Settings by Other Composers 

1. Viri Galilaei (Dulos Couillart)
2. Viri Galilaei (William Byrd)
3. Viri Galilaei / Ascendit Deus (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina)

~OR~In Translation
Men of Galilee why are you gazing in astonishment at the sky? Alleluia, Just as you have seen him ascend into heaven, so, in like manner, shall he return, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Ps. All peoples, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy!

• Settings by Other Composers (In translation)

1. In Simple English Propers – by Adam Bartlett (CMAA 2011) (from Musica Sacra)

Option 2: Proper of the Season from the Graduale Simplex
Viri Galilæi, quid aspicitis in cælum? Hic Iesus, qui assumptus est a vobis in cælum, sic veniet, alleluia. Psalm 68, verses 1-8 ( pp.178)

• Settings by Other Composers 

1. Viri Galilaei a 7 (Giovanni Bassano)
2. Viri Galilaei (Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck)
3. Viri Galilaei / Ascendit Deus (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina)

~Or~ In translation

Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven will come in the same way, alleluia Ps. 68:1

• Setting by Other Composers

1. Galilean Men and Women  in By Flowing Waters by Dr. Paul Ford (175 & 177, pp.116-117)

 

Option 3: Another Psalm: I have no suggestions for this option.

 

Option 4: Another Appropriate Hymn: See "Other Hymns" Below

 

Option 5: If there is no singing the Antiphon from the Roman Missal may be proclaimed from the ambo

You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;  praise the Lord, who ascends above the highest heavens;
his majesty and might are in the skies, alleluia. Psalm 68:33, 35

Liturgy of the Word 

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11

 

Chant After the First Reading:

Option 1: Alleluia 1 of the Day from  the Graduale Romanum

Alleluia. Ascendit Deus ( p.236)

• Settings by Other Composers
• Alleluia. Ascendit Deus (Gregorian chant)
• Alleluia - Ascendit Deus (William Byrd)  

Option 2: Alleluia 1 from the Graduale Simplex

 Omnes gentes, plaudite (p.179)

• Settings by Other Composers
• Omnes gentes, plaudite (Hans Leo Hassler)
• Omnes gentes, plaudite manibus (Christopher Tye)
• Omnes gentes, plaudite manibus à 16 voci (Giovanni Gabrieli)
• Omnes gentes plaudite (Giovanni Maria Casini)

~Or~ In Translation

All Ye Peoples, O clap your hands

• Settings by Other Composers
• O Clap Your Hands (Orlando Gibbons)
• O All Ye Peoples (Thomas Tremain)
• Clap Your Hands, All You Peoples ( in By Flowing Waters by Dr. Paul Ford (178- pp.117-120)

Option 3: Responsorial Psalm of the Day from the Roman Missal

God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. 

Psalm 47:2-3. 6-7.8-9 (R. 6)

CBW III

God Mounts His Throne (Chabanel Psalms -Various)

 

Second Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23

— or —

Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23

 

Pre Gospel Chant:
From the Graduale Romanum: Alleluia II
Alleluia. Dominus in Sina ( p.236)

From the Graduale Simplex: Alleluia II
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Quis ascendet ( p.182)
~OR~ In Translation
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? Alleluia, alleluia

• Who Shall Ascend? Alleluia  ( in By Flowing Waters by Dr. Paul Ford (179- pp.120-121)

From the Roman Missal Lectionary: Gospel Alleluia Verse:
Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world.  Matthew 28:19a,20b

Gospel: Luke 24:46-53

Offertory Antiphon:

Option 1: From the Graduale Romanum

(1)Ascendit Deus in iubilatione, Dominus in voce tubæ, alleluia.( p.237)
Alleluia. Ascendit Deus (Gregorian chant)
Ascendit Deus (Gregorian chant)

• Settings by Other Composers
• Alleluia - Ascendit Deus (William Byrd) 

~OR~
(2)Viri Galilæi, quid admiramini aspicientes in cælum? Hic Iesus, qui assumptus est a vobis in cælum, sic veniet, quemadmodum vidistis eum ascendentum in cælum, alleluia. ( p.237)

• Settings by Other Composers
• Viri Galilaei / Ascendit Deus (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina)

~Or~In Translation

(2)MEN of Galilee, why do you gaze at the sky in astonishment? * This same Jesus who was taken up from you in-to heaven, will come by the very way in which you saw him go in-to heaven, alleluia.

