THE EASTER LITURGY [Easter Vigil] (Anglican and Catholic Rites)

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[Salvation]

		THE EASTER LITURGY
		THE VIGIL
	1	The deacon or priest 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 presider 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.
	18	If the Vigil has not already been kept, any of the Old Testament readings suggested in section 48 (with or without the accompanying psalms and prayers) may be used.
	19	GLORIA IN EXCELSIS is used or an appropriate HYMN.
	20	The presidert says THE COLLECT.
			Lord of all life and power, who through the mighty resurrection of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him: grant that we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be praise and honour, glory and might, now and in all eternity. Amen.

21

Sit
NEW TESTAMENT READING (EPISTLE)

Romans 6.3-11 (see p.270)

At the end the reader may say

This is the word of the Lord.

All

Thanks be to God.

22

Sit
Psalm 118.1,16,17,22,23

This response may be used.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

1	O give thanks to the Lord for | he is | good:
	his | mercy · endures for | ever.
16	The right hand of the Lord does | mighty | things:
	the right hand of the | Lord | raises | up.
17	I shall not | die but | live:
	and pro|claim the | works · of the | Lord. R.
22	The stone that the | builders · re|jected:
	has be|come the | head · of the | corner
23	This is the | Lord's | doing:

23

THE GOSPEL (if it has not already been read at section 11)

Matthew 28.1-10 or Mark 16.1-8 or Luke 24.1-12 (see pp.271-273)

When it is announced

All

Glory to Christ our Saviour.

At the end the reader says

This is the Gospel of Christ.

All

Praise to Christ our Lord.

24

THE SERMON

		THE LITURGY OF INITIATION
	25	BAPTISM and/or CONFIRMATION may follow (ASB pp.229--234)
		THE RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL VOWS
	26	This form or that on p.288 may be used. Stand
		President	As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, we remember that through the paschal mystery we have died and been buried with him in baptism, so that we may rise with him to a new life within the family of his Church. Now that we have completed our observance of Lent, we renew the promises made at our baptism, affirming our allegiance to Christ, and our rejection of all that is evil. Therefore I ask these questions: Do you turn to Christ?
		All	I turn to Christ.
		Presider	Do you repent of your sins?
		All	I repent of my sins.
		Presider	Do you renounce evil?
		All	I renounce evil.
		Presider	And now I ask you to make the profession of Christian faith into which you were baptized, and in which you live and grow. Do you believe and trust in God the Father, who made the world?
		All	I believe and trust in him.
		Presider	Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ, who redeemed mankind?
		All	I believe and trust in him.
		Presider	Do you believe and trust in his Holy Spirit, who gives life to the people of God?
		All	I believe and trust in him.
		Presider	This is the faith of the Church.
		All	This is our faith. We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
		Presider	Almighty God, we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith with all those who have been baptized in your name. Keep us faithful to our baptism, and so make us ready for that day when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
	27	Intercesssions or other suitable prayers may be added.

		THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
		THE PEACE
	28	The presider says
			The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, Peace be with you! Then were they glad when they saw the Lord.
		He then says
			Alleluia! The peace of the risen Christ be always with you
		All	and also with you. Alleluia!
	29	The presider may say
			Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
		and all may exchange a sign of peace, greeting one another with these words. The Lord is risen. Answer He is risen indeed.
		THE PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS
	30	The bread and wine are placed on the holy table.
	31	The president may praise God for his gifts in appropriate words to which all may respond
			Blessed be God for ever.
	32	The offerings of the people may be presented. These words may be used.
			Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the splendour, and the majesty; for everything in heaven and on earth is yours. All things come from you, and of your own do we give you.
	33	At the preparation of the gifts A HYMN may be sung.
		THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
		THE TAKING OF THE BREAD AND CUP AND THE GIVING OF THANKS
	34	The presider takes the bread and cup into his hands and replaces them on the holy table.
	35	The presider uses one of the four EUCHARISTIC PRAYERS (pp.101--113) with this PROPER PREFACE.
			And now we give you thanks because you raised him gloriously from the dead. For he is the true Pascal Lamb who was offered for us and has taken away the sin of the world. By his death he has destroyed death, and by his rising again he has restored to us eternal life.
		THE COMMUNION THE BREAKING OF BREAD AND THE GIVING OF THE BREAD AND CUP
	36	THE LORD'S PRAYER is said either as follows or in its traditional form.
		Presider	As our Saviour taught us, so we pray.
		All	Our Father...
	37	The presider breaks the consecrated bread, saying
			We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
		All	Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.
	38	Either here or during the distribution one of the following anthems may be said.
			Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
		or	Jesus, Lamb of God: have mercy on us. Jesus, bearer of our sins: have mercy on us. Jesus, redeemer of the world: give us your peace.
	39	Before the distribution the presider says
			Draw near with faith. Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you, and his blood which he said for you. Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving. Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
		All	Alleluia! Let us keep the feast.
	40	The presider and people receive the Communion. Any authorized words of distribution may be used (see p.7). During the distribution HYMNS and ANTHEMS may be sung. The Alternative Service Book provision is followed for consecration of additional bread and wine and for disposing of what remains.
		AFTER COMMUNION
	41	The presider may say
			Jesus said, He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6.54
	42	Silence may be kept and A HYMN may be sung.
	43	Either or both of the following prayers is said.
	44	Presider	Heavenly Father, you have delivered us from the power of darkness, and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: grant that, as his death has recalled us to life, so his continual presence in us may raise us to eternal joy. Amen.
	45	All	Almighty God, We thank you for feeding us with the Body and Blood of your son, Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.
		BLESSING AND DISMISSAL
	46	Presider	Alleluia! Christ is risen.
		All	He is risen indeed. Aleluia!
		Presider	God the Father, by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead, strengthen you to walk with him in his risen life; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
		Presider	Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia! Alleluia!
		All	In the name of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!
		or
		Presider	Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!
		All	Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!
	47	The ministers and people depart.
	48	READINGS, PSALMS and PRAYERS FOR THE VIGIL

[Salvation]

Easter Vigil

[Salvation]

The Easter Candle

"THE EASTER CANDLE"
by Paul Turner

The first sound of the Easter season is the crackling of new fire. Even before the presider greets the people, the Easter flame burns to warm the hearts of believers and to fascinate our eyes which long to behold the glory of God.The Easter candle that leads the procession into the church at the Easter Vigil becomes a dominant symbol for the season. Tall, bright, decorative, stately, it creates the first light for the faithful and dispels the darkness which belies our sins. The Easter candle first announces the news of the resurrection, followed by the Glory to God, the Alleluia, the Gospel, the homily, and, of course, the Eucharist. All join to make the same proclamation. Christ is risen!

So big is this message that it takes fifty days to celebrate. That Easter candle burns in our churches every day during those seven weeks, proclaiming: Christ is risen, and we too may rise!

The Easter candle appears in our liturgy on two other very significant occasions: baptisms and funerals.

Whenever infants are baptized, we light the Easter candle. The resurrection of Christ foreshadows our own resurrection. Baptism incorporates us into the body of Christ and gives us a share in his resurrection. Whenever the baptismal waters are poured, the Easter candle burns bright. Parents and godparents light a baptismal candle from the Easter candle. They accept the responsibility of keeping the flame of faith alive in the heart of the newly baptized. Parents carry this candle home, where it may shine on baptismal anniversaries to symbolize the first news of the risen Christ.

We also light the Easter candle at funerals. In the midst of our grief, we call upon the symbols which enliven our faith. Several images of baptism reappear at the funeral: the sprinkling with holy water, the placing of a white pall (like a white garment) over the casket and the lighting of the Easter candle. Christ rose from the dead so that we too might pass from death to life. Every death reminds us of Easter. And every Easter gives us hope that death is not the end, but the passage from darkness to eternal light.

Copyright © 1997 Resource Publications, Inc., 160 E. Virginia St. #290, San Jose, CA 95112, (408) 286-8505. Paul Turner, pastor of St. John Regis Parish in Kansas City, Mo., holds a doctorate in sacramental theology from Sant' Anselmo University in Rome.

