Understanding the Day
Season
Ascensiontide
Week
Week 1 of Ascensiontide
Rank
Sunday or semidouble observance
Ascensiontide is the eight-day period following the Solemnity of the Ascension, celebrating Jesus’ rising into heaven and the continuing presence of Christ with the Church. This day — “Day 6 within the Octave of the Ascension” (Dies 6 infra Octavam Ascensionis) — falls inside that octave, so the liturgy continues to focus on the Ascension’s themes: the Lord’s glorification, his promise of the Holy Spirit, and the commissioning of the apostles. The rank “Semidouble” is an older liturgical classification indicating this day is observed with more solemnity than an ordinary weekday but less than the highest feasts; in practical terms, families can expect special prayers, readings, or hymns related to the Ascension while ordinary weekday elements may still appear.
Daily Prayer
The Introit for this day has not yet been generated.
Weekly Prayer
Weekly prayer content will appear here once it is scheduled.
Weekly Formation
Commandment 3
The Ten Commandments
Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
The Third Commandment sets apart the Lord’s Day for divine worship and true rest from ordinary labor. For Catholics this is fulfilled especially by assisting at Mass on Sundays and holy days and by allowing the day to serve God, the soul, and the duties of charity.
Saint & Feast
Principal celebrationCalendar title
Day 6 within the Octave of the Ascension
A biography or feast reflection has not yet been prepared.
Today in Church History
No Church history reflection has been prepared for this date yet.
Catechism
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Catechism teaches that the liturgy is the action of the whole Christ: Christ the Head united with his Body, the Church. When the Church celebrates the sacraments, the Spirit enables us to share in the eternal heavenly liturgy, where all creation gives praise to God. This can encourage our families to approach the Church’s worship with reverence and gratitude, knowing that we join a celebration greater than ourselves.
Liturgical services are celebrations of the whole Church, not private functions. The baptized form the celebrating assembly and share in Christ’s common priesthood, while bishops, priests, and deacons serve the community in ordained ministry. Other members also have genuine liturgical functions, such as serving, reading, commenting, and singing. In the unity of the Spirit, each person is called to carry out the part entrusted to him or her according to the rite and the Church’s norms.
Liturgical services are celebrations of the whole Church, not private functions. The baptized form the celebrating assembly and share in Christ’s common priesthood, while bishops, priests, and deacons serve the community in ordained ministry. Other members also have genuine liturgical functions, such as serving, reading, commenting, and singing. In the unity of the Spirit, each person is called to carry out the part entrusted to him or her according to the rite and the Church’s norms.
¶ 1136
Liturgy is an "action" of the whole Christ (Christus totus). Those who even now celebrate it without signs are already in the heavenly liturgy, where celebration is wholly communion and feast
¶ 1137
The book of Revelation of St. John, read in the Church's liturgy, first reveals to us, "A throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne": "the Lord God." It then shows the Lamb, "standing, as though it had been slain": Christ crucified and risen, the one high priest of the true sanctuary, the same one "who offers and is offered, who gives and is given." Finally it presents "the river of the water of life . . . flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb," one of most beautiful symbols of the Holy Spirit.