Settings In translation

• In Simple English Propers – by Adam Bartlett (CMAA 2011) (from Musica Sacra- Scroll Down)

Option 2: From the Graduale Simplex
Ascendit Deus in iubilatione, Dominus in voce tubæ, alleluia.  ( pp.182) Psalm 47, verses 1-4

Settings by Other Composers

• Ascendit Deus, op.15 (Franz Xaver Witt)
Ascendit Deus (Ferdinand Schaller)
Ascendit Deus (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina)
Ascendit Deus (Jacob Handl)
Ascendit Deus (Peter Philips)
Ascendit Deus (Simone Stella)
Ascendit Deus in jubilatione (William Byrd) 

~OR~In Translation

God mounts his throne to shouts of joy; a blare of trumpets for the Lord, alleluia Ps Clap your hands all you peoples' shout to God with loud songs of joy

• Settings by Other Composers
• God Mounts His Throne (in By Flowing Waters by Dr. Paul Ford (180-181, pp.121-1`22)

Option 3 Another Psalm ( I have no suggestions for this)

Option 4: Another Suitable Hymn See Other Hymns below

Option 5: From the Roman Missal There is no translation in the Roman Missal; as the antiphons in the Missal are intended to be proclaimed and not sung, and the Rubrics clearly indicate that if there is no singing during the Offertory, then the Preparation of the Gifts is proclaimed aloud with the congregation making the appropriate response: Blessed be God, for ever when required.

Communion Antiphon:

 

Option 1: From the Graduale Romanum
Psallite Domino, qui ascendit super cælos cælorum ad Orientem, alleluia. Psalm 68:33-34(p.238)
Psalm 34 can also be sung between repetitions of this antiphon.

• Settings by Other Composers

~OR~ In Translation

• Settings by Other Composers

Option 2: From the Graduale Simplex

Sede a dextris meis, dixit Dominus Domino meo, alleluia.Psalm 110, verses 1-6  (pp.183)

• Settings by Other Composers

~OR~ In Translation

• Settings by Other Composers

Option 3: Another Psalm

Option 4: Another Appropriate Hymn  See Other Hymns Below

Option 5: from the Roman Missal the following may be proclaimed from the ambo IF there is no singing.
Christ, offering a single sacrifice for sins, is seated for ever and God's right hand, alleluia. Hebrews 10:12

 

Marian Antiphon

Regina coeli laetare, Alleluia
Settings by Composers

Regina caeli (Gregorian chant) (ferial tone) Regina caeli (solemn tone) (Gregorian chant) (solemn tone) Trent codex 89 SATB 4-part hymn in G Major SATB (M. Labat) Gregor Aichinger a 3 SST a 4 SATB Felice Anerio SATB William Byrd SAT Francesco Cavalli ATB & bc Adrian Cuello SATB Giovanni Croce SATB.SATB Mariano Garau SATB José Maurício Nunes Garcia SATB

Heinrich Isaac SSATB Orlando di Lasso SSATBB Antonio Lotti SATB Cristóbal de Morales SATB Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart KV 276 SATB & SATB soli KV 127 SATB & S solo KV 108 SATB & s solo Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (one part reconstructed) SATB or ATTB Ferdinand Schubert SATB Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck SATTB with SAT section. José de Torres SSATB Tomás Luis de Victoria a 5 SATTB a 8 SSAT.SATB Adrian Willaert SATB or ATTB Franz Xaver Witt SATB

Other Hymns

• Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise
• Hail Thee, Festival Day (Ascension Verses)
• Praise Him As He Mounts the Skies
• Sing We Triumphant Hymns of Praise

Mass Settings (See Fifth Sunday in Eastertide)

Fifth Sunday in Easter Year C

Entrance Antiphon [Introit]:

