[Salvation]

FEAST OF THE DAY

Today is Holy Saturday. We spend the day meditating on the
mysteries of Good Friday and preparing for the joyful season of
Easter. The altar remains bare throughout the day and the only Mass
that is celebrated is that of the Easter Vigil. The Easter Vigil Mass is
usually begun after nightfall to emphasize the fact that Jesus is the
Light of the World and to heighten our anticipation of his
Resurrection. At the Easter Vigil, the Alleluia is again heard and the
prayers, fasting and almsgiving of Lent have come to their finale. The
Easter Vigil is the proper time for celebrating the Sacraments of
Initiation that those enrolled in RCIA programs have been preparing
for.

The best way to give an idea of the importance of Easter is given in
the Exultet, an ancient prayer that is said or sung near the beginning
of the Easter Vigil. The text of this prayer follows.

It is truly right that with full hearts and minds and voices we should
praise the unseen God, the all-powerful Father, and his only Son, our
Lord Jesus Christ.

For Christ has ransomed us with his blood, and paid for us the price
of Adam's sin to our eternal Father!

This is our passover feast, when Christ, the true Lamb, is slain,
whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers.

The night when first you saved our fathers: you freed the people of
Israel from their slavery and led them dry-shod through the sea.

This is the night when the pillar of fire destroyed the darkness of sin!

This is the night when Christians everywhere, washed clean of sin
and freed from all defilement, are restored to grace and grow
together in holiness.

This is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and
rose triumphant form the grave.

What good would life have been to us, had Christ not come as our
Redeemer?

Father, how boundless is your care for us! How boundless your
merciful love! To ransom a slave you gave away your Son.

O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so
great a Redeemer!

Most blessed of all nights, chosen by God to see Christ rising from
the dead!

Of this night scripture says: "The night will be as clear as day: it will
become my light, my joy."

The power of this holy night dispels all evil, washes guilt away,
restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy; it casts out hatred,
brings us peace, and humbles earthly pride.

Night truly blessed when heaven is wedded to earth and man is
reconciled with God!

Therefore, heavenly Father, in the joy of this night, receive our
evening sacrifice of praise, your Church's solemn offering.

Accept this Easter candle, a flame divided but undimmed, a pillar of
fire that glows to the honor of God.

Let it mingle with the lights of heaven and continue bravely burning
to dispel the darkness of this night!

May the Morning Star which never sets find this flame still burning:
Christ, that Morning Star, who came back from the dead, and shed
his peaceful light on all mankind, your Son who lives and reigns for
ever and ever.

Amen

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TODAY IN HISTORY

1775 American Revolution begins at Lexington
1887 The Catholic University of America was chartered in Washington, D.C.

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INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for all who will be welcomed into the Church tonight.

[Salvation]

Finally found these prayers for the Service of Light and Exsultet:

	THE EASTER LITURGY
		THE VIGIL
	1	The president may introduce the Vigil using these or other appropriate words.
			Brothers and sisters in Christ, on this most holy night, in which our LordJesus Christ passed over from death to life, the Church invites her members, dispersed throughout the world, to gather in vigil and prayer. For this is the Passover of the Lord, in which through word and sacrament we share in his victory over death. As we await the risen Christ, let us hear the record of God's saving deeds in history, recalling how he saved his people in ages past and in the fullness of time sent his Son to be our Redeemer; and let us pray that through this Easter celebration God may bring to perfection in each of us the saving work he has begun.
	2	Any of the readings suggested at section 48 (with or without the accompanying psalms and prayers) or other suitable passages of Scripture may be used.
		THE SERVICE OF LIGHT
	3	The building being in darkness, the ministers go in silence, one of them carrying the unlit Easter candle.
	4	All stand and face the ministers. The president lights a taper.
	5	One or more of these prayers may be used.
	6		Eternal God, who made this most holy night to shine with the brightness of your onetrue light: set us aflame with the fire of your love, and bring us to the radiance of your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
	7		Christ yesterday and today, the beginning and the end, Alpha and Omega, all time belongs to him, and all ages; to him be glory and power, through every age and for ever. Amen.
	8		By his holy and glorious wounds may Christ our Lord guard and keep us. Amen.
	9	The president lights the Easter candle with the taper saying
			May the light of Christ, rising in glory, banish all darkness from our hearts and minds.
	10	The minister bearing the candle enters the building, followed by the other ministers, and they pause just inside the entrance.
	11	THE GOSPEL is read either here or at section 23.
	12	The minister bearing the candle raises it and says or sings
			The light of Christ.
		All	Thanks be to God.
	13	The procession moves further into the building and then stops. The versicle and response are repeated, and the candles of those around are lit from the Easter candle.
	14	The procession continues to the centre of the building and stops once more. The versicle and response are again repeated, and the candles of those around are lit.
	15	The Easter candle is placed on a stand in the midst of the building, and all other candles in the church are now lit.
	16	The minister may say
			Alleluia! Christ is risen.
		All	He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
	17	EXSULTET (the Easter Song of Praise) may be said or sung by a minister standing near the candle. For an alternative version see p. 287.
			Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing choirs of angels! Exult, all creation around God's throne! Jesus Christ, our King, is risen! Sound the trumpet of salvation! Rejoice O earth in shining splendour, radiant in the brightness of your King! Christ has conquered! Glory fills you! Darkness vanishes for ever! Rejoice, O Mother Church, Exult in glory! The risen Saviour shines upon you! Let this place resound with joy, echoing the mighty song of all God's people!
		Minister	The Lord be with you.
		All	And also with you.
		Minister	Lift up your hearts.
		All	We lift them to the Lord.
		Minister	Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
		All	It is right to give him thanks and praise.
		Minister	It is indeed right that with full hearts and minds and voices we should praise you, the unseen God, the Father Almighty, and your only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who has ransomed us by his death, and paid for us the price of Adam's sin. For this is the Passover of that true Lamb of God, by whose blood the homes of all the faithful are hallowed and protected. This is the night when of old you saved our fathers, delivering the people of Israel from their slavery, and leading them dry-shod through the sea. This is the night when Jesus Christ vanquished hell and rose triumphant from the grave. This is the night when all who believe in him are freed from sin and restored to grace and holiness. Most blessed of all nights, when wickedness is put to flight and sin is washed away, lost innocence regained, and mourning turned to joy. Night truly blessed, when heaven is wedded to earth and all creation reconciled to God! Therefore, heavenly Father, in the joy of this night, accept our sacrifice of praise, your Church's solemn offering; and grant that this Easter candle make make our darkness light; for Christ the morning star has risen, never again to set, and is alive and reigns for ever and ever.
		All	Amen.