[Salvation]

Catholic Culture -- Easter Vigil

SUPPLIES None Prep Time: N/A Difficulty: • • • • Cost: n/a For Ages: All Origin: Activity Types: » General Linked Prayers: » Exsultet (Easter Proclamation) Feasts: » Holy Saturday » Easter Sunday Seasons: » Easter

Easter Vigil The Easter Vigil liturgy is the most beautiful liturgy in the Roman Catholic Church. This walks through the Easter Vigil, and includes the words to the Exsultet. DIRECTIONS Although celebrated Holy Saturday evening, it is the dramatic Easter vigil liturgy that marks the beginning of Easter. We are awaiting our master's return with our lamps full and burning, so that he will find us awake and seat us at his table (cf. Luke 12:35ff). All Catholics should try to attend this beautiful service. The vigil is divided into four parts: 1) service of light, 2) liturgy of the Word, 3) liturgy of Baptism, and 4) liturgy of the Eucharist. 1) Service of Light The atmosphere in the church is different: the holy water fonts are drained, all the lights are out, the tabernacle is empty. The service begins outside the church. A new fire is lit and blessed. A Paschal Candle is prepared with these words while the priest marks the candle: Christ yesterday and today (vertical arm of the cross) the Beginning and the end (horizontal arm of the cross) Alpha (alpha above the cross) and Omega (omega below the cross) all time belongs to him (numeral 2 in upper left corner of cross) and all the ages (numeral 0 in upper right corner of cross) to him be glory and power (numeral 0 in lower left corner) through every age for ever. Amen (numeral 0 in lower right corner) The priest lights the candle from the new fire, saying: May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds. The candle is then processed through the church, with the deacon lifting the candle at three different times, singing: Christ our light (Lumen Christi) and the congregation sings in reply: Thanks be to God (Deo gratias). Everyone lights their candle from the Easter candle and continue in procession until the whole church is alight. The Paschal candle symbolizes Christ, the Light of the World. Next follows the glorious Easter song of the Catholic Church: the Exsultet (Easter proclamation). "This magnificent hymn, which is remarkable for its lyric beauty and profound symbolism, announces the dignity and meaning of the mystery of Easter; it tells of man's sin, of God's mercy, and of the great love of the Redeemer for mankind, admonishing us in turn to thank the Trinity for all the graces that have been lavished upon us" (©1947 With Christ Through the Year, by Bernard Strasser). This is usually sung by the deacon. Exsultet (excerpts) 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 splendor, 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 Savior shines upon you! Let this place resound with joy, echoing the mighty song of all God's people! For Christ has ransomed us with his blood, and paid for us the price of Adam's sin to our eternal Father! This is 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 broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave. What good would life have been to us, had Christ not come as our Redeemer? Father, how wonderful your care for us! How boundless your merciful love! To ransom a slave you gave away your Son. 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. 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. R. Amen. For more information about this Easter song please see The Exsultant from the Catholic Culture Library. 2) Liturgy of the Word During the Easter vigil, nine readings, seven Old Testament and two New Testament, are provided. Not all are required to be read due to time constraints, but at least three Old Testament readings must be read, including Exodus 14. These readings help us meditate on the wonderful works of God for his people since the beginning of time. The readings are 1) the story of creation, Gen 1:1-2; 2; 2) Abraham and Isaac, Gen 22:1-18; 3) Crossing of the Red Sea, Exodus 14:15–15:1; 4) Isaiah 54:5-14; 5) Isaiah 55:1-11; 6) Baruch 3:9-15.32–4:4; 7) Ezekiel 36:16-17.18-28; 8) Romans 6:3-11; and 9) Gospel reading Mark 16:1-7. The Gloria is sung before the reading of the Epistle of the Romans, and the Alleluia is sung before the Gospel. 3) Liturgy of Baptism During this time the Easter water is blessed, new members are brought into the Church through baptism, and the faithful are blessed with water and renew their baptismal promises. 4) Liturgy of Eucharist So resumes the Mass, with the special prayers inserted during the Eucharist Prayer. The whole church is called to join at the sacrificial table that Christ prepared for us through his death and resurrection. The Mass ends with the glorious V. The Mass is ended, go in peace, alleluia, alleluia. R. Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia. Jennifer Gregory Miller Jennifer G. Miller Activity Source: Original Text (JGM) by Jennifer Gregory Miller, © Copyright 2003, 2004, 2005 by Jennifer Gregory Miller

[Salvation]

Catholic Discussion Ping!