From the Roman Missal:  If there is no singing the following is proclaimed from the ambo by the celebrant

O sing a new song to the Lord. for he has worked wonders; in the sight of the nations
he has shown his deliverance, alleluia. Psalm 98:1-2 

From the Graduale Romanum
Cantate Domino canticum novum, alleluia: quia mirabilia fecit Dominus, alleluia: ante conspectum gentium revelavit iustitiam suam, alleluia, alleluia.Psalm 98:1-2
Ps. Salvavit sibi dextera eius: et brachium sanctum eius. ( p.225)

From the Graduale Simplex
Choose either Antiphona ad introitum and its Psalmus from the two Masses for Eastertide, particularly Missa II: Psalm 98, verses 1-10 ( pp.172-177]
Cantate Domino canticum novum: laus eius ab extremis terræ, alleluia.

Settings by other Composers

1. Cantate Domino (Giovanni Francesco Anerio)
2. Cantate Domino (Dietrich Buxtehude)
3. Cantate Domino (Giovanni Croce)
4. Cantate Domino (Daniel Friderici)
5. Cantate Domino, Op. 296, No. 6 (Robert Führer)
6. Cantate Domino, No. 1 (Adam Gumpelzhaimer)
7. Cantate Domino, No. 2 (Adam Gumpelzhaimer)
8. Cantate Domino (David Millard)
9. Cantate Domino (Claudio Monteverdi)

Liturgy of the Word 

•  First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 14:21-27
• Post First Reading Chant
• From the Roman Missal Lectionary: Responsorial Psalm:
• R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God. Psalm 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13 (R.1)
• CBWIII
• I Will Praise Your Name (Chabanel Psalm-Various)
• From the Graduale Romanum: Alleluia I
1. Alleluia. Dextera Dei (p.226)
• From the Graduale Simplex: Alleluia I
1. Confitemini Domino ( p.173)
• Settings from Other Composers
1.  Alleluia, Confitemini Domino
1. Jean Mouton,
• Second Reading: Revelation 21:1-5a
• And He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes. /v.4]
• Pre-Gospel Chant:
• From the Roman Missal Lectionary: Alleluia Verse
• I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you.  
• CBWIII
• I Give You a New Commandment (Garnier Alleluia- Various)
• Celtic Alleluia (Easter Verses)
• From the Graduale Romanum
1. Alleluia. Christus resurgens ( p.226)
• From the Graduale Simplex
1. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Confitemini Domino ( p.174)
• Settings from Other Composers
1. Christus resurgens
1. Christus resurgens (John Tailer)
2. Christus resurgens (Giovanni Ceresini)
3. Christus resurgens (Jean Richafort)
4. Christus resurgens (William Byrd)
5. Christus resurgens (Peter Philips)
6. Christus resurgens (Orlando di Lasso)
• Gospel : John 13:31-33a,34-35

Offertory Antiphon:

From the Roman Missal
Antiphons in the Roman Missal are intended to be proclaimed if there is no singing.  The Rubrics are clear: If there is NO singing at the Offertory: Preparation of the Gifts, the antiphon is omitted. Hence there is NO Offertory Antiphon in the Roman Missal
From the Graduale Romanum

Iubilate Deo universa terra: iubilate Deo universa terra: psalmum dicite nomini eius: venite, et audite, et narrabo vobis, omnes qui timetis Deum, quanta fecit Dominus animæ meæ, alleluia. ( p.227)
From the Graduale Simplex
Choose either Antiphona ad offertorium and its Psalmus from he two Masses for Eastertide, particularly Missa II:Jubilate Deo in voce exsultationis, alleluia.Psalm 47, verses 1-4 ( pp.172-177)
Settings from other Composers

1. Jubilate Deo
1. Adriano Bancheri a 4
2. Guillaume Bouzignac a 5
3. Orlando di Lasso a 4
4. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart a 4
5. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina a 5
6. Josquin des Prez a 4
7. Heinrich Schütz a 4 + bc
8. Ascanio Trombetti
1. First setting a 8
2. Second setting a 10
9. Johann Kaspar Aiblinger a 5
10. Franz Bühler SATB & orchestra
11. Giovanni Paolo Cima SA & bc
12. Andrea Gabrieli a 8
13. Giovanni Gabrieli
1. a 11
2. a 8
14. George Frideric Handel with orchestra
15. Hans Leo Haßler
1. a 5
2. a 8
16. Benedetto Pallavicino a 8

