(Latin Easter Vigil Mass here)
1. By most ancient tradition, this is the night of keeping vigil for the Lord (Ex 12: 42),
in which, following the Gospel admonition (Lk 12: 35-37), the faithful, carrying lighted
lamps in their hands, should be like those looking for the Lord when he returns, so that at
his coming he may find them awake and have them sit at his table.
2. Of this night’s Vigil, which is the greatest and most noble of all solemnities, there is
to be only one celebration in each church. It is arranged, moreover, in such a way that
after the Lucernarium and Easter Proclamation (which constitutes the first part of this
Vigil), holy Church meditates on the wonders the Lord God has done for his people from
the beginning, trusting in his word and promise (the second part, that is, the Liturgy of
the Word) until, as day approaches, with new members reborn in Baptism (the third part),
the Church is called to the table the Lord has prepared for his people, the memorial of his
Death and Resurrection until he comes again (the fourth part).
3. The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil must take place during the night, so that it
begins after nightfall and ends before daybreak on the Sunday.
4. The Mass of the Vigil, even if it is celebrated before midnight, is a paschal Mass of
the Sunday of the Resurrection.
5. Anyone who participates in the Mass of the night may receive Communion again at
Mass during the day. A Priest who celebrates or concelebrates the Mass of the night may
again celebrate or concelebrate Mass during the day.
The Easter Vigil takes the place of the Office of Readings.
6. The Priest is usually assisted by a Deacon. If, however, there is no Deacon, the duties
of his Order, except those indicated below, are assumed by the Priest Celebrant or by a
concelebrant.
The Priest and Deacon vest as at Mass, in white vestments.
7. Candles should be prepared for all who participate in the Vigil. The lights of the
church are extinguished.
FIRST PART: THE SOLEMN BEGINNING OF THE VIGIL OR LUCERNARIUM
The Blessing of the Fire and Preparation of the Candle
8. A blazing fire is prepared in a suitable place outside the church. When the people are
gathered there, the Priest approaches with the ministers, one of whom carries the paschal
candle. The processional cross and candles are not carried.
Where, however, a fire cannot be lit outside the church, the rite is carried out as in no.
13, below.
9. The Priest and faithful sign themselves while the Priest says: In the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and then he greets the assembled people in
the usual way and briefly instructs them about the night vigil in these or similar words:
Dear brethren (brothers and sisters),
on this most sacred night,
in which our Lord Jesus Christ
passed over from death to life,
the Church calls upon her sons and daughters,
scattered throughout the world,
to come together to watch and pray.
-If we keep the memorial
of the Lord's paschal solemnity in this way,
listening to his word and celebrating his mysteries,
then we shall have the sure hope
of sharing his triumph over death
and living with him in God.
10. Then the Priest blesses the fire, saying with hands extended:
Let us pray.
O God, who through your Son
bestowed upon the faithful the fire of your glory,
sanctify † this new fire, we pray,
and grant that,
by these paschal celebrations,
we may be so inflamed with heavenly desires,
that with minds made pure
we may attain festivities of unending splendor.
Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
11. After the blessing of the new fire, one of the ministers brings the paschal candle to the Priest, who cuts a cross into the candle with a stylus. Then he makes the Greek letter Alpha above the cross, the letter Omega below, and the four numerals of the current year between the arms of the cross, saying meanwhile:
1. Christ yesterday and today (he cuts a vertical line);
2. the Beginning and the End (he cuts a horizontal line);
3. the Alpha (he cuts the letter Alpha above the vertical line);
4. and the Omega (he cuts the letter Omega below the vertical line).
5. All time belongs to him (he cuts the first numeral of the current year in the upper
left corner of the cross);
6. and all the ages (he cuts the second numeral of the current year in the upper right
corner of the cross).
7. To him be glory and power (he cuts the third numeral of the current year in the
lower left corner of the cross);
8. through every age and for ever. Amen (he cuts the fourth numeral of the
current year in the lower right corner of the cross).
12. When the cutting of the cross and of the other signs has been completed, the Priest may insert five grains of incense into the candle in the form of a cross, meanwhile saying:
1. By his holy
2. and glorious wounds,
3. may Christ the Lord
4. guard us
5. and protect us. Amen.
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4 2 5
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13. Where, because of difficulties that may occur, a fire is not lit, the blessing of fire is adapted to the circumstances. When the people are gathered in the church as on other occasions, the Priest comes to the door of the church, along with the ministers carrying the paschal candle. The people, insofar as is possible, turn to face the Priest. The greeting and address take place as in no. 9 above; then the fire is blessed and the candle is prepared, as above in nos. 10-12.
14. The Priest lights the paschal candle from the new fire, saying:
May the light of Christ rising in glory
dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.
As regards the preceding elements, Conferences of Bishops may also establish other forms more adapted to the culture of the different peoples.
