Easter Vigil

 

EASTER VIGIL

This is the greatest tragedy in the Holy Week changes.  So much symbolism was destroyed.  The order of things was changed, the Litany of the Saints divided into two parts and the creation of the vernacular Baptismal Promises facing the people.

Order of the pre-1955 Easter Vigil :

1)      Blessing of the New Fire and Incense outside

2)      Triple Candle representing the Holy Trinity is lit from the blessed fire---one candle each time Lumen Christi (3x) is sung while entering the church

a.      The dark church symbolizes the tomb of the buried Jesus

b.     The Pascal Candle which represents Christ is set up on the Gospel side near the ambo before the Vigil begins

c.      Symbolism:  The dead body of Jesus awaits in the dark tomb

                                                              i.      The Triple Candle was done away with in the 1962

                                                            ii.      The procession into church is done with the Pascal Candle in the 1962

                                                          iii.      All the above symbolism is lost

3)      Singing of the Exultet

a.      Incense is placed in Pascal Candle at the appropriate time of the prayer

b.     Pascal Candle is lit from Triple Candle at the appropriate time of the prayer

                                                              i.       Symbolism--this signifies the moment of His Resurrection

4)      The Prophecies --- 12 are chanted (4 in 1962; NO back to 8)

a.      Creation                            Genesis 1

b.     The Deluge                       Genesis 5

c.      Sacrifice of Isaac             Genesis 22

d.     Crossing the Red Sea       Exodus 14

e.      Isaias 55

f.        Baruch 3

g.      Ezechiel 37

h.      Isaias 4

i.        Passover Lamb               Exodus 12

j.        Jonas 3

k.      Deuteronomy 31

l.        Daniel 3

5)      Blessing of the Baptismal Font and Baptism of Catechumens

a.      Procession to the Baptistry with the Pascal Candle while singing Sicut Cervus

b.     Blessing the Font with the Oil of Catechumens and Chrism

c.      Baptism of any catechumens

                                                              i.      None of this is done in the sanctuary “facing the people”, but in the baptistry

                                                            ii.      Sicut Cervus is sung before the blessing of the font, etc, NOT after

                                                          iii.      Symbolism:  the yearning of the catechumens for baptism

6)      Litany of Saints---The priest and sacred ministers prostrate before the altar

a.      The Litany is doubled---all invocations are repeated with 2 cantors/choirs

b.     Priests leave at Peccatores . . . in order to vest for Mass

                                                              i.      The servers decorate the altar with flowers

                                                            ii.      Light candles for Mass

7)      Mass---all the omissions of the Easter Vigil are the same in both pre-1955 and 1962

a.     Priest begins with Prayers at Foot of the Altar and Confiteor

b.     No Introit

c.      Kyrie

d.     Gloria---bells rung and organ played throughout; statues uncovered  

e.      Alleluia--- special chant 3x

f.        Gradual and Tract

g.      Gospel

h.      No Credo---(the Apostles did not believe yet)

i.        No Offertory Antiphon

j.        No Agnus Dei

k.      No Communion Antiphon

l.        Short form of Vespers:  Psalm 116 and Magnificat

m.   Ite, Missa Est, Alleluia, Alleluia!

n.     Last Gospel is read