Hail the day that sees Him rise

Today!

John Singleton Copley's The Ascension

Hail the day that sees Him rise, Alleluia!
To His throne above the skies; Alleluia!
Christ, the Lamb, for sinners given, Alleluia!
Enters now the highest heaven!  Alleluia!

There for Him high triumph waits; Alleluia!
Lift your heads, eternal gates!  Alleluia!
He hath conquered death and sin; Alleluia!
Take the King of glory in!  Alleluia!

Lo! the heaven its Lord receives, Alleluia!
Yet He loves the earth He leaves; Alleluia!
Though returning to His throne, Alleluia!
Still He calls mankind His own.  Alleluia!

Lord, though parted from our sight, Alleluia!
Far above the starry height, Alleluia!
Grant our hearts may thither rise, Alleluia!
Seeking Thee above the skies.  Alleluia!

There we shall with Thee remain, Alleluia!
Partners of Thy eternal reign, Alleluia!
There Thy face forever see, Alleluia!
Find our heaven of heavens in Thee, Alleluia!

                              -  words here a little different from Charles Wesley's, but a wonderful hymn

"The meaning of Christ's Ascension expresses our belief that in Christ the humanity that we all share has entered into the inner life of God in a new and hitherto unheard of way. It means that man has found an everlasting place in God... Jesus himself is what we call 'heaven'."

                                     -  Pope Benedict XVI