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[xzins]

Why is it customary on Good Friday NOT to observe communion?

[lightman]

From the beginning of my Lutheran parish's Easter Vigil bulletin:

The Easter Vigil is the most important Liturgy of the Church year. In a magnificent way the Church expresses liturgically the meaning of her Lord’s Pasch, his Passover. Our Lord’s passage from death to life is the fulfillment of Israel’s passage from bondage to freedom. The Vigil is also the celebration of our own passage from sin and death to holiness and Life through the waters of Holy Baptism. Finally, the Holy Eucharist is a testimony to the coming greater celebration of life at the Messianic banquet before the throne of God.

The Liturgy consists of these parts:

...the LITURGY OF LIGHT, which centers around the Paschal
Candle. This includes the blessing of the light (a symbol of Christ, the Light of the World); a solemn procession in which the people of God follow the Light through the darkness into light; and the Easter Proclamation.

...The LITURGY OF THE WORD, which involves hearing what
God has done for His people from the beginning of creation.
This is a remembrance of salvation history as recorded in the Hebrew scriptures.

...the LITURGY OF HOLY BAPTISM, which incorporates us
into salvation’s story and new life through the water and the Word. The water is blessed, the candidates are initiated into the Christian faith through water and the Spirit, and we renew our own baptismal vows as we are sprinkled with the water.

...the FIRST EUCHARIST OF THE RESURRECTION.
Here the Church is called to the table which the Risen Christ has prepared for us through His death and resurrection. We celebrate our participation in the salvation given us by Christ.

[SoothingDave]

Why is it customary on Good Friday NOT to observe communion?

It isn't. There is communion on Good Friday.

There is no Mass, no sacrament, on Good Friday. The Church observes the memorial of Christ's death by being sacramentally dead from the climax of Holy Thursday's liturgy until the Easiter Vigil Mass.

SD

[Campion]

Easter Vigil

You know this is Anglican Church of England, not Catholic Latin Rite, right?

[Campion]

Why is it customary on Good Friday NOT to observe communion?

As Dave pointed out, there is communion, but it's the "Mass of the Presanctified" -- there is no consecration; the elements are those consecrated at Holy Thursday Mass.

The Mass is the unbloody re-presentation (to us) of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary. On Good Friday, our attention is entirely on the historical event of his passion and death 2000 years ago, and so we "fast" from the re-presentation of the sacrifice in our own time.

[xzins]

Tell me if I understand correctly.

1. The elements are served.
2. They had been consecrated the day prior, Maundy Thursday.
3. The Church respects the death of Christ by considering itself symbolically dead on Good Friday.

[SoothingDave]

You got it.

(I should note that in case of emergency, i.e. impending death, a priest can offer Last Rites. Otherwise there are no sacraments during this period.)

SD

[xzins]

Thanks to both of you for your help.

[anonymoussierra]

thank you amen!!!!

[Salvation]

There is no Mass.

Reading of the Passion, Stations of the Cross, Sorrowful Mysterieis of the Rosary -- but no Mass. No Communion.

Good Friday is the ONE and ONLY day of the year when there is not a Mass.

[Salvation]

Yes, I was aware of that. Catholic version posted below.

[Salvation]

It appears that in some churches there is a Communion. Guess I'm mistaken here.

[Salvation]

On their site:
http://www.affirmingcatholicism.org.uk/

[Salvation]

two questions about Easter Question from Linda on 04-14-2003:

Hello, Father. The other forums are full. I hope you don't mind answering my questions. They are quick :) (1)Would attending the Easter Vigil fulfil my Easter Sunday mass obligation? (2)In the Bible, Jesus is offered a 'sponge dipped in gall'...what was the reason for this?

Thanks and have a great Easter!

Answer by Fr.Stephen F. Torraco on 04-14-2003:

The answer to your first question is yes. In response to your second question: In the Roman practice of crucifixion, offering the crucified victim vinegar on a sponge was a way of prolonging his life so that he would suffer even more.

COPYRIGHT 2003

[xzins]

Thank you for your kind instruction. I was not aware that each species is considered complete.