Celebrating the Paschal Mystery Holy Saturday and the

Celebrating the Paschal Mystery

Holy Saturday (and the Easter season). -The Easter Vigil

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag′dalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him. ” Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes. ” (Jn 20: 1 -10)

“We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song” (attributed to St. Augustine)

Raphael - The Resurrection of Jesus. © São Paolo Museum of Art, São Paolo (https: //commons. wikimedia. org/wiki/File: Rafael__ressureicaocristo 01. jpg)

“For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall be made alive. ” (1 Cor 15: 16 -22)

The Resurrection of Jesus “Christ's Resurrection was not a return to earthly life, as was the case with the raisings from the dead that he had performed before Easter: Jairus' daughter, the young man of Naim, Lazarus. These actions were miraculous events, but the persons miraculously raised returned by Jesus' power to ordinary earthly life. At some particular moment they would die again. Christ's Resurrection is essentially different. In his risen body he passes from the state of death to another life beyond time and space. At Jesus' Resurrection his body is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit: he shares the divine life in his glorious state, so that St. Paul can say that Christ is ‘the man of heaven’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 646).

Next slide: 11 th Century mosaic in monastery of Hosios Loukas, Greece. (https: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Resurrection_of_Jesus_in_Christian_art#/media/File: Hosios_Loukas_(narthex)_-_East_wall, _right_(Harrowing_of_Hell)_03. jpg)

The Great Easter Vigil This glorious celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead, the climax of the Triduum, moves us through a gradual unfolding of the Paschal Mystery of Christ. It is the ‘mother of all holy vigils’ (St Augustine) and consists of 4 parts: 1. Lucernarium (service of light) 2. Liturgy of the Word 3. Baptismal Liturgy 4. Liturgy of the Eucharist

Part 1: The Lucernarium • A blazing fire (rogus ardens) greets people as they arrive • The “flames should be such that they genuinely dispel the darkness and light up the night” (Paschale Solemnitatis 82) • Shattering the darkness, the great paschal candle is lighted with the Easter fire, five incense grains are embedded, and it becomes the symbol of the crucified Christ • The paschal candle should be a “sufficiently large size so that it may evoke the truth that Christ is the light of the world” (Paschale Solemnitatis 82) • It is in the light of the Easter candle that the liturgy continues to unfold

Explaining the symbolism of the Paschal Candle. (https: //churchpop. com/2017/05/3 1/the-meaning-of-the-hiddensymbols-of-the-paschal-candle-inone-infographic/)

The Exsultet (Easter Proclamation) • This ancient chant announces the meaning of this night • It is filled with poetry and beauty and is made up of 3 parts: 1. calling all creation to lift their voices in praise and exultation 2. stating our reasons for rejoicing and thanksgiving 3. The Church’s solemn offering of evening praise • The Exsultet can be heard by clicking on the link- the translation is on the next slide • In the Middle Ages the deacon sang the Exsultet from a scroll decorated with upside-down images illustrating the text. As he sand the proclamation, the scroll fell over the top of the ambo, and the images would become visible right-side up to those near

“The great hymn of the Exsultet, which the deacon sings at the beginning of the Easter liturgy, . . . reminds us that this object, the candle, has its origin in the work of bees. So the whole of creation plays its part. In the candle, creation becomes a bearer of light. But in the mind of the Fathers, the candle also in some sense contains a silent reference to the Church. The cooperation of the living community of believers in the Church in some way resembles the activity of bees. It builds up the community of light. So the candle serves as a summons to us to become involved in the community of the Church, whose raison d’être is to let the light of Christ shine upon the world. ” (Pope Benedict XVI, Easter Vigil Homily, 7 th April 2012, http: //www. vatican. va/content/benedict-xvi/en/homilies/2012/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20120407_vegliapasquale. html)

Part 2: Liturgy of The Word

• “God himself speaks to his people” (Sacrosanctum Concilium 7) • “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb 4: 12) • “The New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New” (St. Augustine)

