Most people even in the SSPX do not know what Ascension Thursday is about. It is not a sad day when Our Lord left the apostles. It is not a day of a visible miracle when He ascended to heaven.

Ascension Thursday is the day that the inhabitants of Limbo of the Patriarchs from Adam and Eve all the way to the Good thief were waiting for, for 5000+ years. It was the day that the Gates of Heaven were opened by Christ himself, and they could all finally enter to Heaven.

That is why Ascension Thursday is a feast day.

Thank you, bowler.  There were some NO priests, no doubt, that objected to it being moved to the Sunday following initially.  My parent's priest didn't like the idea.  But I imagine they get use to it rather quickly.   Maybe if these priests would let their bishop know how they feel, it would make a difference.  The same thing holds for those in the pews.  Interestingly, they don't seem to care/notice that it messes up the novena between the Ascension and Pentecost.  But then, maybe no one prays novenas anymore.  Very sad. [/quote]

Quote from: bowler

Most people even in the SSPX do not know what Ascension Thursday is about. It is not a sad day when Our Lord left the apostles. It is not a day of a visible miracle when He ascended to heaven.

Ascension Thursday is the day that the inhabitants of Limbo of the Patriarchs from Adam and Eve all the way to the Good thief were waiting for, for 5000+ years. It was the day that the Gates of Heaven were opened by Christ himself, and they could all finally enter to Heaven.

That is why Ascension Thursday is a feast day.

Thank you, bowler.  There were some NO priests, no doubt, that objected to it being moved to the Sunday following initially.  My parent's priest didn't like the idea.  But I imagine they get use to it rather quickly.   Maybe if these priests would let their bishop know how they feel, it would make a difference.  The same thing holds for those in the pews.  Interestingly, they don't seem to care/notice that it messes up the novena between the Ascension and Pentecost.  But then, maybe no one prays novenas anymore.  Very sad.

There are some that still pray novenas, and they start on Thursday, even
though the 'Feast is moved to Sunday.'  This business of having one foot
on each side of the aisle is actually ENCOURAGED by Noochurch.  E.g.,
B16's 'hermeneutic of continuity' and +Fellay's AFD II, II(1), III.1, III.3, III.4,
III.4(8), III.5, III.6, III.7 and III.8.


It seems to me that the moving of this from Thursday to Sunday is based
on a double objective:  

A)  Any Kind of Change is 'good' inasmuch as it is different from what came
before it (i.e. change per se is 'desireable'), which provides the
opportunity to adopt a sort of amnesia of what Ascension Day traditionally
meant;

B)   The opportunity is to put a new 'happy face' on it by saying that now it
must adopt the inherent joyfulness of Sunday - since all Sundays of the year
are to some extent a joyful commemoration of the Resurrection.  



Holy Week, including Good Friday, is always on weekdays for a reason.  
It is not much different with Ascension Day, which should be a day marked
primarily with MYSTERY, for the Apostles all stood there struck with
puzzlement, thus the appearance of the "two men in white garments,"
asking them why they're gawking upwards with their mouths open, basically.

Were they high-fiveing each other?  Did they form a daisy-chain back to
the upper-party-room?  Were they jumping in rhythm, chanting in verse
as the pagans?  But those are things the NovusOrdo does on every Sunday,
at least in the Focolare and NeoCatechumenal Way Noochurch.  Get with the
program!  

This year is a typical example, for Ameri-Noochurch.  Ascension Sunday is
also Mother's Day.  This is the occasion for joyfulness.  The party atmosphere
is a done deal.. now, they might make a gesture or give lip service to the
mystery aspect, but that will be a passing moment, a kind of dramatic pause
in the proceedings, to provide a sort of 'low point' from which things can only
go upwards, in the manner of an Irish Wake.  

This is what makes Noochruch so tolerable for the masses -- the fact that
every Sunday is just another party, in every way possible.  St. Therese of
Lisieux said her favorite Feast Day was Sunday.  

Having Ascension Day on Thursday gives everyone pause to contemplate
the mystery of the day on its own day.  

Quote from: TKGS

In addition to moving Ascension Thursday to the following Sunday, the Novus Ordo in the United States simply cancels the obligation for any Holy Day (other than Christmas and the Immaculate Conception) if it falls on a Saturday or Monday because it's just too confusing to know when to go to church.

Yes, and this creates a sticky wicket for the Ecclesia Dei groups that are under the diocesan bishop. They can hardly require their people to attend Mass on Holy Days, when the diocese says it's optional.

I think it's not so much that the laity don't want to go to Mass two days in a row, but rather that the priests don't want to be bothered with offering additional Masses two days in a row and preparing two sermons.

This Saturday/Monday cancellation has been the situation in L.A. for about
18 years due to Cardfile Balony's revolution.  I should be grateful to him for
giving me the nudge I needed to set myself free with the truth.  

Now the Sticky Wicket Syndrome ought to be instructive for the 'deal' with
modernist Rome scenario in the Neo-SSPX.  E.g., how could any 'agreement'
assure the Neo-SSPX that come Ascension Day next year (after the sellout)
that Neo-SSPXers won't be required to 'obediently' move this to Sunday, for
the Mass will not be on Thursday so as to conform to the Local Ordinary's
Norms?  ~~  At least in some places, that is!!  



Thanks to M.D. for a wonderful graphic!!