Ascension Thursday or Sunday

Since the year 2000, Catholics throughout the state of Wisconsin have celebrated the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord on the Sunday before Pentecost. The Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter is no longer Ascension Day. Why the change?

Several years ago, the Bishops of many western U. S. states were granted permission from the Holy See to transfer the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord to the following Sunday, in the same way that we already observe the solemnity of the Epiphany. This was done because of the inability of many to attend Mass on this important feast day.

The bishops of the ecclesiastical province of Wisconsin, of which the Diocese of Madison is a part, decided to transfer the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord to the Seventh Sunday of Easter. Wisconsin is one of many states, including Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, and most western and southern states, that now celebrate the Ascension on a Sunday. This is permitted by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in a decision that was approved by the Holy See. In fact, many countries already celebrate Ascension on a Sunday.

There were many factors that led to this decision. Sadly, when commemorated on Thursday, this important feast was celebrated by only a small percentage of Catholics. Since Ascension Thursday is a workday for most people, even when they are able to attend Mass, the celebration is often not fitting for so important a feast—morning Masses are rushed for the commute to work, people leave noontime Masses immediately after communion, and evening Masses are squeezed in before the dinner hour. Even if people are able to participate in Mass, it is difficult to follow the prescription of abstaining from work or business which interferes with worship and relaxation of the mind and body (Code of Canon Law, 1247). With the current decline in number of priests, it is even becoming more difficult for Mass to be available to many Catholic on Ascension Day.

The Easter-Ascension-Pentecost cycle is of great importance to the Church as well as the lives of all Christians. Many areas currently celebrating the Ascension on a Sunday have found that it has renewed the Easter cycle, and has been of great benefit. In addition, this move allows for a much fuller celebration on the Ascension with the attendance of more people and the release from the burden of time constraints.

While the historical tradition of celebrating the feast forty days after the resurrection is of great value, this is of secondary importance to the practicality of the observance of the feast by the greatest number of the faithful. Keep in mind that a similar move has taken place with Epiphany, now celebrated on a Sunday near January 6 rather than on the actual twelfth day of Christmas.

With this move, all Catholics have a better opportunity to celebrate and meditate on Christ ascended, “so that we may seek him in glory” (Ascension Opening Prayer).