Ascension of the Lord: Theological Themes Suggested by the Readings

 1st Reading. Acts 1:1-11. 

Sacred Scripture

OT (prefigurations)  Ps 110:title–1, Ge 5:24, 2 Kings 2:11, Ps 68:18.

NT Mk 16:19, Lk 24:51, Ac 1:9, 11, Jn 14:2, Ac 2:33, Ro 8:34, 1 Pe 3:22, Mt 24:30, Jn 6:62, 14:16, 16:7, 28, 20:17, Eph 1:20, 2:6, 4:8, Col 3:1, Heb 1:3, 7:25, 8:1, 9:24, 10:12, 12:2, 1 Jn 2:1.

Catechism: 

ASCENSION: The entry of Jesus’ humanity into divine glory in God’s heavenly domain, forty days after his Resurrection (659, 665). From the Glossary of the CCC.

The Ascension of the Lord (CCC 659-667).

Christ Already Reigns Through the Church (CCC 668-670).

HOLY SPIRIT: The third divine Person of the Blessed Trinity, the personal love of Father and Son for each other. Also called the Paraclete (Advocate) and Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit is at work with the Father and the Son from the beginning to the completion of the divine plan for our salvation (685; cf. 152, 243). From the Glossary of the CCC.

From the Index of the CCC: For the entire index on the Holy Spirit go here.

Holy Spirit and the Church, 738–741.
action in the sacraments, 1116, 1127–1129, 1152, 1155, 1227, 1316.
bestows hierarchical and charismatic gifts, 768.
bestows the primary elements of the whole of the Church’s mission, 852.
builds up and sanctifies the Church, 747.
changes bread and wine, 1333.
chooses suitable ministers, 1142.
Church as the temple of the, 797–801.
communion of the Holy Spirit in the liturgy, 1108–1109.
given to the apostles and in apostolic succession, 1087.
leads the Church on her missionary paths, 852.
new Law and the Law of the Gospel as the grace of, 1965–1966.
outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Baptism, 784, 786.
outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation, 1302, 1316.
as the source of the Church’s life and holiness, 749, 767–768, 867.
“Where the Church is, there also is God’s Spirit” and vice-versa, 797.
work of the Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles, 2640.

2nd  Reading. Eph 1:17-23

Aquinas: The Grace of Christ as He is Head of the Church (STh., III q. 8).

Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma: The Grace of the Head.

On the Unity of the Church (Satis Cognitum) Pope Leo XIII.

Manual of Catholic Theology on the Unity of the Church.

On the Earthly and Heavenly Kingship of Christ.

Mission of the Redeemer, Chap. 3: The Holy Spirit: The Principal Agent of Mission. Pope John Paul II.

Documents of Vatican II:

Lumen Gentium Chapters 1-3.

Lumen Gentium Chapter 7.

Ad Gentes: Preface and Chapter 1.

Alternate 2nd Reading. Eph 4:1-13

Aquinas: That God is One. Summa Contra Gentes 1. 42.

Aquinas: Whether There Should Be Different Duties Or States In The Church. STh II-II q. 183, a. 2.

Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma: God’s Unicity.

Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma: The Sanctity of the Church.

Manual of Catholic Theology on the Holiness of the Church.

MARKS (NOTES) OF THE CHURCH: The four attributes (marks or notes) of the Church mentioned in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan creed: “We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church” (811). From the Glossary of the CCC.

Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Church is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. #811-870.

From the Index of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

attributes of the Church, 750, 811, 865

one, 813–822

because of her source, her Founder, her soul, 813
bonds of unity, 815–816
the Church’s mission seeks unity, 855
diversity in unity, 814, 818–819
Eucharist as the sacrament that strengthens the Church’s unity, 1416
seeking unity by the unity already given, 820–822
wounds to unity, 817

holy, 823–29

evangelical counsels as a help to holiness, 1986
the Holy Church clasps sinners to her bosom, 825, 827, 1428
Holy Spirit as the source of holiness, 749
made holy with Mary, 829
sanctified by Christ, 823–824
soul of holiness and charity, 826

catholic, 830–856

by Christ’s will, 831
each particular Church as the Catholic Church, 823–35
meaning of the word, 830
mission as a requirement of the Church’s Catholicity, 849
relations with churches that are not, 838

apostolic, 857–865

nature of the Church, 863
succession of bishops in the place of the apostles, 862
successors designated by the apostles, 861
three meanings of, 857

Gospel Reading: Mark 16:15-20

Sacred Scripture

OT  Lev 21:6–10, Num 27:21. 2 Chr 26:18, Ps 118:26, Is 52:7–8, Je 3:15, Eze 33:7, Hag 2:11, Mal 2:7

NT Mk 3:13–19, 16:15, Lk 9:2, 22:29–30, Mt 16:18–19, 28:16–20. 1 Pet 5:2–4, Jn 21:15–17, Eph 4:11–13, Mt 7:24–25, 10:40, 18:18, Lk 10:3, 5–6, 16, Jn 7:16, 14:16–17, 16:13, 17:20–21, 20:21, Ac 1:8, 15:28–29, 41. 1 Cor 2:16; 3:9; 4:1–2, 21; 5:3–5; 9:16; 12:28. 2 Cor 2:10, 5:18, 20, 10:8, 13:10. 1 Th 2:4; 1 Tim 3:15, Tit 1:5, Heb 13:17. 1 Pe 1:25, 1 Jn 2:26–27, Mk 1:25–26, 6:7, 13, 10:43–45, 16:17, Lk 22:26–27, Jn 10:11, Rom 10:14–15, 17. 1 Cor 13:12, Heb 5:4, 1 Jn 3:2, Rev 22:4

Selections From the Index to the Catechism of the Catholic Church on Authority/Authorities: for full index see here.

of the Apostles, 551, 873, 1444, 1575.
bishops’, 883, 888, 894, 1596, 2034, 2179.
Christ’s, 581–582, 651, 668–669, 1063, 1441, 1673, 2173.
the Church’s, 85, 119, 553, 874, 895, 918, 1023, 1125, 1399, 1578, 1635, 1673, 1792, 2037, 2420.
of the Church’s ministers, 875, 1551, 1563.
God’s, 156, 239, 668, 1295, 1381, 2086, 2777.
of the Magisterium of the Church, 88, 2036.
of the Supreme Pontiff, 1594, 2034.

Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma: Christ as Teacher and Prophet.

Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma: The Hierarchical Constitution of the Church.

Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma: necessity of Baptism for Salvation.

Aquinas: Is it Lawful to Adjure Demons? STh II-II q. 90, a. 2.