Remember that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. Light the love of your heart for Him as your candle, to remind yourself of this glorious fact.
Priest: "The Easter Vigil begins in darkness. The darkness of the tomb is split open as the Light of the world resurrects and pours life-giving light to the whole world.
O God, grant that our hearts may be purified by your beloved Son Jesus Christ.
We offer You our love and praise in honour of so glorious a gift to our world,
Amen."
EASTER VIGIL READING
Mark 16
The Resurrection
16 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
9 Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
Jesus Appears to Two Disciples
12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
The Great Commission
14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
BAPTISM
If you have been baptized, here quietly renew your promises to Jesus to continue practising holiness in your life, and to be faithful to Him.
If you have been baptized, and fallen away from your faith, why then, just renew your baptismal promises and start all over again.
If you have never been baptized, why not accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour?
He truly is the Son of God, and is waiting for you. Invite joy into your life and accept Him. Seek baptism.
Here is a chapel for accepting Jesus Christ into your life:
LITANY OF THE SAINTS
Priest: "Let us thank God for the holy men and women who have gone before us, showing that it is possible to reach the holiness God desires for us. Let us remember our holy ones."
Congregation: "We remember you, our holy family in heaven."
BLESSING OF THE WATER
If you do not have holy water, pour some water into a bowl. Sprinkle a little salt in it if you have some. Ask the Lord to bless the water and make it holy. Now you have your own holy water!
The priest blesses the water, and sprinkles the congregation with it.
We remember that Jesus is the Water of Life and brings us to holiness through baptism.
WE NOW REJECT OUR ANCIENT ENEMY SATAN
Priest: "Do you reject sin, so as to live in the freedom of God's children?'
Congregation: "I do."
Priest: "Do you reject the glamour of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin?"
Congregation: "I do."
Priest: "Do you reject satan, father of sin and prince of darkness?"
Congregation: "I do."
WORDS OF COMFORT
"She sat stitching at night, straining her eyes in the flickering of the candle. It did not matter. What mattered was that her Son would have clothing which would keep Him covered, warm in winter, cool in summer.
"She sat stitching at night, straining her eyes in the flickering of the candle. It did not matter. What mattered was that her Son would have clothing which would keep Him covered, warm in winter, cool in summer.
So she wove a garment all in one piece. And now soldiers quarrelled over the garment as her Son hung dying on the cross. The clothes which Mary had made with such love and devotion had become the blood spattered remnants of a condemned criminal.
With every stitch Mother Mary had placed in the cloth, with every step of the weaving, she was not merely making a tunic.
Every stitch was her saying, 'I love you.'
Therein lies a parable for us all on this wondrous Easter night. Mary showed her love for her Son, our beloved Savior, by stitching, cooking, caring, loving. It is the little things which really matter, after all.
Not all of us are called to actions which stand before the world as acts of public greatness. All of us are called however to do little things in a spirit of love and nobility.
When Jesus was dying upon the cross, He made His last will and testament. He left what was most precious to Him to His follower John. Jesus entrusted the care of His Mother Mary to John, so she would not be left poverty stricken and alone.
She would have, in effect, another son to care for her.
As Jesus died, He showed what was most important to Him.
Not a palace. Not property. Not heirlooms, nor silver, or gold.
But relationship built on love. Jesus prizes love above all.
How many of us can say the same? When God calls us home to heaven, what quick arrangements would we wish to make?
Would they regard a house, payment of mortgage, who to leave a ring to, or who will inherit our personal possessions?
Would they regard a house, payment of mortgage, who to leave a ring to, or who will inherit our personal possessions?
Or would we, like Christ, treasure love and our relationships above all?
This Easter night, let us look to our lives and examine our values as closely as Mary looked at her stitches. Do we have love in our hearts? Do we treasure others? Do we let others know that we truly care?
