Prayer for Ascension Day

God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of the trumpet. Sing praises to God; sing praises to our King. Thus, O my Jesus, mighty victorious Prince, I celebrate Thy ascension, by which, having finished the work of redeeming the human race, Thou enteredst into Thy glory. All our foes, the devil, the world, sin, and death lie prostrate beneath Thy feet.

Thou hast delivered us from them. When Thou hadst Thyself purged our sins, Thou sattest down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

My Jesus, all this is a great comfort to me; and I rejoice over it from my inmost soul. As Thy coming to earth brought joy, so Thy ascension brings consolation. Thou sittest at the right hand of God and intercedest for us. Consequently, when I pray, I pray not alone. Thy Spirit prays in me, and Thou prayest for me. And thus my poor weak prayer is graciously heard for thy sake.

I rejoice when I think of Thy words: “I go to prepare a place for you; that where I am, there ye may be also.” My soul is refreshed by the knowledge that Thou hast prepared a place for me, and that, when I die, I shall enter that place and dwell in it for ever. Thou art crowned with glory and honor, and hast laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which Thou, the righteous Judge, wilt give to all them that love Thy appearing. Thou hast entered upon Thy kingdom, and rulest over heaven and earth, in the realms of nature, of grace, and of glory. And some day Thou wilt say to me, as well as to all the believers: Come, ye blessed of My Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Thou didst, according to Thy human nature, obtain gifts for men, that Thou mightest bestow them upon us, Thy brethren who believe in Thee. O my Jesus, give to me a twofold gift which I sorely need: Give me here on earth Thy Holy Spirit, — godliness, purity, meekness, humility, Thy righteousness, sonship with God, life, and peace; and at last give me also the eternal blessedness and glory of heaven. Since Thou, my Head, art exalted, I know that Thou wilt draw me after Thee. Since Thy Spirit gives me life, I shall dwell eternally with Thee. O what consolation, what joy, what glory is this which my Saviour promises to His disciples: “Where I am, there my servant shall be also.” O my Jesus, let me be where Thou art; draw me after Thee. Thou sittest at the right hand of God: bring me to the company of the holy angels and the elect; let me behold the glory which Thou hast prepared for the believers.

And although, O dearest Friend of my soul, Thou hast removed from me Thy visible presence, Thou art still with me invisibly in accordance with Thy promise, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Therefore I am content; for I know that Thou art with me in my hours of need. Thou deliverest me from danger, Thou refreshest me in afflictions, Thou comfortest me in sorrow, Thou guardest me against adversities. I am, therefore, of good courage: Jesus is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? Though I see Thee not, yet I love Thee, and I know that I shall one day behold Thee and rejoice in Thee with unspeakable joy. I shall see Thee after death, when my soul ascends to heaven; and I shall see Thee with these eyes on the last day, when I rise from the dead. To this end, I will daily ascend in thought to heaven, and behold with the eye of faith my future home, my future crown, my abiding place, my robe of white. I will, as long as I am still on earth, forsake the world with my heart, with my love, with my life: I will shun all its vanities, habits, and sins, because these would hinder my ascension. In this way I will live, while I live, unto the Lord; and when I die, I shall die in the Lord. Amen.