15. When the candle has been lit, one of the ministers takes burning coals from the fire
and places them in the thurible, and the Priest puts incense into it in the usual way. The
Deacon or, if there is no Deacon, another suitable minister, takes the paschal candle and a
procession forms. The thurifer with the smoking thurible precedes the Deacon or other
minister who carries the paschal candle. After them follows the Priest with the ministers
and the people, all holding in their hands unlit candles.
At the door of the church the Deacon, standing and raising up the candle, sings:
The Light of Christ. Or: Lumen Christi.
And all reply: Thanks be to God. Or: Deo grátias.
The Priest lights his candle from the flame of the paschal candle.
16. Then the Deacon moves forward to the middle of the church and, standing and raising up the candle, sings a second time:
The Light of Christ. Or: Lumen Christi.
And all reply: Thanks be to God. Or: Deo grátias.
All light their candles from the flame of the paschal candle and continue in procession.
17. When the Deacon arrives before the altar, he stands facing the people, raises up the candle and sings a third time:
The Light of Christ. Or: Lumen Christi.
And all reply: Thanks be to God. Or: Deo grátias.
Then the Deacon places the paschal candle on a large candlestand prepared next to the ambo or in the middle of the sanctuary. And lights are lit throughout the church, except for the altar candles.
18. Arriving at the altar, the Priest goes to his chair, gives his candle to a minister, puts
incense into the thurible and blesses the incense as at the Gospel at Mass. The Deacon
goes to the Priest and saying, Your blessing, Father, asks for and receives a blessing from
the Priest, who says in a low voice:
May the Lord be in your heart and on your lips,
that you may proclaim his paschal praise worthily and well,
in the name of the Father and of the Son, † and of the Holy Spirit.
The Deacon replies: Amen.
This blessing is omitted if the Proclamation is made by someone who is not a Deacon.
19. The Deacon, after incensing the book and the candle, proclaims the Easter
Proclamation (Exsultet) at the ambo or at a lectern, with all standing and holding lighted
candles in their hands.
The Easter Proclamation may be made, in the absence of a Deacon, by the Priest
himself or by another concelebrating Priest. If, however, because of necessity, a lay
cantor sings the Proclamation, the words Therefore, dearest friends up to the end of the
invitation are omitted, along with the greeting The Lord be with you.
The Proclamation may also be sung in the shorter form.
Video
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.
Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice,
arrayed with the lightning of his glory,
let this holy building shake with joy,
filled with the mighty voices of the peoples.
(Therefore, dearest friends,
standing in the awesome glory of this holy light,
invoke with me, I ask you,
the mercy of God almighty,
that he, who has been pleased to number me,
though unworthy, among the Levites,
may pour into me his light unshadowed,
that I may sing this candle’s perfect praises).
(V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.)
V. Lift up your hearts.
R. We lift them up to the Lord.
V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
R. It is right and just.
It is truly right and just,
with ardent love of mind and heart
and with devoted service of our voice,
to acclaim our God invisible, the almighty Father,
and Jesus Christ, our Lord, his Son, his Only Begotten.
Who for our sake paid Adam’s debt to the eternal Father,
and, pouring out his own dear Blood,
wiped clean the record of our ancient sinfulness.
These, then, are the feasts of Passover,
in which is slain the Lamb, the one true Lamb,
whose Blood anoints the doorposts of believers.
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.
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.
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.
R. Amen.
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.
Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice,
arrayed with the lightning of his glory,
let this holy building shake with joy,
filled with the mighty voices of the peoples.
(V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.)
V. Lift up your hearts.
R. We lift them up to the Lord.
V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
R. It is right and just.
It is truly right and just,
with ardent love of mind and heart
and with devoted service of our voice,
to acclaim our God invisible, the almighty Father,
and Jesus Christ, our Lord, his Son, his Only Begotten.
Who for our sake paid Adam’s debt to the eternal Father,
and, pouring out his own dear Blood,
wiped clean the record of our ancient sinfulness.
These then are the feasts of Passover,
in which is slain the Lamb, the one true Lamb,
whose Blood anoints the doorposts of believers.
This is the night,
when once you led our forebears, Israel’s children,
from slavery in Egypt
and made them pass dryshod through the Red Sea.
This is the night
that with a pillar of fire
banished the darkness of sin.
This is the night
in which 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.
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!
The sanctifying power of this night
dispels wickedness, washes faults away,
restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners.
O truly blessed night,
when things of heaven are wedded to those of earth
and divine to the human.
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
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.
R. Amen.
SECOND PART: THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
20. In this Vigil, the mother of all Vigils, nine readings are provided, namely seven from the Old Testament and two from the New (the Epistle and Gospel), all of which should be read whenever this can be done, so that the character of the Vigil, which demands an extended period of time, may be preserved.
