by Br. Alexis Bugnolo

The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ occurred 40 days after His glorious Resurrection in the year 33 A. D..

He was crucified on April 3rd of that year, and rose from the dead on April 5th of that year. — We are talking here about the Julian Calendar dates. I have explained this elsewhere in detail on April 5, 2020.

Thus, since Our Lord ascended by His own divine power to Heaven, to sit at the Right Hand of the Divine Majesty of His natural and eternal Father, it follows that He did so on May 15th of that year.

But our Lady’s Assumption into Heaven — the most ancient of all Marian Feasts in Christendom, is celebrated on August 15th.

So numerologically, we can say that Our Lady’s own assumption was a commemoration of our Lord’s Ascension.

We also have a profound reason why the Mysteries of the Rosary are 15, not 20, as Pope John Paul II wanted them to be.