Milanese Ascension Spectacle

Today being the Octave Day of the Ascension is an appropriate day on which to share this post by Gregory DiPippo from The New Liturgical Movement a week ago about the distinctive feature, over and beyond the Ambrosian Rite, of the celebration of Ascension Day in the cathedral of Milan.

The ceremony is of the type that are described in accounts of medieval liturgies and still in pre-1789 French churches, or such survivals today as the Assumption Mystery Play at Elche in Spain. The Milan Ciloster dates from 1447, which is just the era when such spectacle was valued as an adjunct to worship.

The background and the video link are at A Unique Milanese Custom for the Feast of the Ascension