The Second Glorious Mystery of the Rosary is the Ascension of Our Lord, when, 40 days after His Resurrection, Christ returned to His Heavenly Father. The virtue most commonly associated with the mystery of the Ascension is the theological virtue of hope.
Meditation on the Ascension:
"Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as you have seen him going into heaven" (Acts 1:11). Just as the angels announced Christ's Resurrection by reminding the faithful women of His words, so now they remind the Apostles, standing on Mount Olivet, looking up into the clouds into which Jesus had ascended, that He had promised to come again.
"Art thou the Christ the Son of the blessed God?" the high priest had asked (Mark 14:61). And Christ had answered, "I am. And you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of the power of God, and coming with the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:62). His answer had enraged the high priest and the Sandhedrin, and gave them a reason to put Him to death.
For those who believe in Christ, though, the answer brings not rage, nor fear, but hope. In ascending to Heaven, Christ has left us for a little while, though He has not left us alone, but in the loving embrace of His Church. Christ has gone before us to prepare the way, and when He returns, if we have been faithful to Him, our reward will be great in Heaven.
