Saint of the Day for 12 May: Ascension of Jesus
The Ascension of Jesus: Theological Significance and Impact on Christian Faith
Name
Ascension of Jesus
Title
Bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven
Recurrence
12 May
Martyrology
2004 edition
Prayer
O my good Jesus! comforter of the afflicted, you said to your Apostles, “I go to prepare the place for you, so that where I am you may also be. “You have prepared, as I hope, for Me also the dwelling place in your Father’s house. You preceded me in the ignominy of the cross and resurrected ascended to Heaven, from there you will return on the day of judgment to remunerate me in proportion to the fruit that I will have obtained from your Passion and Death. You are my model and remunerator of afflictions. I will imitate divine grace, your patience so that I may receive the crown promised to those who suffer. I promise You that I will be faithful until death, that I may obtain the place You have prepared for me in Your Father’s house. Always to my last breath I will fight as a strong man with Your help for righteousness in order to attain eternal life, which I believe in all steadfastness.
Patron of
Levico Terme, Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina, Castelpagano
Roman Martyrology
Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, in which he, forty days after the resurrection, was lifted up into heaven before his disciples, to sit at the right hand of the Father, until he comes in glory to judge the living and the dead.
The Saint and Mission
Jesus Ascension is a crucial moment that marks both the conclusion of his earthly mission and the beginning of a new phase in salvation history. With the Ascension, Jesus not only confirms his divinity by returning to the Father, but also establishes the foundation for the future mission of his disciples. This transcendental event symbolizes Jesus’ promise not to abandon his followers but to be with them always, until the end of the world. The Ascension strengthens and inspires the community of believers, entrusting them with the task of spreading the Gospel to all nations. With his ascension into heaven, Jesus opens the way for the Holy Spirit to come and equip the disciples with the necessary strength to carry out this mission. In this sense, the Ascension is not a farewell, but a transformation of Jesus’ presence from a physical to a spiritual and universal one, thus enabling his work throughout the world through the Church. This key passage shows that Jesus’ mission extends far beyond his years on earth, projecting into an eternal and cosmic dimension, in which believers continue the work of evangelization begun by him, sustained by his promise and continued guidance.
The Saint and Mercy
Jesus Ascension represents a profound act of mercy that continues to resonate in the hearts of believers. Through this event, Jesus not only completes his earthly mission of redemption, but also opens the way for a more intimate connection between humanity and the divine. This gesture should be interpreted as an extension of his mercy, for it ensures that the work of salvation begun on earth with his incarnation and passion is perpetuated and completed in his glorification. With the Ascension, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit, who equips the faithful with divine gifts, enabling them to live according to the Gospel and spread his message of universal mercy. Moreover, Jesus, in ascending to heaven, does not turn away from human suffering, but rather makes sure to intercede unceasingly for us with the Father. This continuous intercession is an expression of his infinite mercy, showing that although he is no longer physically present among us, his compassion and care for humanity remain constant and perpetual. In this way, Jesus’ Ascension strengthens the link between heaven and earth, promising a merciful presence that continually guides, sustains and redeems every aspect of human life.
Hagiography
Jesus after the resurrection, during the 40 days he was still on earth, comforted the Apostles and by various trials convinced them that he had truly risen. He instructed them about the kingdom of God, how to govern the Church, administer the sacraments, and save souls. As the day of farewell approached, “I must go away,” he said, “for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. He then ordered the Apostles to go from Galilee to Jerusalem.The solemn moment was near.He had the farewell banquet with them, during which he opened their minds more, showing them how Sacred Scripture speaks of Christ, his passion, death and…