Most dioceses in the United States of America now celebrate The Ascension of the Lord on Sunday rather than Thursday. There are two components that stand out to me each year in regard to what we have lost by doing that. First, is the original novena. Second, we never hear the readings assigned to The Seventh Sunday of Easter.
Waiting upon the descent of the Holy Spirit during the time from The Ascension of the Lord until Pentecost was powerful for the Apostles. It should remain powerful for us as well. These (originally) nine days of prayer were an opportunity to pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Thankfully, many people still utilize these nine days to do just that. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t line up as well with the liturgical calendar as it now stands.
Another real loss is the fact that we never hear the readings assigned to The Seventh Sunday of Easter. I invite and encourage you to read them on your own. There is plenty to meditate upon in these omitted readings. You can find them here:
Seventh Sunday of Easter | USCCB
