Start the day by adoring Jesus Christ ascending into heaven: congratulate him on his glorious triumph. Before he leaves the earth, receive his blessing with the apostles; ask him ardently for faith, and do frequent acts of it. May this spirit of faith attach you to God, and constantly sigh towards this heavenly abode that glorious Jesus will prepare for you today by his ascension.
MEDITATION
1st point . Faith brings us closer to God; but it must be a faith of the mind and the heart: that is to say, it must be believed and loved at the same time; the mind must be perfectly submissive, and the heart aflame and ready to submit to all the most rigorous practices of the faith, when it would be a question of shedding down to the last drop of your blood. Ask it of the Holy Spirit, who is its author. Take a tender and respectful look at Jesus ready to ascend to heaven: his eyes, which had shed so many tears on the cross, are now brighter than the sun; his head is no longer crowned with bloody thorns, it is crowned with glory. All the wounds which disfigured his body gave him a truly divine radiance, and contributed to the glory and splendor of his triumph. Take care of this adorable object of your faith, since the Savior triumphs today both for himself and for you.
2nd point . Let us now enter into the sentiments of the apostles; they were then as if suspended between heaven and earth: their hearts heaved sighs, and their alarmed love keenly felt the loss they were going to make; their eyes shed tears of sadness and joy at the same time: of sadness, because they lost for a time the sensitive presence of their adorable master, who thus wanted to give more elevation and merit to their faith; of joy, because they took part in the triumph of him whom they adored as their god, and whom they loved only as their savior. Let us imitate their faith and their love; let us be animated by an ardent desire to fill the place that Jesus Christ has prepared for us in heaven by his glorious ascension. If your faith approaches that of the apostles, nothing should interest you but God alone, and the care of ensuring a blessed eternity; look at yourself as a stranger who is only passing through this world, and who hastens to break his bonds to go straight to his homeland which is heaven.
FEELINGS
Reign, O my divine Redeemer, as a king of glory: ascend to heaven victorious over sin, death and all the powers of earth and hell. Ascend there by your own power and escorted by an infinity of celestial spirits and an innumerable troop of patriarchs, prophets and righteous souls. O my divine Savior, you have ascended to heaven to prepare a place for me: make me worthy to occupy it one day; support me with your grace; draw me after you, O my God; increase my faith; and give me perseverance unto death, to merit the crown of eternity.
GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Piety
Ask with ardor for the gift of piety, it is a virtue which is brought towards God through universal, respectful and ardent worship; towards his homeland, his family with compassionate kindness and always ready to help them. This is the first of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and which will attract all the others to you.
