Warning. More on Catholic celebration of Holy Week.

Tonight is my absolute favorite. Easter Vigil. Liturgically, it is the most important day in the church.

Traditionally, the girls will wear their last year's Easter outfits to this Mass.

The actual day starts in the religious calendar at sundown. We get this from Judaism. So, the Easter Vigil (waiting for the Resurrection of Christ), begins at sundown on Holy Saturday (or in practicality, as soon after sundown as the Priest can arrange, given the schedule and how many churches he serves.)

The church which is completely dark. There is no Holy Water in the fonts. Everything is bare to the bone. There are no vestments on the Altar. There are no flowers. The church is laid bare, as was Christ.

We all stand quietly, outside the church, where a fire is blessed by the Priest. This new fire symbolizes the radiance of the Risen Christ dispelling the darkness of sin and death. The Paschal Candle is then blessed, and lit. The Paschal candle will be used throughout the season of Easter, remaining in the sanctuary of the church or near the lectern, and throughout the coming year at baptisms and funerals, reminding all, that Christ is "light and life."

Once the candle has been lit there follows the ancient and dramatic rite of the Lucernarium, in which the candle is carried by a priest through the nave of the church, itself in complete darkness, stopping three times to chant an acclamation such as 'Christ our Light' or 'Light of Christ' . He is preceded by any Altar servers who are assisting at the Mass, and we all responds 'Thanks be to God' or 'Deo Gracias'.

As the candle proceeds through the church, all present (i.e. those who have received the "Light of Christ") receive candles which are lit from the Paschal candle. As this symbolic "Light of Christ" spreads throughout those gathered, the darkness is decreased.

Once the candle has been placed on its stand in the sanctuary, the lights in the church are switched on, dramatically, one at a time, and the assembly extinguish their candles (although in some churches, the custom is to continue the liturgy by candlelight until the Gloria).

The priest, deacon or a cantor now chants the Exsultet (also called the "Easter Proclamation" or "Paschal Praeconium"), after which the people take their seats as the liturgy of the word begins.

The Priest then does the seven readings from the Old Testament, which are both important and symbolic.

After these readings conclude, the Easter Vigil proper is finished, the celebrant removes his cope and puts on a chasuble and the candles are lit on the altar, the altar vestments are returned and the Mass of the Resurrection begins. After the singing of the Kyrie, the Gloria is sung for the first time since before Lent, and the church bells and the organ, silent since Holy Thursday, are sounded again. The Alleluia is sung for the first time since the beginning of Lent - however, it is a very solemn alleluia at this time. The Gospel of the Resurrection then follows, along with the sermon.

After the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word, the water of the baptismal font is solemnly blessed and any candidates for full communion are initiated into the church, via baptism and confirmation, if there are any. (in the Church, we do not do ANY of the sacraments except Last Rites, during Lent. No marriages, no baptisms, etc.) After the celebration of these sacraments of initiation, we all renew our baptismal vows and receive the sprinkling of Holy Water.. The prayers of the faithful (of which the newly baptized are now a part) follow.

After the prayers, the first Mass of Easter Day is celebrated. During the Eucharist, the newly baptized receive Holy Communion for the first time.



It is quite dramatic, quite Holy and quite beautiful. It signifies again, each and every year, of the Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus.

The kids love it, and so do I. Like I said earlier, some people make fun of the rituals. I like them a lot. This one particularly reminds me of how lost we would all be without the Grace which Christ's death gives us.

I have been to other Easter services, and they are beautiful as well. Many churches celebrate sunrise service on Easter. They are profound services and very special.

I do like the fact that we do Easter Vigil Mass. I love the darkened church which reminds me how dark our lives would be without Christ in them. I like the lighting ceremonies which symbolize for me, how the Light of Christ makes such a difference in your life

I really do feel badly for atheists and agnostics. How dreary it must feel to think that THIS is all there is? I cannot even imagine dying with the thought that it was over.

They say that we are all delusional. LOL. That's okay too. I like my delusion. I think I would probably be a lot more inclined to suicide if I thought there was no God. I mean, if your life is going to shit, and you don't have the knowledge of God in Heaven, what is there to make you continue?

I know, (nodding), that is the delusional and easy answer. But hey!! It works for me, and this is MY blog so there PP:PppppPppPpP.

Then, the following morning is the traditional Easter Mass, which is the second Mass of Easter. That;s the one where the girls wear the new clothes, to signify the beginning of the new life, the life with Christ.

Peace to you.