On the Traditional Feast of the Ascension: A Message from Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

The Papal Artifacts’ Collection is primarily dedicated to artifacts connected to the papacy. Individual popes, their biographies and multiple items belonging to them, including first and second class relics, make up the majority of this Collection. But that isn’t all it is.

Father Kunst has a deep devotion to the saints as can be readily seen in viewing the Saints & Blesseds section of this site. We invite you to visit Papal History/Saints & Blesseds to view the many canonized and beatified men and women who make up this section of the Collection.

Another category is also included with this Collection: Notable Individuals. These are people significantly associated with the Catholic Church who have not been canonized but contributed in outstanding ways to the church.

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen is one of them. A favorite of the Curator of Papal Artifacts, Archbishop Sheen continues to bless us with his reflections. This is one of them.

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

“Our blessed Lord did not ascend to heaven immediately after the Resurrection but remained on earth for 40 days, speaking to the Apostles about the Kingdom of God. It was during these days that He gave the details of His Church, which He said would have its visible manifestation on Pentecost.

‘And so the Lord Jesus, when he had finished speaking to them, was taken up to heaven, and is seated now at the right hand of God.’ Seated is a figurative expression of eternal repose, which He has merited by His victory over sin. At the right hand is a symbol of His power of eternal intercession before His heavenly Father on our behalf.

The Ascension of Christ is the assurance of our own ascension into heaven after the Last Judgment. Not yet ascended in body, we nevertheless enjoy the ascension of our minds in union with Him. We find our true home in heaven. It is to heaven that we look expectantly for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to save us; He will form this humbled body of ours anew, modeling it into the image of His glorified body, so effective is His power to make all things obey Him.

O heavenly Magnet, in each communion draw our body and blood to Thy own, that already following Thee in heart, we may later ascend with Thee in the flesh!”

+ Archbishop Fulton Sheen (The Fifteen Mysteries)

Here is a link to Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen: