The
Ascension of
Jesus is the penultimate event of the Easter season:
In the earlier
calendar of the
Roman church, Ascension was celebrated 40 days after Easter. Since all faithful
Catholics were
required to observe the
Feast by
attending
Mass, it has been recently decided to hold the Feast on the
Sunday following the
Thursday, to
relieve Catholics of the
burden of finding time on Thursday to attend Mass.
An
account of the Ascension can be found in
Luke 24:50-51:
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
Also, in
Acts 1:9:
And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took took him out of their sight.
Brief
descriptions can also be found in
Mark 16:19-20 and
John 14:2-6 and in other places.
The
purpose of Ascension is given in
John 14:2-3:
In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
More
important to the
success of his Church, he explains in
John 16:6-8
Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.
Another name for the Counselor is the
Holy Spirit or the
Paraclete.