The Ascension of the Lord is not simply the moment when Jesus rises to heaven after the Resurrection. From the spirituality of Saint Marie Eugenie of Jesus, this mystery is a call to live with our hearts lifted toward God, while remaining fully committed to our mission in the world.
Forty days to prepare the Church
After the Resurrection, Jesus remained forty days with his disciples. His appearances were never random: he strengthened their faith, instituted the sacraments, and prepared the Apostles to carry forward the mission of the Church.
Saint Marie Eugenie also highlights how Christ sought moments of prayer and quiet recollection. Even in his glory, he teaches us something essential: mission and contemplation do not oppose each other — they need each other.
A mystery that invites us to lift our hearts
The Ascension reminds every Christian that life cannot be confined to earthly concerns alone. Jesus ascends to draw our thoughts, desires, and hopes toward heaven.
In a world marked by hurry and daily anxieties, this mystery asks us a direct question: where is our heart, really?
Mary: a model of hope and faithfulness
The Virgin Mary holds a central place in this mystery. After the Ascension, she remains with the newborn Church, sustaining the disciples through her prayer and her presence.
For Saint Marie Eugenie, Mary teaches us to see all things from God's perspective. She did not stand frozen, gazing at the sky. She stayed, accompanying, interceding, trusting.
The Church lives in waiting
The writings of Saint Marie Eugenie describe the Church after the Ascension as living in a "state of widowhood": waiting for Christ's return. But this is not an empty or resigned waiting. It is an active waiting, full of hope. The Lord has ascended to heaven, yet he remains present and at work among his people.
An invitation for today
The Ascension is a call to live with greater depth, adoration, and trust. Contemplating the glorified Christ helps us put passing things in perspective and remember that our true goal is God.
Almudena de la Torre
Communication Team