The notion of ascension , which has its etymological origin in the Latin word ascensio , refers to the act and result of ascending . This verb (ascend), meanwhile, refers to going up , in such a way that the movement allows us to reach a higher place.
For example: “I knew that the ascent would be hard, but I never imagined that reaching the top of the mountain would require such a great effort, both physically and mentally” , “Climbing without a rope implies a challenge that few athletes are willing to face” , “If the weather conditions allow it, tomorrow we will make a new ascent with the aim of conquering the summit.”
Ascension can also be used symbolically. In this case, ascension involves accessing a place considered better than others or the position held until then. The term can also be linked to growth or development : “The rise of the most reactionary right worries social movements,” “The singer worked hard to achieve his rise and become a recognized figure,” “This system prevents the social ascension since it privileges the maintenance of the status quo.”
In the area of Catholicism , on the other hand, ascension is the rise of Jesus Christ to the Kingdom of Heaven . According to the Bible , the resurrected body of Jesus rose before the eyes of the apostles to enter divine glory.
With an initial capital letter, finally, Ascension is the name of the Catholic holiday that allows us to celebrate the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven . The date is movable, since it is the fortieth day after Easter , which is also known as Easter Sunday . This festival led to the creation of the given name Ascension .
This holiday is also known as Ascension Day . It is important to highlight that Christian tradition indicates that Jesus rose to the heavens in body and soul , as we can see that birds do, although in this case driven by a divine power, to unite with his Father, God; This differentiates the ascension from some experiences described by other religions, in which a transformation of the spirit takes place.
This characteristic of the ascension of Jesus Christ is related to the relevance that the Christian religion gives to the concept of corporeality , to the fact that the Word of God was incarnated in his son in the form of a human being to save our species, which had fallen into the hands of sin. This holiday is celebrated in various countries in Europe, Africa, America, Asia and Oceania, including France, Burundi, Colombia, South Korea and Vanuatu.
The Ascension is recounted, for example, in the Gospel according to Mark , although it is not very extensive. The other apostles accompanied their teacher, all sitting in the place where the Last Supper was celebrated, which is known as the Cenacle . It was at that moment that Jesus reproached them for their doubts, for the fact that they had not believed in his resurrection, and told them to go around the world announcing the Gospel .
Jesus added that those people who believed and received baptism would be saved, while the rest would be damned. To recognize the faithful, the believers, he listed a series of traits that would distinguish them from the skeptics: they would be able to expel demons in his name, speak new languages, catch vipers with their own hands and drink their poison without suffering any harm. harm, in addition to healing the sick by laying his hands on them. Having said all this, he began his ascension towards heaven, to finally sit at the right hand of God.