As I promised yesterday, I am back with a heaping helping of information about Holy Week. Today I will be talking about Easter services in the Catholic Church. The date of Easter varies from year to year, but is always on a Sunday between the dates of March 22 to April 25.Many Catholics have become accustomed in recent years to fulfilling their Sunday obligation by attending Mass Saturday afternoon or evening. Once again, the Triduum interrupts our routine. There are no anticipated "Easter Masses" on Holy Saturday evening. We gather for a vigil. The dictionary explains that a vigil is "a purposeful or watchful staying awake during the ordinary hours of sleep." This is what we do on Holy Saturday night. We gather; we wait; we watch. We keep vigil. We wait with the catechumens (those seeking entrance into the Catholic faith). We wait with the generations of those longing for Christ to rise from the tomb. Vigil Masses are held after sunset of Holy Saturday, or before dawn on Easter Day. There are many rituals, symbols, and signs in the vigil Mass that signify the coming of the risen Lord.
There are visible changes in the church on this night. The statues of Jesus, or any other saints, which have been veiled during the Passion (most usually throughout Lent), are unveiled for the vigil. We veil, or cover, our statues during Lent because it is a time of repentance and suffering, in which we are not worthy of looking upon the images of the holy. The deep colors used throughout Lent are removed and replaced with bright colors. White, often together with gold, is used for garments and vestments while yellow and white flowers are often in use around the altar.
As the natural light of day fades away, we turn our attention to the light that is Christ. We gather around a fire and we think of Christ, the light of God's glory. And from this special fire, we light our most beautiful candle. On Holy Thursday the entire church is darkened when all the candles and lamps are extinguished. Then, on Saturday, a special fire is lit and blessed. This represents the risen Christ, whose light dispelled the darkness (death). The Paschal candle is the first candle to be lit with this sacred flame; it represents the light of Christ which has come into the world. In most cases today the candle will display the Greek letters alpha and omega (the beginning and the end), together with the year indicated at the base. Five grains of incense in red are embedded in it to represent the wounds of Jesus Christ (from the nails in each hand and foot and the spear in the side). Throughout the year, the Paschal candle is lit in all instances of baptism and in the rituals of death: funeral, Mass of Repose and Mass of Requiem. As the light of this Paschal candle enters the church, its light spreads to the candles held by each member of the worshiping community. Our feelings during this unique ritual experience are expressed in song: "Exult, all creation, around God's throne! Jesus Christ, our King, is risen! ...This is our Passover feast....This is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave....O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer!" (Roman Missal). In this light we keep watch. And as we wait around this special fire…the Paschal candle…we tell our story: Creation, Abraham's sacrifice, our passing through the Red Sea. Our joy and anticipation grow and we sing, "Glory to God in the highest" (a hymn we have not used since Lent began).
The Letter of Paul to the Romans makes explicit the fact that this is our resurrection night. "Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus / were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, / so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, / we too might live in newness of life" (6:3-4). We stand and joyfully sing "Alleluia" (a word we have not heard for 40 days) and the Gospel of the Resurrection is proclaimed: Christ is risen!
People desiring to be Roman Catholics (catechumens/candidates) who have completed their training in a Catholic church are formally initiated as members of the faith the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation (baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist). The catechumens now come forward and enter the waters of Baptism and rise from the tomb/womb of the baptismal font to Easter life with the risen Christ. After the elect are baptized and confirmed, the Church turns to its members and asks: "Do you reject sin? Do you believe? Do you wish to renew your Baptism?" The answers to these questions are two simple words: "I do." Simple words, but for a bride and groom on their wedding day these simple words "I do" contain years of history and even more years of promise. Similarly the "I do" of our baptismal vows is much more than two simple words. In this "I do" we renew all that this holy night promises so that in the Eucharist we can share with the newly baptized the Food and Drink that take the sting out of death and assures eternal victory. This renewal of the baptismal promises is the pinnacle of the Lenten journey. We fast and pray for forty days in the anticipation that we will be able to renew our vows with God.
On the day of Easter the Masses, held throughout the day, are similar in content to the Easter Vigil Mass. However, the Sacraments of Initiation are not performed, and the ritual of the Paschal candle is not performed (the candle is placed next to the ambo, or podium, throughout the Easter celebration). The colors in the church are still white, gold, and yellow signifying the glory of the resurrection.
In the Catholic Church, the journey of Christ's death and resurrection does not end on Easter day. The day of Easter is just the beginning of a new season in the Church that is a glorious contrast to the solemn season of Lent. The Easter season extends from the Easter Vigil through Pentecost Sunday on the Catholic calendar, normally the fiftieth day after Easter. On the calendar used by traditional Catholics, Eastertide lasts until the end of the Octave of Pentecost, at Noon of the following Ember Saturday. The Easter octave allows for no other feasts to be celebrated or commemorated during it (possible exception is the Greater Litanies if Easter falls later in the year). If Easter is so early that March 25 falls in Easter week, the feast of the Annunciation is postponed to the following week. Ascension is the fortieth day of Easter, always a Thursday. I will discuss the ins and outs of the Ascension and Pentecost in the Catholic Church as they approach.
