#easter vigil

[pink-fiat003]

Hello brothers and sisters, as we get closer to the Easter Vigil, please pray for me. I'm going to be baptized, and the spiritual warfare has been so bad for me lately. I know - I need - to do this, and I really need prayers from my brothers and sisters in Christ's help. Thank you and God bless ♥️♥️♥️

[anneofbluetardis]

“This is the night

of which it is written:

The night shall be as bright as day,

dazzling is the night for me,

and full of gladness.

The sanctifying power of this night

dispels wickedness, washes faults away,

restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners,

drives out hatred, fosters concord, and brings down the mighty.

On this, your night of grace, O holy Father,

accept this candle, a solemn offering,

the work of bees and of your servants’ hands,

an evening sacrifice of praise,

this gift from your most holy Church.

But now we know the praises of this pillar,

which glowing fire ignites for God's honor,

a fire into many flames divided,

yet never dimmed by sharing of its light,

for it is fed by melting wax,

drawn out by mother bees

to build a torch so precious.”

-Excerpt from the Easter Vigil Exultet

[butterflies-and-bumble-bees]

Exult, let them exult, the hosts of heaven, exult, let Angel ministers of God exult, let the trumpet of salvation sound aloud our mighty King's triumph!

Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her, ablaze with light from her eternal King, let all corners of the earth be glad, knowing an end to gloom and darkness.

This is the night, when once you led our forebears, Israel's children, from slavery in Egypt and made them pass dry-shod through the Red Sea.

This is the night that with a pillar of fire banished the darkness of sin.

This is the night that even now, throughout the world, sets Christian believers apart from worldly vices and from the gloom of sin, leading them to grace and joining them to his holy ones.

This is the night, when Christ broke the prison-bars of death and rose victorious from the underworld.

Our birth would have been no gain, had we not been redeemed.

O wonder of your humble care for us! O love, O charity beyond all telling, to ransom a slave you gave away your Son! O truly necessary sin of Adam, destroyed completely by the Death of Christ! O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!

O truly blessed night, worthy alone to know the time and hour when Christ rose from the underworld!

This is the night of which it is written: The night shall be as bright as day, dazzling is the night for me, and full of gladness.

But now we know the praises of this pillar, which glowing fire ignites for God's honor, a fire into many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light, for it is fed by melting wax, drawn out by mother bees to build a torch so precious.

O truly blessed night, when things of heaven are wed to those of earth, and divine to the human.

Therefore, O Lord, we pray you that this candle, hallowed to the honor of your name, may persevere undimmed, to overcome the darkness of this night.

Receive it as a pleasing fragrance, and let it mingle with the lights of heaven.

May this flame be found still burning by the Morning Star: the one Morning Star who never sets, Christ your Son, who, coming back from death's domain, has shed his peaceful light on humanity, and lives and reigns for ever and ever.

(my favourite parts the Exsultet)

[catholicliving]

Me at Easter Vigil every year:

[septembersung]

Adam lay y-bounden Anonymous, c. 1450 The New Oxford Book of Christian Verse, ed. Donald Davie

Adam lay y-bounden Bounden in a bond; Four thousand winter Thought he not too long; And all was for an apple An apple that he took, As clerks finder written In theire book.

Ne had the apple taken been, The apple taken been, Ne hadde never our Lady A been heaven's queen. Blessed be the time That apple taken was! Therefore we may singen 'Deo Gratias!'

[divinum-pacis]

Exsultet (Easter Night Chant) - English with Lyrics

[prolifeproliberty]

Wishing everyone a blessed Holy Saturday and Easter Vigil!

1 Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide' The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!

2 Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away. Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me!

3 Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word, But as Thou dwelst with Thy disciples, Lord, Familiar, condescending, patient, free. Come, not to sojourn, but abide with me.

4 Come not in terrors as the King of kings, But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings; Tears for all woes, a heart for ev'ry plea. Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me.

