Symbolism of the Easter Vigil

 

Holy Saturday Easter Vigil

(from Dom Gueranger’s The Liturgical Year)

 

Blessing of the New Fire---‘I AM the Light of the World”  --represents Our Lord

                Spark from the flint represents Our Lord rising from the sepulcher through the stone

rolled in front

                Lights out in Church---shows abrogation of the Old Law which ended with the

Temple veil torn

New fire represents the teaching of the New Law where Our Lord fulfilled all the

figures of the Old Covenant

 

Blessing of the 5 grains of incense---- represent the perfumes prepared by St Mary Magdalene for embalming

 

New light brought into the church----Lumen Christi 3 times to proclaim the Holy Trinity (Triple Candle)

 

Pascal Candle---unlighted represents pillar of cloud which hid Israelites (OT) and Our Lord in the tomb (NT)

                Lighted---pillar of fire which guided the people (OT) and Our Lord risen from the dead (NT)

 

Exultet---Joys of this glorious night

 

Incense---5 grains in the pascal candle in the form of a cross to represent His 5 wounds

                Once lit the pascal candle signifies the instant of His Resurrection

 

Lights of church are lit from the new fire---to signify that His Resurrection was made known gradually and that having opened the way, after passing through the tomb, we shall enter everlasting life.

 

The Prophecies---12 in all

 

Blessing of the Font---Sicut Cervus---stag represents the catechumens

                Priest divides the water in the form of the cross—to signify that it is by the cross that

the water receives Its power to regenerate souls

                Sprinkles the blessed water to 4 directions to show all parts of world received the

preaching of Baptism

 

Dip Pascal Candle in water---Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River when water received its future promise of Baptism and now receives its reality

                Before taking out a 3^rd time, priest breathes on water in Greek letter for Spirit

Oil of Catechumens and Holy Chrism added to water shows the superabundant

grace of Baptism

 

Baptism of Catechumens---“Resurrection” from sin to justification

Confirmation (by a bishop)---will make them perfect Christians

 

Litany of Saints---All invocations are doubled.

Priest prostrates before the altar on a cushion and leaves at Peccatores to prepare

for Mass

 

Mass begins----Kyrie---(no Introit, Offertory or Communion propers)

Gloria----bells rung, all lights come on and statues uncovered

 

Solemn return of the “Alleluia” with special chant 3x before the Gospel

At this moment all mournfulness is at an end.  One feels that God has accepted the

expiatory works of our Lent; and that, by the merits of His Son now risen from

the grave, He pardons our earth, since He permits us to hear once more the song of heaven.

 

Tract---Jesus has risen from the tomb, but has not shown Himself to all yet---only Mary Magdalene and the women

 

NO Creed---saved for 2^nd Mass---shows the hours which elapsed before the apostles, who were to preach to the world the mystery of the Resurrection, had honored it by their faith.