[annalex]

[annalex]

From Cardinal Sean O'Malley's blog:

On Saturday night we celebrated the Great Vigil of Easter in which we rejoice in the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s victory over death for us.

The Vigil begins outside the cathedral with the Service of Light during which there is the blessing of the fire and the lighting of the Easter candle.

The fire is a sign of Christ, the Light of the World

After the fire is blessed, I inscribe a cross, the Greek letters alpha and omega and the numerals 2007 in the wax of the cross

The inscription is made close to the blessed bonfire
from which the paschal candle will be lit

After the inscription, five grains of incense on pins incased in a piece of wax resembling a nail are inserted in the paschal candle, symbolic of the five wounds of Christ in the Cross

The Easter candle is lit

From the Easter candle, smaller candles are lit
for the members of the congregation
and we process into the church lit only by candlelight