'Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God.' Sunday Reflections, 7th Sunday of Easter, Year C

 

The Last Supper (detail)

Andrea del Sarto [Web Gallery of Art]

This Mass is celebrated in places where the Ascension is observed on Ascension Thursday: England & Wales, Scotland and in these ecclesiastical provinces in the USA: Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Omaha, Philadelphia.

You will find Sunday Reflections for The Ascension here.

Readings, (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)

Readings, (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)

Gospel, John 17:20-26 (English Standard Version Anglicised: India)  

Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said:

 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

The Martyrdom of St Stephen

Rubens [Web Gallery of Art]

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55; First Reading).

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world (John 17:24; Gospel).

Since we are travellers and pilgrims in the world, let us ever ponder on the end of the road, that is of our life, for the end of our roadway is our home (St Columban, 8th sermon).

Come down, O love divine

Translated from the Italian of Bianco da Siena by Richard Frederick Littledale; music by Ralph Vaughan Williams

A hymn to the Holy Spirit sung between the Ascension and Pentecost.

Traditional Latin Mass

Sunday After the Ascension

The Complete Mass in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 05-29-2022 if necessary).

Epistle: 1 Peter 4:7-11 . Gospel: John 15:26 - 16:1-4.

The Last Supper

Don Silvestro dei Gherarducci [Web Gallery of Art]