For some years now, my family and I have attended the Easter Vigil. I thought that I would offer some history and remarks about this service. The Easter Vigil is the high point of the Easter Triduum: the first official celebration of the passion and resurrection of Jesus. The Church, in worship, expresses her faith in the mystery that brought her into being through a rich display of symbols, rites and readings.
The Easter Vigil opens with a Service of Light. Like the Jewish Passover, our Catholic Easter celebration coincides with the beginning of spring, when the sun offers new warmth and the earth is set to flourish again. Our words “Lent” and “Easter” point to the long tradition of seeing the holy mystery through the signs of the natural world. Lent from the Middle-English word for spring, “lengthening days” and Easter from the Anglo-Saxon signifying “the east"/"the rising sun." The lighting of the fire and the Easter candle go back to rites that long preceded Christianity. The candle, carried with loving reverence and lyrically praised in word and song, is a sign of Christ, “the light of the world” and celebrates the victory of light over darkness that humanity has ever longed for.
During the Easter Vigil, there are nine readings: seven from the Old and two from the New Testament. (Note: Not all the readings are required due to time constraints. My parish has adopted a smaller number in the past couple of years. I will say it now that yes I do like this new adoption!) The series of readings recall God’s great involvement in history, from the beginning with creation to the redemption of Israel from Egypt. The last reading is the story of Jesus’ resurrection. The great “Alleluia!” proclaims with a gentle joy the triumph of Christ, the Son of God.
Another beautiful part of the Easter Vigil is that it is during this service that adult catechumens who have been preparing for the sacraments of initiation are received into full communion with the Church by baptism and/or confirmation. As a parishioner, is a truly a pleasure to witness their joy and share in their joy at this time. After the celebration of these sacraments of initiation for the catechumens, the congregation renews their baptismal vows and receives a sprinkling of baptismal water. At Easter we have the option to renew our identity as Catholics by renewing our baptismal promises to reject evil an all that is not life giving. We adhere to Christ and all that builds life. The discipleship that is made in Baptism is our communion with the triune God and our communion with the Church, the body of Christ. (Our vertical and horizontal communion.) Easter is about Christ rising from the bonds of death to life. Renewing our baptismal vows is most appropriate at this time because we too are called to die to ourselves and embrace Christ, who was sent by God to raise us from the bonds of sin and death.
This night says, “REJOICE!” as it brings us before the deepest symbols of our hope. The light has conquered the darkness, a sign of evil and death. The candle has lit the fire that is burning in our hearts. A nourishing water flows through our lives; baptism wipe out what is unclean and bring us to life again. The night says, “REJOICE!” to all of creation. Christ, as a new Adam, freshly proclaims the promise of life from God. All of creation celebrates God’s love.
Almighty ever-living God,
who are wonderful in the ordering of all your works,
may those you have redeemed understand
that there exists nothing more marvelous
than the world’s creation in the beginning
except that, at the end of the ages,
Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.
Who lives and reigns forever and ever.
Amen.
There is no better example of the Church at it's best than the Easter Vigil. I always tell everyone that it has all the bells and whistles that a liturgy can have. it's "ritual filled". Just beautiful and ours was certainly lovely this year. Though we had no one come into the church, and we pray, we will soon, it was glorious celebration. As we processed in from the fire and the flame from the baptismal candle, which then lights all the congregation's candles, the light of Christ's victorious resurrection slowly begins to emerge, light over darkness. Then after the Old Testament readings, we sing the GLORIA, the bells that were silenced over the last few days ring throughout the Church, REJOICE, He has triumphant! HE LIVES!! Ritual at it's best!
ReplyDeletePS, so glad you were there for the Triduum.