21. Nevertheless, where more serious pastoral circumstances demand it, the number of readings from the Old Testament may be reduced, always bearing in mind that the reading of the Word of God is a fundamental part of this Easter Vigil. At least three readings should be read from the Old Testament, both from the Law and from the Prophets, and their respective Responsorial Psalms should be sung. Never, moreover, should the reading of chapter 14 of Exodus with its canticle be omitted.
22. After setting aside their candles, all sit. Before the readings begin, the Priest instructs the people in these or similar words:
Dear brethren (brothers and sisters),
now that we have begun our solemn Vigil,
let us listen with quiet hearts to the Word of God.
Let us meditate on how God in times past saved his people
and in these, the last days, has sent us his Son as our Redeemer.
Let us pray that our God may complete this paschal work of salvation
by the fullness of redemption.
23. Then the readings follow. A reader goes to the ambo and proclaims the reading. Afterwards a psalmist or a cantor sings or says the Psalm with the people making the response. Then all rise, the Priest says, Let us pray and, after all have prayed for a while in silence, he says the prayer corresponding to the reading. In place of the Responsorial Psalm a period of sacred silence may be observed, in which case the pause after Let us pray is omitted.
Reading I Gn 1:1—2:2 or 1:1, 26-31a Responsorial Psalm Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35 or Ps 33:4-5, 6-7, 12-13, 20 and 22 |
Reading IV Is 54:5-14 Responsorial Psalm Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13 |
Reading VII Ezk 36:16-17a, 18-28 Responsorial Psalm When baptism is celebrated. Ps 42:3, 5; 43:3, 4 When baptism is not celebrated Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 Or: Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19 |
Reading II Gn 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 Responsorial Psalm 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11 |
Reading V Is 55:1-11 Responsorial Psalm Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 |
Epistle Rom 6:3-11 Responsorial Psalm Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 |
Reading III Ex 14:15—15:1 Responsorial Psalm Ex 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18 |
Reading VI Bar 3:9-15, 32(4:4) Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 |
Gospel Year A: Mt 28:1-10 Year B: Mk 16:1-7 Year C: Lk 24:1-12 |
38. Catechumens, if there are any, are called forward and presented by their godparents in front of the assembled Church or, if they are small children, are carried by their parents and godparents.
39. Then, if there is to be a procession to the baptistery or to the font, it forms immediately. A minister with the paschal candle leads off, and those to be baptized follow him with their godparents, then the ministers, the Deacon, and the Priest. During the procession, the Litany (no. 43) is sung. When the Litany is completed, the Priest gives the address (no. 40).
40. If, however, the Baptismal Liturgy takes place in the sanctuary, the Priest immediately makes an introductory statement in these or similar words. If there are candidates to be baptized:
Dearly beloved,
with one heart and one soul, let us by our prayers
come to the aid of these our brothers and sisters in their blessed hope,
so that, as they approach the font of rebirth,
the almighty Father may bestow on them
all his merciful help.
If the font is to be blessed, but no one is to be baptized:
Dearly beloved,
let us humbly invoke upon this font
the grace of God the almighty Father,
that those who from it are born anew
may be numbered among the children of adoption in Christ.
LITANY
41. The Litany is sung by two cantors, with all standing (because it is Easter Time) and responding. If, however, there is to be a procession of some length to the baptistery, the Litany is sung during the procession; in this case, those to be baptized are called forward before the procession begins, and the procession takes place led by the paschal candle, followed by the catechumens with their godparents, then the ministers, the Deacon, and the Priest. The address should occur before the Blessing of Water.
49. Then the Priest questions the adults individually about the faith and, if there are children to be baptized, he requests the triple profession of faith from all the parents and godparents together, as is indicated in the respective Rites. Where many are to be baptized on this night, it is possible to arrange the rite so that, immediately after the response of those to be baptized and of the godparents and the parents, the Celebrant asks for and receives the renewal of baptismal promises of all present.
50. When the interrogation is concluded, the Priest baptizes the adult elect and the children.
51. After the Baptism, the Priest anoints the infants with chrism. A white garment is given to each, whether adults or children. Then the Priest or Deacon receives the paschal candle from the hand of the minister, and the candles of the newly baptized are lighted. For infants the rite of Ephphetha is omitted.
52. Afterwards, unless the baptismal washing and the other explanatory rites have occurred in the sanctuary, a procession returns to the sanctuary, formed as before, with the newly baptized or the godparents or parents carrying lighted candles. During this procession, the baptismal canticle Vidi aquam (I saw water) or another appropriate chant is sung (no. 56).
53. If adults have been baptized, the Bishop or, in his absence, the Priest who has conferred Baptism, should at once administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to them in the sanctuary, as is indicated in the Roman Pontifical or Roman Ritual.
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