About a year ago I subscribed to a diet and exercise magazine but didn't lose a pound. I read the magazines, pored over the articles, but didn't do the exercises. In this blog and the one yesterday I've discussed the Holy Week liturgies. I can only hope that you have read and enjoyed both of them. Now I encourage you to "do the exercises." Go and experience these beautiful rites. Participate actively in the Holy Week services and together we will enter more deeply into the death of Christ "so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, / we too might live in newness of life."
There are visible changes in the church on this night. The statues of Jesus, or any other saints, which have been veiled during the Passion (most usually throughout Lent), are unveiled for the vigil. We veil, or cover, our statues during Lent because it is a time of repentance and suffering, in which we are not worthy of looking upon the images of the holy. The deep colors used throughout Lent are removed and replaced with bright colors. White, often together with gold, is used for garments and vestments while yellow and white flowers are often in use around the altar.
As the natural light of day fades away, we turn our attention to the light that is Christ. We gather around a fire and we think of Christ, the light of God's glory. And from this special fire, we light our most beautiful candle. On Holy Thursday the entire church is darkened when all the candles and lamps are extinguished. Then, on Saturday, a special fire is lit and blessed. This represents the risen Christ, whose light dispelled the darkness (death). The Paschal candle is the first candle to be lit with this sacred flame; it represents the light of Christ which has come into the world. In most cases today the candle will display the Greek letters alpha and omega (the beginning and the end), together with the year indicated at the base. Five grains of incense in red are embedded in it to represent the wounds of Jesus Christ (from the nails in each hand and foot and the spear in the side). Throughout the year, the Paschal candle is lit in all instances of baptism and in the rituals of death: funeral, Mass of Repose and Mass of Requiem. As the light of this Paschal candle enters the church, its light spreads to the candles held by each member of the worshiping community. Our feelings during this unique ritual experience are expressed in song: "Exult, all creation, around God's throne! Jesus Christ, our King, is risen! ...This is our Passover feast....This is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave....O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer!" (Roman Missal). In this light we keep watch. And as we wait around this special fire…the Paschal candle…we tell our story: Creation, Abraham's sacrifice, our passing through the Red Sea. Our joy and anticipation grow and we sing, "Glory to God in the highest" (a hymn we have not used since Lent began).
The Letter of Paul to the Romans makes explicit the fact that this is our resurrection night. "Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus / were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, / so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, / we too might live in newness of life" (6:3-4). We stand and joyfully sing "Alleluia" (a word we have not heard for 40 days) and the Gospel of the Resurrection is proclaimed: Christ is risen!
People desiring to be Roman Catholics (catechumens/candidates) who have completed their training in a Catholic church are formally initiated as members of the faith the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation (baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist). The catechumens now come forward and enter the waters of Baptism and rise from the tomb/womb of the baptismal font to Easter life with the risen Christ. After the elect are baptized and confirmed, the Church turns to its members and asks: "Do you reject sin? Do you believe? Do you wish to renew your Baptism?" The answers to these questions are two simple words: "I do." Simple words, but for a bride and groom on their wedding day these simple words "I do" contain years of history and even more years of promise. Similarly the "I do" of our baptismal vows is much more than two simple words. In this "I do" we renew all that this holy night promises so that in the Eucharist we can share with the newly baptized the Food and Drink that take the sting out of death and assures eternal victory. This renewal of the baptismal promises is the pinnacle of the Lenten journey. We fast and pray for forty days in the anticipation that we will be able to renew our vows with God.
On the day of Easter the Masses, held throughout the day, are similar in content to the Easter Vigil Mass. However, the Sacraments of Initiation are not performed, and the ritual of the Paschal candle is not performed (the candle is placed next to the ambo, or podium, throughout the Easter celebration). The colors in the church are still white, gold, and yellow signifying the glory of the resurrection.
In the Catholic Church, the journey of Christ's death and resurrection does not end on Easter day. The day of Easter is just the beginning of a new season in the Church that is a glorious contrast to the solemn season of Lent. The Easter season extends from the Easter Vigil through Pentecost Sunday on the Catholic calendar, normally the fiftieth day after Easter. On the calendar used by traditional Catholics, Eastertide lasts until the end of the Octave of Pentecost, at Noon of the following Ember Saturday. The Easter octave allows for no other feasts to be celebrated or commemorated during it (possible exception is the Greater Litanies if Easter falls later in the year). If Easter is so early that March 25 falls in Easter week, the feast of the Annunciation is postponed to the following week. Ascension is the fortieth day of Easter, always a Thursday. I will discuss the ins and outs of the Ascension and Pentecost in the Catholic Church as they approach.
About a year ago I subscribed to a diet and exercise magazine but didn't lose a pound. I read the magazines, pored over the articles, but didn't do the exercises. In this blog and the one yesterday I've discussed the Holy Week liturgies. I can only hope that you have read and enjoyed both of them. Now I encourage you to "do the exercises." Go and experience these beautiful rites. Participate actively in the Holy Week services and together we will enter more deeply into the death of Christ "so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, / we too might live in newness of life."
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