4 Suffer

and rise.-One was the prelude, the other the great fact

to begin the Church.

Penance. This is the door for the sinner.

"Remission of sins.-The sinner is a child of heaven, then. In His name. Not without His authority.

All nations.-Catholic or Universal, from Jerusalem as a centre, taking up what the Old Dispensation had lost.

You are witnesses. He addresses especially His Apostles.

'I send the promise.-This is the great commission which they were to hand down to future generations.

10 With power from on high.-They might object their weakness. The Day of Pentecost was near, and they waited.

S. Luke reserves his full description of the Ascension for the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. There, verse 14, we are told that they returned to Jerusalem, went to an upper room-the cenaculum-and there "all these (the Eleven) were persevering with one mind in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren."

It would not be stretching the sacred text too far to suppose that these companions witnessed His Ascension as well as the Eleven.

The picture of Our Lady nursing the Infant Church until the Coming of the Holy Ghost is often lost sight of by writers on this subject. We see them gathered around her, going at stated times to the Temple, returning again to this upper chamber and spending the days of the Expectation in prayer. He did not leave them orphans, for She was with them until the Holy Ghost came; and, then they were all men going forth in the strength they had received. They did not forget what they owed to Mary.

1Bethania.—This was beside Mount Olivet, or rather on its declivity. 2Lifting up his hands.-Giving his most solemn blessing. He came into this world in cold and hunger. He was badly treated whilst in it, and now He leaves it, blessing us. Let us try and deserve that blessing.

He departed from them.-He arose into the air gradually, so that they had plenty of time to observe His majestic departure.

4Carried up. This form of the verb would say that He went Himself gradually towards Heaven.

Adoring. They all fell on their knees and adored Him. This is the first time we read of their having done so. The cloud came, then the angels spoke, and they returned to Jerusalem.

Joy. They were sorry because He went, but joyful to see His glory and the grand triumph He had over the world and over death.

"Continually. That is to say, they went there at the regular hours of

prayer. They did not live there, as S. Luke himself tells us.

Amen. This is supposed to be added by some scribe in after times.

The Ascension:

Ist. Victory over Sufferings.
2nd. Victory over Death.
3rd. Shewed us our rewards.

The ten days:

Ist. Were spent in prayer. 2nd. Public and

prayer.

private

3rd. In company with Mary.