5 Thou on my head in every youth didst smile, And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile, Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee. On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

6 I need Thy presence every passing hour. What but Thy grace can foil the Tempter's power? Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me!

7 I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness. Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still if Thou abide with me.

8 Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes, Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies. Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!

-The Lutheran Hymnal, #552 Text by Henry Francis Lyte Tune

[nataliaparaskovya]

The most special easter ive ever had in my life!

This is my first time going for midnight worship in my beloved russian orthodox church and im absolutely in love with it!

С праздником!

Христос воскрес!

Пожалуйста любите твоё семья и врагов, делать молитва и читать Библию

Я хочу что все люди очень счастлив это праздник ☦️🤍✨

[butterflyinthewell]

​

[calledtobeasaint]

It is about to staaart!!

[livehorses]

Easter is the greatest celebration ever on the Catholic calendar. It lasts fifty days, and it must be celebrated with the dimension it demands. But, before that huge explosion of festivities that seem to last forever start, we must remember the very first Easter, regarding the Resurrection of Jesus Christ:

The disciples were expecting for a liberator from the Roman Occupation, someone who would give to Israel the glory of old. Their high expectations were thrown to the ground as soon as Christ was made prisoner, condemned and executed. His followers flew and hid. Only Mary, Jesus' mother, the other Holy women and John stood by Jesus' side.

I think that in Holy Saturday, we must follow on one hand, their example: saddened by mourn, yet expecting Christ's Resurrection with peaceful hope.

On the other hand, take the mood of the disciples: "Now what?" They thought. They were afraid, discouraged, thinking that everything they put their hopes on, was gone. When they found out, and saw with their own eyes, that Jesus had Risen, their joy was immeasurable, it was even better than everything they had ever hoped on. Not even political liberation could compare to this, the liberation from sin. They finally understood, that they were already free, although they were still under the occupation of the Roman empire.

As them, we must destroy our high expectations based on our human thoughts, just to be surprised with something even better than what we've ever imagined. Stop wasting time and effort on the perfect celebration, to give room for God to make us happy only with His infinite Love.

[pink-fiat003]

Alleluia!! I have finally been baptized into the Catholic Church after two years!! I am so so happy and cannot wait for my journey to continue with my walk with Christ our Lord <33

[lightamidstthestorm]

why cant we live in a neverending easter vigil mass

[catholicsapphic]

I’m taking the time to really Think about the Harrowing of Hell. I’m thinking about Jesus descending. What did he find at the gates of Sheol? Was His Father’s army already there? Did the Powers and Dominions open way for their King to pass? Did all the angels bow down and sing praise as He walked amongst them, His wounds still wet and open? What did their song sound like? Was it anything like the one they sang upon His birth, over three decades before? I wonder how the angels felt at that moment, knowing that God had done it, the thing humankind had been waiting for for eons, even if we didn’t know exactly what It was. I wonder if they felt humbled by the King living and dying horrifically, all to save the children He loved with such burning strenght. I wonder if it deepened their resolve to protect creation.

I wonder if, as Jesus walked to the front, Archangel Michiael went to meet him. I wonder how he felt to see the Son of God standing there, amongst them again at last, and ready to lead them into that most important mission. He with his flaming sword. Jesus with His flaming heart. I wonder if Gabriel was there too. I wonder if he kneeled before God, and took His pierced hands into his, and held back tears. He, who had announced His birth, now witnessed the moments after His death. I wonder if he had been the angel to console him in the garden. I wonder if he felt guilty for not having been at the foot of the cross as well. I wonder if Jesus gently untangled His hands, put them under Gabriel’s chin, and made him look up at Him. I wonder if He smiled at him, both with gratefulness for His Father’s messenger and with a clear attempt to say ‘it’s okay, I’m here now, all will be well’.