This way of love and compassion has its price. Sometimes others do not value us despite our love. Well, then, we simply walk in the same path of suffering and misunderstanding Jesus did. Be brave, dear soul. Be brave enough to love as Jesus did. Value relationships above all, enough to 'love your neighbour as yourself', and to love and honor others by being faithful to the Ten Commandments.
During this sorrowful time of the Coronavirus pandemic, many of us have time on our hands during lockdown to take a fresh look at our lives and values. As our brothers and sisters come before the Throne of God as we mourn them, as noble people battle the invisible enemy, we look anew at our lives. Are our values godly? Are there areas of our lives which need to be washed in the precious Blood of the Lamb? If so, perhaps you will find peace and comfort from visiting the Chapel of Repentance:
As we mourn the loss of so many lives during this extraordinary time, we draw comfort from the fact that we will meet again in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus won for us the way to eternal life. This Easter night, let us turn to the Christ of the Resurrection to pray for all our brothers and sisters who have left this world due to the Coronavirus. May they rest in peace, Amen."
THE EUCHARIST
Priest; "As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed and broke it. He gave it to His disciples, saying; "Take all you, and eat. This is My Body, which is broken for you."
Congregation; "Lord Jesus, You are the Bread of Life."
Priest; "At the end of supper, Jesus took the cup. He gave thanks, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take, all of you, and drink; this is My Blood of the new covenant, Which is shed for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of Me." '
Congregation; "Lord Jesus, You are the cup of life, the wine blessed for our salvation."
[Receive communion. If you are unable to attend Holy Mass, receive Jesus spiritually within your heart and soul now. Spend some time in prayer. Let us pray for all affected by the Coronavirus].
LORD'S PRAYER
Priest; "Let us now pray the Lord's prayer in the words Jesus gave us."
Priest and Congregation;
'Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come
Thy Will be done
One earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day
Our daily bread,
And forgive us our sins,
As we forgive those who sin against us,
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen."
PRAYER AND BLESSING
Priest; "Heavenly Father, we praise and thank You for sending us Your only Son, Jesus Christ.
We rejoice in His Resurrection. This night the tomb is robbed of death, and is empty!
There is Light in the midst of our darkness!
We have been fed by the Word and given new life in the waters of baptism.
We have been given renewed life in the Eucharist, and receive life from Jesus our Lord.
We ask for Your blessing as we go forth to witness to the world the truth that JESUS CHRIST IS THE RISEN SON OF GOD!"
Congregation; "Amen. ALLELUIA!"
Priest; "As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed and broke it. He gave it to His disciples, saying; "Take all you, and eat. This is My Body, which is broken for you."
Congregation; "Lord Jesus, You are the Bread of Life."
Priest; "At the end of supper, Jesus took the cup. He gave thanks, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take, all of you, and drink; this is My Blood of the new covenant, Which is shed for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of Me." '
Congregation; "Lord Jesus, You are the cup of life, the wine blessed for our salvation."
[Receive communion. If you are unable to attend Holy Mass, receive Jesus spiritually within your heart and soul now. Spend some time in prayer. Let us pray for all affected by the Coronavirus].
LORD'S PRAYER
Priest; "Let us now pray the Lord's prayer in the words Jesus gave us."
Priest and Congregation;
'Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come
Thy Will be done
One earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day
Our daily bread,
And forgive us our sins,
As we forgive those who sin against us,
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen."
PRAYER AND BLESSING
Priest; "Heavenly Father, we praise and thank You for sending us Your only Son, Jesus Christ.
We rejoice in His Resurrection. This night the tomb is robbed of death, and is empty!
There is Light in the midst of our darkness!
We have been fed by the Word and given new life in the waters of baptism.
We have been given renewed life in the Eucharist, and receive life from Jesus our Lord.
We ask for Your blessing as we go forth to witness to the world the truth that JESUS CHRIST IS THE RISEN SON OF GOD!"
Congregation; "Amen. ALLELUIA!"
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