• The story of salvation is told through a series of nine scripture readings, from the first moment of creation to the first moments of God’s new creation in Christ • It takes time to tell a story as long as ours. . . and become immersed in the paschal mystery • The sequence of readings, silences, psalms, and prayers sets a meditative pace • After the last reading from the Old Testament with its Responsorial Psalm and prayer, the altar candles are lit, and the Gloria is sung, while bells are rung • The Collect (Opening prayer) follows:

Collect (Opening Prayer) O God, who make this most sacred night radiant with the glory of the Lord’s Resurrection, stir up in your Church a spirit of adoption, so that, renewed in body and mind, we may render you undivided service.

• After the glorious Epistle that compares Baptism to resurrection, all rise for the Gospel Acclamation • When a Bishop presides, the deacon says, “Most Reverend Father, I bring you a message of great joy, the message of Alleluia” Responsorial Psalm Ps 117: 1 -2, 16 -17, 22 -23 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end. Let the sons of Israel say, ‘His love has no end. ’ R. The Lord’s right hand has triumphed; his right hand raised me. I shall not die, I shall live and recount his deeds. R. The stone the builders rejected has become the corner stone. This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes. R.

“The Church wishes to offer us a panoramic view of whole trajectory of salvation history, starting with creation, passing through the election and the liberation of Israel to the testimony of the prophets by which this entire history is directed ever more clearly towards Jesus Christ. In the liturgical tradition all these readings were called prophecies. Even when they are not directly foretelling future events, they have a prophetic character, they show us the inner foundation and orientation of history. They cause creation and history to become transparent to what is essential. In this way they take us by the hand lead us towards Christ, they show us the true Light. ” (Pope Benedict XVI, Easter Vigil Homily, 23 rd April 2011, http: //www. vatican. va/content/benedict-xvi/en/homilies/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20110423_vegliapasquale. html)

Part 3: The Baptismal Liturgy “You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead” (Col 2: 12). • “We imitate Christ’s death by being buried with him in baptism. We have to begin a new life, and we cannot do so until our previous life has been brought to an end. The bodies of the baptized are in a sense buried in the water as a symbol of their renunciation of the sins of their unregenerate nature” (St. Basil, “On the Holy Spirit”) • Regardless of whether someone will be baptized or not, the water of the baptismal font is blessed in order to prepare for those who will be washed clean from their sins and reborn in the death of Christ. Those present renew their baptismal vows.

Next slide: Grünewald Crucifixion. Next slide: Piero della Francesca Resurrection. © Unterlinden Museum, Colmar © Museo Civico, Sansepolcro (https: //upload. wikimedia. org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/ Crucifixion_Grunewald. jpg) (https: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/The_Resurrection_(Piero_d ella_Francesca)#/media/File: Resurrection. JPG)

Dying and Rising

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. ” (Rom 6: 4). Resurrection 14 th Century fresco from the Khora Church complex, Istanbul (https: //upload. wikimedia. org/wikiped ia/commons/5/5 c/Chora_Anastasis 1. j pg)

“Baptism is more than a bath, a purification. It is more than becoming part of a community. It is a new birth. A new beginning in life. The passage of the Letter to the Romans (6: 3 -11) which we have just read says, in words filled with mystery, that in Baptism we have been “grafted” onto Christ by likeness to his death. In Baptism we give ourselves over to Christ – he takes us unto himself, so that we no longer live for ourselves, but through him, with him and in him; so that we live with him and thus for others. ” (Pope Benedict XVI, Easter Vigil Homily, 7 th April 2007, http: //www. vatican. va/content/benedict-xvi/en/homilies/2007/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20070407_veglia -pasquale. html)