I’m thinking about what it must have been like, when they barged open the gates of Gehenna. Because for all that the angels of all different orders have their weapons, literal or not, I struggle to imagine the Christ taking up arms. The Man who welcomed the children, the Man who spared the sinners, the Man who had forbidden his disciple from hurting the people who wanted to capture Him mere hours before. Did He now take up a sword, so little time after taking up a cross? Maybe. But I wonder if the sight of Him alone was enough to make demons perish. I wonder if the sight of Him alone was enough to make demons run. Most of all, I wonder if the sight of Him alone was enough to make demons fall to their knees and weep. What have I done, what have I done, what have I done. 

I wonder  what Sheol looked like. I wonder if He could immediately see his children scattered around, looking at the unusual commotion with a spark in their eyes, with the first smidge of hope they’d had in millenia. I wonder if He felt compassion deep inside of him when He looked at them, like when He saw the hungry crowd. For once, I think I know the answer for that one. I wonder if He teared up, looking at all the souls that had been trapped there, and sent up praise to His Father for not having let the cup pass from him. I wonder if He walked up to the nearest people and comforted them, saying it would be okay, and I wonder if Michiael had to tell Him they needed to keep moving. I wonder if they kept fighting (whathever that means) hoardes, trying to find the slanderer. I wonder if a man in animal skins ran up to them at some point, and before any angels could stop him, ran up to Jesus and said “my cousin, I’ve missed you so”. I wonder if any fire near that man flickered and died, for he had always been a keeper of water of life. I wonder if he could feel that water flowing from his cousins’ side when they hugged.

I wonder if the man told Jesus exactly where they could find the slanderer, for he knew his job was to prepare the way for the Saviour, so he had made sure he did that even in the land of the dead. I wonder how the heavenly army felt as they marched to the castle. If they felt anger, if they felt like that was what they’d been made for, if they felt scared of happy at all. I think they felt pity. Because, after the Son of Man had been through all the pain He had so He could forgive all the pain that had ever and would ever be inflicted, all would be reunited with God’s Love. All but one. And I wonder how Jesus felt looking at the evil one, dressed in jewels but rotting inside, while He stood, dressed simply and bloody while filled with more Love than any merely human frame could even hold.

I wonder how He felt remembering that the creature before him had had the trust of His Father before betraying both Him, and all of creation. I wonder if that gave Him pause. I wonder if, for a moment, His Heart clenched with pain as He asked Himself if being divine was being doomed to have those who you trust stab you in the back. It had only been a day. It had only been a day. Judas’ lips still burned on His cheek. 

I wonder what the confrontation was like between the embodiement of Divine Love, and the embodiement of hate. I wonder if, once that was dealt with (and I cannot begin to fathom how), an angel placed a mantle over a cursed throne, and if Jesus sat on it. I wonder if a wave of Love, and light, and justice and goodness emanated from Him at that moment. I wonder if it changed the landscape of Gehenna completely, if the fires that used to harm began to cleanse, if the chains were broken, if the hellish weapons turned to ash. I wonder if the angels broke out in praise once again. I wonder if all the saints joined them. I wonder if Jesus looked out of the window, and seeing His people, wept in joy. If He decided that it had all been worth it. All of it. Living, dying. Breathing and choking. Because His beloveds would never be parted from Him again. No sheep would be lost. Even if they descended here to be purified in the forge, they would return to Him, to the Father, in the Spirit, in Love.

I wonder if it burst open the hearts of all those there, when the Presence of God finally filled the only place in the cosmos that had lacked it. I wonder if a carpenter realized exactly what had happened even if he hadn’t been near the battles to see it, and I wonder if he ran towards where the King was. I wonder if he found Him there, discussing plans with the angels, and not giving a single care about whether he was interupting a discussion abou the fate of the cosmos, cried out “My little boy, how much you’ve grown since I last saw you!”. I wonder if Jesus thought He had been done crying, but teared up again at the sight of His earthly guardian. If the angels stepped back to allow step father and Son to hug. I wonder if Joseph finally comprehended everything. I wonder if he gently touched Jesus’ wounds, and with a broken voice asked who had done that to Him. I wonder if Jesus touched his cheek and said “It doesn’t matter, all is forgiven”. I wonder if Joseph wanted to argue, wanted to punish himself over the fact that God had charged him with taking care of His only Son, and he hadn’t been there to protect Him when it mattered most. I wonder if the gentleness in Jesus’ eyes shut all of those negative thoughts down.