Communion Antiphon:

From the Roman Missal
Father, I wish that where I am, those you gave me may also be with me, that they may see the glory that you gave me, alleluia. John 17:24

From the Graduale Romanum
Ego sum vitis vera et vos palmites, qui manet in me, et ego in eo, hic fert fructum multum, alleluia, alleluia. John 15:5 (p.228)
From the Graduale Simplex
Choose either Antiphona ad communionem and its Psalmus from the two Masses for Eastertide, particularly Missa II: Cantate Domino, et benedicite nomini eius, alleluia. Psalm 96, verses 1-10( pp.172-177)
Settings  from other Composers

Hymns

• Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation
• Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
• Good Christian Men, Rejoice and Sing
• Hail Thee, Festival Day
• I Come with Joy to Meet the Lord
• This Is the Day

Choral Music

• Exultate Deo (Alessandro Scarlatti)
• Laudamus te  (Stultz)
• Misericordia Domini (Giuseppe Pitoni)
• Misericordia Domini (Michael Praetorius) 

Mass Settings

1. Missa I – Lux et origo (Gregorian chant) [Graduale Romanum, p.710]
2. Missa I – Lux et origo (Gregorian chant) [Graduale simplex, p.75]
3. Missa I – Lux et origo (Gregorian chant) [Saint Antoine Daniel Kyriale]
1.  KYRIE VI: Pro Dominicis (In Tempore Paschalis): Te Christe Rex supplices • Score (PDF)
4. Missa Jubilate Deo
1. CBWIII
2. Adoremus [Scroll down] 

Marian Antiphon

1. Regina Coeli Laetare - II (José Maurício Nunes Garcia)
2. Regina Coeli Laetare - I (José Maurício Nunes Garcia)
3. Regina coeli laetare (Adrian Willaert)
4. Regina coeli laetare (William Byrd)
5. Regina coeli laetare a 6 (Cristóbal de Morales)

Fourth Sunday In Easter Year C

Introit

From the Roman Missal: Psalm 32(33): 5-6
The merciful love of the Lord fills the earth; by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, alleluia.

From the Graduale Romanum:
Misericordia Domini plena est terra, alleluia: verbo Dei cæli firmati sunt, alleluia, alleluia. Ps. Exsultate iusti in Domino: rectos decet collaudatio. (p.223)

From the Graduale Simplex
Choose either Antiphona ad introitum and its Psalmus from one of the two Masses for Eastertide(pp.165-171), particularly Missa I :Psalm 23, verse 1-9
Ego sum pastor bonus, qui pasco oves meas, et pro ovibus meis pono animam meam, alleluia.

From Settings by Composers
Misericordia Domini (Giuseppe Pitoni)
Misericordia Domini (Michael Praetorius)
Ego Sum Pastor Bonus (Gregorian Chant)
Ego sum pastor bonus (Mariano Garau)

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 13:14,43-52
I have set you to be light for the gentiles

Post First Reading Chant:
From the Roman Missal:  Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 100:1-2, 3,5 (R. 3c)
We are God's people, the sheep of his flock.
We Are His People CBW III 99
We are His People (Chabanel -Various)

From the Graduale Romanum: Alleluia I
Alleluia Ps. Redemptionem misit Dominus in populo suo. (p.223)

From the Graduale Simplex: Alleluia I
Choose one Alleluia I Psalm from either of the two Masses for Easter particularly Mass I: (pp. 165-177)
Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus, quoniam in saeculum msericordia eius  R. Alleluia (p. 166)

Second Reading: Revelation 7:9,14b-17
The Lamb will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to the spring of the water of life.