Part 4: The Liturgy of the Eucharist

“He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. ” (Jn 6: 56) • This brings the celebration to the climax of the Banquet of the Lamb, as we experience the presence of the Risen Christ in our midst • This is “the source and summit of the Christian life” (Lumen Gentium 11) • “The Church draws her life from Christ in the Eucharist; by him she is fed and by him she is enlightened” (JP II, Ecclesia de Eucharistia 6)

Although no more relevant today than any other day, I love the words of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, reflecting on her first Holy Communion: “How lovely it was, that first kiss of Jesus in my heart – it was truly a kiss of love. I knew that I was loved and said, “I love You, and I give myself to You forever. ” Jesus asked for nothing, He claimed no sacrifice. Long before that, He and little Thérèse had seen and understood one another well, but on that day it was more than a meeting – it was a complete fusion. We were no longer two, for Thérèse had disappeared like a drop of water lost in the mighty ocean. Jesus alone remained – the Master and the King. ” (St. Thérèse of Lisieux, The story of a soul)

• Before saying, “Behold the Lamb of God. . . ”, it is suggested that the presider remind the neophytes (RCIA candidates who have just received the sacraments of initiation) and the whole community of the pre-eminence of the Eucharist, the climax of their initiation and the centre of the whole Christian life • As Pope Benedict said one year: “Dearest sons and daughters, I turn to you who in this glorious night, reborn by water and the Holy Spirit, receive for the first time the bread of life and the cup of salvation. May the Body and Blood of Christ the Lord always make you grow in His friendship and in communion with the whole Church, may it be the constant food for the journey, and a pledge of the eternal banquet in heaven. ”

Next slide: He Qi – The Eucharist. (https: //www. saintmichael. org/blog/dr-he-qi-renders-custom-artwork-for-saint-michael-bulletins/)

“The astonishing event of the resurrection of Jesus is essentially an event of love: the Father’s love in handing over his Son for the salvation of the world; the Son’s love in abandoning himself to the Father’s will for us all; the Spirit’s love in raising Jesus from the dead in his transfigured body. And there is more: the Father’s love which “newly embraces” the Son, enfolding him in glory; the Son’s love returning to the Father in the power of the Spirit, robed in our transfigured humanity. From today’s solemnity, in which we relive the absolute, once-and-for-all experience of Jesus’ resurrection, we receive an appeal to be converted to Love; we receive an invitation to live by rejecting hatred and selfishness, and to follow with docility in the footsteps of the Lamb that was slain for our salvation, to imitate the Redeemer who is “gentle and lowly in heart”, who is “rest for our souls” (cf. Mt 11: 29)” (Pope Benedict XVI, Urbi et Orbi Message, Easter 2008, http: //www. vatican. va/content/benedict-xvi/en/messages/urbi/documents/hf_benxvi_mes_20080323_urbi-easter. html)

Solemn Blessing May almighty God bless you through today’s Easter Solemnity and, in his compassion, defend you from every assault of sin. R. Amen. And may he, who restores you to eternal life in the Resurrection of his Only Begotten, endow you with the prize of immortality. R. Amen. Now that the days of the Lord’s Passion have drawn to a close, may you who celebrate the gladness of the Paschal Feast come with Christ’s help, and exulting in spirit, to those feasts that are celebrated in eternal joy. R. Amen.

• For the Dismissal, the Deacon (or Priest) uses the double Alleluia

“‘May you leave behind you a string of empty tombs!’ That’s the challenge of Easter: To resurrect daily, . . . to let our crucified hopes and dreams be resurrected so that, like Christ, our lives will radiate the truth that, in the end, everything is good, reality can be trusted. Love does triumph over apathy and hatred, togetherness over loneliness, peace over chaos, and forgiveness over bitterness. ” (Ronald Rolheiser, The Passion and the Cross)

Next slide: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio - The Supper at Emmaus (Lk 24: 13 -35). © The National Gallery, London (https: //upload. wikimedia. org/wikipedia/commons/4/4 d/1602 -3_Caravaggio%2 CSupper_at_Emmaus_National_Gallery%2 C_London. jpg)