I wonder if He spent those three days and three nights there, with His step father at His side, putting the place to rights. Comforting those who needed comfort, healing those who needed healing. Announcing the time for their saving had come, the Kingdom of God was at hand. I wonder what figures of the Old Testment He talked to. I wonder what changes He and His army had to do to take that place of eternal suffering and turn it into a realm of purification. I wonder what happened to the demons. I wonder what happened to the angels. I wonder if they struggled to understand how Jesus could walk around so happily shouting ‘all is forgiven, all are loved, all will be reunited’ like a child in a playground when those earthly creatures had been way more trouble than they were worth. I wonder, however, if they understood perfectly instead.

I wonder if Jesus was still there when Judas arrived. I wonder if they met. I wonder if Judas fell to his knees. I wonder if Jesus wept. I wonder if He asked why he had done that when He had given him His everything, His best. I wonder if He didn’t really want to hear the answer. I wonder if there was sorrow. I wonder if there was forgiveness. I wonder if there was pain. I wonder if there was contriction. I wonder. I wonder. I wonder. It’s all I can do.

I wonder what it was like, when the day came for Him to rise and lead all souls to Heaven. I wonder if there were demons who had fallen to their knees and asked for forgiveness, and achieved it. I wonder if the angels praised Him, not only for humankind but for their fallen siblings who they had gotten back. I wonder if euphoria filled the Saviour as He led the way, thinking of all the people He had loved throughout the ages finally coming home, thinking of all the people He loved still on earth that wouldn’t even need to meet that place, or whose stay there would certainly be short. He’d have His friends. He’d have them all. I wonder if He laughed, triumphant and giddy as the souls began to leave, all of them singing in praise of God. I wonder if He raised His voice and said “Eli, Eli, thank You for your blessings!”. I wonder if God laughed back. It was finished. It was finished. It was finished. They could now begin again.

I wonder if Joseph touched His shoulder with his caloused worker’s hand on the way out, silently asking if He would walk with him to Heaven as he had walked with Him on earth. I wonder if Jesus told him He needed to take care of some things, and of some people He’d left behind first. I think Joseph would know exactly what he meant. Ever fatherly, ever supportive without asking questions, only giving guidance. I wonder if he’d give Him a flower, maybe the only one he had found in all of Sheol, and say “please give her this, and tell her how much I miss her, and I love her”. I wonder if Jesus would hug him and thank His Father for having given His Holy Mother such a good companion.

I wonder if a soul, or an angel, would approach Him and ask if He was really going to go back there, after everything that had been done to Him. And I just know He’d smile, bless them, and say “I’ll always come back to them.”

[daily-praise]

Today’s Reflection

Our  journey of Lent began 40 days ago, as we each made Lenten promises, whose purpose was to help us grow closer to God and in the past few day in our Lenten journey our grief has intensified because of the cross. Yet, our grief turns to hope beginning in the darkness of this night in which one spark ignites a single candle, which burns brightly in the darkness as its light spreads out among the faithful as the story of our salvation unfolds and builds through the many prayers, blessings, and readings we hear throughout this night. Therefore, through the goodness of God we receive hope in a dark and empty world, we have received a new beginning a new start in life.

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 8, 2023

Join the National Eucharistic Revival Today’s Mass Readings Today’s Reflection The Holy Rosary Liturgy of the Hours New American Bible Non-Scriptural Reading Prime Matters

[supercool-here]

This year's Easter vigil service at my hometown parish. I did not take the pictures but I did edit them. Happy Easter everybody!

Also, a picture of the Easter vigil service at the Cathedral (taken from Facebook)