Holy Saturday - Easter Vigil

HE IS RISEN!!! HALLELUJAH!!! The Vigil is one of the most beautiful liturgies in the Catholic Church's calendar. Each Pastor has the option of which of the 7 readings they want to use, the Epistle, and the Gospel. At St. Tom's we do all 9 readings, and usually welcome between 20-30 new people into the Catholic Faith. It is such a beautiful experience.

The Triduum is such a beautiful time in our calendar, and my favorite time of year. There is so much emotion packed into a three day period. We start with the celebration of the Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. Such joy as our Lord shares Himself with us for the first time and for many opportunities in the future. But this day is tainted with our knowledge of what is to come. We end the evening in the chapel of repose. Christ has effectively left the building...the tabernacle is empty.

And it stays empty through the darkness of the Good Friday Service. Our Christ is sentenced to death, death on a cross; that He may pay for the sins we commit. We adore that cross as a symbol of His love for us. And the church remains in darkness until sundown Saturday. This is the one day each year that you cannot attend a celebration of Mass.

And then the sun sets! As the sun slips below the horizon we light the Easter fire. This has been my job the last three years. This is the first symbol of new birth, we burn the chrism and palms of the past year and from the flames light the new Easter candle that will shine the light of Christ through baptisms, marriages, funerals...this is the movement forward leaving behind the penitence of Lent to accept the joy of the Easter Season. We process with those preparing to enter the Church, into a dark church and spread the light of the Easter candle among our community. The Exhaultant begins and the lights come up around the church. Then the readings begin, each a reflection on another offering of love from our Lord, beginning with the Creation and continuing through human history to present day. The Gloria fills the space. It has been six weeks since we fell silent in the days of Lent, celebrating the Mass without the Gloria and no saying the "A-word", Alleluia. The church fills with joy as we erupt in song once again!

It is a beautiful site to behold as new members are baptized, trading in their brown garments for unblemished white ones. Our new members are confirmed with the fresh new chrism as they are welcomed fully into the church. And those who were among us now join at the table for the celebration of the Mass. For the first time they receive the Eucharist; The Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ...the Source and Summit of our Catholic faith. It is beautiful and amazing!

Christmas celebrates the birth of our Lord, Thanksgiving is an American holiday and time for family, Advent and Lent...time spent in waiting and preparation...all of these are fun and important to us. But the three days of Holy Week that make up the Triduum, to me these are one of the most beautiful and wonderful gifts of the church. We celebrate together as One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church the institution of the Source of our faith, and celebrate the death and resurrection of the most innocent sacrificial lamb.

Happy Easter! The Lord is RISEN! This is his resurrection and return to the glorious seat at His father's right hand.