ASCENSION DAY MASS
PREPARATION OF THE ALTAR
The altar is set the same as for Communion, with the exception that two seven-branch candelabras are set on either side of the entrance to the sanctuary, on a line with the Father candle of the Law Triangle. The altar cloth should be purple, as in the Mass of the Christos.
Everything for Communion is the same as for the Daily Communion preparation. There should be, if possible, two seven-branch candelabras on the altar, but this is not necessary.
A male and a female Priest should serve. There should also be a male Priest by the seven-branch candelabra on the right side of the entrance to the sanctuary, and a female Priest by the seven-branch candelabra to, the left of the entrance, two other members may serve here. They are acting as the guardians of the Light.
DEDICATION OF THE MASS
Presiding Priest says the following before making the dedication prayer, from the center of the sanctuary, at the altar rail, facing the altar:
THE DEDICATION OF THIS CELEBRATION OF THE ASCENSION, I, AS A PRIEST, DO DEDICATE THIS SERVICE TO THE MEMORY OF THE LORD AS HE ASCENDS, GIVING US A WAY TO LEAD THOSE WHO ARE TO FOLLOW HIM. FOR HE HAS SHOWN US THE WAY, THE PATH, TO GOD, AND HOW WE MAY CONQUER DEATH.
Presiding Priest faces the congregation, raises his hands and says:
OUR FATHER, WE DEDICATE THIS SERVICE IN THE MEMORY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO HAS SHOWN US THE WAY TO THEE.
Presiding Priest gives the Sign of the Cross, turns, goes to the altar, and kneeling with the assistant Priest, prays this prayer:
ALMIGHTY AND DIVINE CREATOR, THOU WHO HAST MADE US IN THY IMAGE, AND TO OUR GREAT SORROW, WE HAVE FALLEN, AND THOUGH WE HAVE FALLEN MANY TIMES, AT THIS TIME OF THE ATONEMENT, WE REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO THE ETERNAL PATH WHICH LEADS TO THY INHABITATION, AND ALL THY GLORY. MAY WE, TOO, BE PREPARED TO FOLLOW OUR MASTER AS HE ASCENDS UNTO THEE AND THY RIGHT HAND.
Prayer of Penance
Presiding Priest:
O FATHER, CREATOR OF ALL CREATION, HEAREST THOU ME. THY SON HATH WANDERED FROM THE SHADOW OF THE LORD. MANY OF MY THOUGHTS WERE NOT POSITIVE. MANY DEEDS I HAVE NOT DONE THAT I SHOULD, MANY CHARITABLE THINGS HAVE I OMITTED FROM THE WORKS OF MY DAYS, FROM THE FOLLOWING OF THY WAYS. WITH CONTRITE HEART AND YEARNING FOR THY PRESENCE, DO I ACCEPT THE FORGIVENESS FOR THESE GRIEVOUS ERRORS, THAT I MAY ENTER ONCE AGAIN INTO THE JOY OF THY COUNCIL, FOREVERMORE. AMEN.
FOR WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THEE, AND MANY TIMES WE HAVE NOT FULFILLED THE GREATNESS AND THE GLORY OF THY CREATION, AND THE WAY WHICH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS SHOWN US.
WE BESEECH THEE, O FATHER, THAT WE MAY BE CLEANSED IN BODY AND ALL NEGATION REMOVED FROM IT, SO THAT THE PURE LIGHT OF THE CHRISTOS MAY SHOW FORTH IN ALL ITS GLORY.
MAY NOW THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCEND ON US AND GRANT TO US THAT THIS SPIRIT MAY ILLUMINE OUR BODIES AND CAUSE THE GREAT LIGHT OF THE CHRISTOS TO BE MANIFEST THROUGH US BEYOND THIS EARTHLY ORB.
Presiding Priest stands and turns to face the congregation. The Assisting Priest prays the following:
O FATHER MOST GLORIOUS, WE AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF CHRIST, AND I AS THY PRIEST, THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, DO WE BESEECH THEE THAT THOU WOULDST SHOW US THE WAY, THAT WE MAY FULFILL, AND ALSO BE PREPARED TO ASCEND, AS OUR MASTER DID, INTO THE GLORY OF OUR FATHER'S CREATION. AND THY BEING. SHOW US THE GREATNESS WITH WHICH THOU HAST CREATED US, THAT WE MAY GIVE UNTO THEE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF LIGHT TO GLORIFY THIS THY ORB, THIS EARTH, AND ALL ITS BEAUTY.
Presiding Priest turns to face the altar and says:
LET US NOW PREPARE OUR WAY, AND USE THAT WHICH OUR MASTER LEFT FOR US TO USE, AS A MEANS OF RECEIVING THE GREAT CHRIST FORCE WITHIN.
PREPARE THE WAY FOR COMMUNION, THAT THE GREATER LIGHT MAY BE GIVEN UNTO YOU, FOR WE WILL NOW CELEBRATE THE COMMUNION, THE LORD'S SUPPER.
THE LORD'S SUPPER
Celebrate the regular Communion service.
After the Communion, the Presiding Priest reads from the Testament the story of the Ascension. Afterwards, the Assistant Priest reads the following:
OF ALL THE THINGS OF THY TEMPLE, OF THE FRUITS OF THE EARTH, AND MANY GLORIOUS THINGS WHICH THOU HAST GIVEN US, O LORD GOD, AND THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WE BESEECH THE HOSTS TO LOOK DOWN UPON US IN MERCY, THAT THROUGH THY SISTERS AND THEIR DEDICATION TO THIS ORDER, AND MY FELLOW PRIESTS AND I WHO HAVE TAKEN ON THE FEMALE FORM IN THY SERVICE, MAY WE BE GRANTED THE FULLNESS OF THY REALITY.
THAT WE MAY ALSO BE FOUND WORTHY OF RECEIVING ALL THE GLORY OF THE LIGHT OF THE CHRISTOS, THAT WE, TOO, MAY FIND IT POSSIBLE TO FOLLOW THE SAME PATH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FOLLOWED AS HE ASCENDED TO THY THRONE. AMEN.
GO THOU IN PEACE, FOR IN THIS PEACE THOU SHALT FIND THE POWER, THE DIVINITY, THE LOVE OF THOSE ON EARTH AND THOSE IN HEAVEN.
MAY THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL DESCEND, WITH ALL VIGOR AND LOVE AND FIRE, AND PREPARE US STEADILY AND MOST GLORIOUSLY. LET US BE PREPARED TO FIND THY WAY INTO THE REALMS ABOVE.
MAY NOW ALL THE EARTH, WHICH THOU HAST CREATED, AND ALL THY CREATIONS OF THESE WHO LIVE ON THE EARTH MAY ALSO BE GLORIFIED THROUGH HIM, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN.
