Holy Saturday, according to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is the day of the silence of God, of his apparent absence, of God's death...but it is also the day on which the Resurrection is proclaimed! Yes, at the Easter Vigil Mass!
Easter Vigil
The Easter Vigil Mass is one of the most beautiful and meaningful celebrations of the Catholic Church. It holds many fond memories for me too, as James my husband was baptised in 1992, Daniel, my son-in-law in 2005 and Kylee, my daughter-in law in 2014, each after a year of RCIA journey with their sponsors and catechists, where they learn more about the Catholic faith.
The Easter Vigil Mass starts with the lighting of the Paschal candle which then lit up the candles of the congregation until the whole Church is brightly lit up...so apt with the first liturgical reading of the Book of Genesis where God says "Let there be light" in His act of creation of the world.
The psalms sung by each Psalmist tell of God's glory and our souls' yearning for Him and to share in His goodness. So beautiful and meaningful! The Gospel readings tells us of the empty tomb, the resurrection, that Christ has indeed risen from the dead, as he has repeatedly told his disciples during his time with them.
The Liturgy of Baptism follows and I will always remember the hymn sung in 1992 when James and the his fellow catechumens and sponsors line up to go to the Baptismal font:
"Come to the water, You who are thirsty,
though you have nothing, I bid you come
and be filled with the goodness I have to offer!
Come, Listen, Live!"
The remaining of the mass which incorporates the Litany of the Saints, the anointing of oil as the newly baptised are Confirmed, the renewal of our baptismal promises, the prayers of the faithful, the rite of sprinkling, the celebration of the Paschal Eucharist, Holy Communion, the prayers and songs all make a night of worship a memorable and joyful one!
The soul is regenerated in the sacred waters
of baptism and thus becomes God's child.
- St Maximilian Kolbe-
The Easter Vigil Mass starts with the lighting of the Paschal candle which then lit up the candles of the congregation until the whole Church is brightly lit up...so apt with the first liturgical reading of the Book of Genesis where God says "Let there be light" in His act of creation of the world.
The psalms sung by each Psalmist tell of God's glory and our souls' yearning for Him and to share in His goodness. So beautiful and meaningful! The Gospel readings tells us of the empty tomb, the resurrection, that Christ has indeed risen from the dead, as he has repeatedly told his disciples during his time with them.
The Liturgy of Baptism follows and I will always remember the hymn sung in 1992 when James and the his fellow catechumens and sponsors line up to go to the Baptismal font:
"Come to the water, You who are thirsty,
though you have nothing, I bid you come
and be filled with the goodness I have to offer!
Come, Listen, Live!"
The remaining of the mass which incorporates the Litany of the Saints, the anointing of oil as the newly baptised are Confirmed, the renewal of our baptismal promises, the prayers of the faithful, the rite of sprinkling, the celebration of the Paschal Eucharist, Holy Communion, the prayers and songs all make a night of worship a memorable and joyful one!
The soul is regenerated in the sacred waters
of baptism and thus becomes God's child.
- St Maximilian Kolbe-
No comments:
Post a Comment