Prayer for Ascension Day

O Lord, King of glory,
when you fulfilled all that the prophets had spoken about you,
you ascended to your Father’s throne,
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
While you reign in heaven,
do not let us be weighed down by earthly things,
but keep our hearts looking upward
where our Redeemer has gone before;
through your mercy, O our God,
you are blessed,
and live and govern all things,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 28 #3

“prophets had spoken about you” is a reference to Luke 24:25, Acts 3:24

“opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers” is a reference to the Te Deum Laudamus

“do not let us be weighed down by earthly things, but keep our hearts looking up”  is a reference to Colossians 3:2