Pre-Gospel Chant
From the Roman Missal: Gospel Verse: Jn 10:14
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.
I Am the Good Shepherd (Garnier Alleluia-Various)

From the Graduale Romanum: Alleluia II
Ego sum pastor bonus: et cognosco oves meas, et cognoscunt meae. (p. 223)

From the Graduale Simplex: Alleluia II
Choose either Alleluia II from the Two Masses for Easter, particulary from Missa I (pp. 165-177)
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Confitemini Domino ( p.168)

Settings from other composers
Ego sum pastor bonus (Gregorian Chant)

Gospel: John 10:27-30
I give my sheep eternal life

Offertory Antiphon:

From the Roman Missal:
NB All the Antiphons in the Roman Missal are intended to be pronounced when there is no singing.  The Rubrics are very clear, if there is no singing at the Offertory, the antiphon is omitted and the Preparation of the Gifts is pronounced aloud with the congregation making the Response: Blessed be God for ever at the appropriate times.

From the Graduale Romanum:
Deus, Deus meus, ad te de luce vigilio: et in nomine tuo levabo manus meas, alleluia. ( p.224)

From the Graduale Simplex:
Choose either Antiphona ad offertorium and its Psalmus from the two Masses for Eastertide (pp.165-171), particularly Missa I: Psalm 63, verses 1-4  
Ad te de luce vigilio, Deus, ut videam virtutem tuam, alleluia.

Settings from other Composers

1. O God, thou art my God (Henry Purcell)

Communion Antiphon:

From the Roman Missal:
The Good Shepherd has risen, who laid down his life for his sheep and willingly died for his flock, alleluia. [Roman Missal]

From the Graduale Romanum:  John 10:14
Ego sum pastor bonus, alleluia: et cognosco oves meas, et cognoscunt me meæ alleluia, alleluia.
Psalm 22(23):1-6d-or- Psalm 32(33):1,12-15,18-22 may be sung between repetitions of this antiphon. (p.224)

From the Graduale Simplex
Choose either Antiphona ad communionem and  its Psalmus from the two Masses for Eastertide, ( pp.165-171), particularly Missa I: Psalm 16, verses 1-10
In Galilæa Iesum videbitis sicut dixit vobis, alleluia.
 
Settings from other Composers

1. Ego sum pastor bonus (Gregorian Chant)
2. O sing unto the Lord (Henry Purcell) 
3. O Sing Unto the Lord (Vaughan Richardson)
4. The Good Shepherd is Risen: Surrexit pastor bonus (Francesco Croatti)

 Marian Antiphon

Regina Coeli Laetare

Regina Caeli Laetare a 8 (Tomás Luis de Victoria)

Regina caeli, laetare (Christoph Dalitz)

Regina caeli laetare (Heinrich Isaac)

Regina caeli laetare a 5 (Tomás Luis de Victoria)

 

Mass Settings

1. Missa I – Lux et origo (Gregorian chant)  (Graduale Romanum, p.710
2. Missa I – Lux et origo (Gregorian chant) (Graduale Simplex, p.75]
3. Mass I  – Lux et origo (Gregorian Chant) (Saint Antoine daniel Kyriale)    Complete Score (PDF)
1. Kyrie • Score (PDF) • Organist (PDF)  
2. Gloria • Score (PDF) • Organist (PDF) 
3. Sanctus • Score (PDF) • Organist (PDF)
4. Agnus • Score (PDF) • Organist (PDF)
4. Missa Jubilate Deo (CBW 299)
1. Kyrie XVI CBW III 299A
2. Gloria VIII CBW III 299B
3. Preface Responses CBW III 299 C
4. Sanctus et Benedictus  CBWIII 299D
5. Mysterium Fidei CBWIII 299E
6. Paster Noster CBWIII 299F
7. Agnus dei XVIII 299G
5. Icel Chanted Mass

Other Hymns

• All People That on Earth Do Dwell CBW III 578
• At the Lamb's High Feast  CBW III 375
• Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation  CBW III 430
• Christ the Lord Is Risen Again CBWII 498
• Good Christian Men, Rejoice and Sing CBW III 386
• The Lord's My Shepherd CBW III488

Happy Easter!

The Lord is Risen!

Alleluia Alleluia!