After His Passion, appearing to them over forty days, and speaking to them of the kingdom of God, alleluia:
* and while they beheld, He was taken up, alleluia, and a cloud received Him out of their sight, alleluia.
V. And, eating together with them, He commanded them that they should not leave Jerusalem, but rather wait for the promise of the Father.
And while they beheld, He was taken up, alleluia, and a cloud received Him out of their sight, alleluia. (
The first responsory of Matins of the Ascension.)
 |
| The Ascension Dome of the Basilica of St Mark in Venice; mosaics ca. 1175-1200. (click to enlarge) The words written in a circle that separate Christ and the four angels around him from the Virgin Mary and Apostles are four hexameters, “Dicite quid statis, quid in aethere consideratis. / Filius iste Dei, Christus, cives Galilaei, / Sumptus ut a vobis abit et sic arbiter orbis / Judicii cura veniet dare debita jura.” (Tell us what you are standing and looking at in Heaven. This Son of God, Christ, o ye citizens of Galilee, being taken from you, goes; and so He will come as the judge of the world, with right judgment to give all their due.) |
R. Post passionem suam per dies quadraginta apparens eis, et loquens de regno Dei, alleluia:
* Et videntibus illis elevatus est, alleluia: et nubes suscepit eum ab oculis eorum, alleluia.
V. Et convescens praecepit eis, ab Jerosolymis ne discederent, sed exspectarent promissionem Patris.
Et videntibus illis elevatus est, alleluia: et nubes suscepit eum ab oculis eorum, alleluia.
