Holy Saturday - The Vigil of Easter
The altars are prepared for solemn Mass, but the candles are not lighted. The church remains in darkness. The priest, vested in purple cope, is accompanied by his ministers to a place outside the church where a new fire is struck from flint. He blesses the new fire, sprinkles it three times with holy water, and incenses it three times.
[Priest:]
The Lord be with you.
[All:] And with thy spirit.[Priest:]
Let us pray. O God, Thou hast bestowed on the faithful the fire of Thy brightness through Thy Son, Who is the cornerstone; sanctify + this new fire, produced from flint, that it may be profitable to us, and grant that during this Paschal festival we may be so inflamed with heavenly desires, that with pure minds we may come to the solemnity of perpetual light. Through the same Christ our Lord.
[All:] Amen.He sprinkles the fire three times with holy water,
and then incenses it three times.The priest then proceeds to mark the Paschal candle, saying:
while cutting the vertical line:
Christ yesterday and today
while cutting the transverse line:
the Beginning and the end
while cutting the letter above the cross:
the Alpha
while cutting the letter below the cross:
and the Omega
Α
+
2 + 0
+++++
1 + 5
+
+
Ω
and then as he cuts each numeral of the current year:
to Him belong Time...
and the ages,
to Him be glory and empire...
throughout all ages of eternity.
Amen.A taper is lighted from the new fire, and used to light the Paschal candle, saying:
[Priest:]
May the light of the gloriously risen Christ scatter the darkness of minds and hearts.The priest blesses the lighted Candle, saying:
[Priest:]
The Lord be with you.
[All:] And with thy spirit.[Priest:]
Let us pray. May an abundant outpouring of Thy blessing, + we beseech Thee, almighty God, descend upon this lighted candle: and, O invisible Regenerator, illumine Thou this nocturnal brightness, that not only the sacrifice that is offered this night shine by the secret mixture of Thy light, but also, into whatever place anything of this mysterious sanctification shall be brought, there, the power of Thy majesty may be present, and all the malicious artifices of Satan may be defeated. Through Christ our Lord.
[All:] Amen.The deacon, [or the priest, if there is no deacon] vested in white dalmatic takes the lighted Paschal candle, and followed by the celebrant, ministers, and people proceeds into the church. At the entrance, halfway down the aisle, and in the sanctuary, he sings:
[Deacon:]
Lumen Christi.
[All:] Deo grátias.The candle is placed in an appropriate holder at the Gospel side. The deacon [or priest] takes the missal and asks the celebrant's [or the Lord's] blessing:
[Deacon:]
Sir, [O Lord] thy blessing please.
[Priest:] May the lord be in thy [my] heart, and on thy [my] lips, that thou [I] may worthily and fittingly proclaim His Paschal praise: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.The book is placed on a lectern, covered with a white cloth and facing the Paschal candle. The deacon or priest chants or recites the Exultet:
L
et the angelic hosts of heaven now rejoice; let the divine mysteries rejoice; and let the trumpet of salvation sound forth the victory of so great a King. Let the earth also rejoice, made radiant by such splendor; and enlightened with the brightness of the eternal King, let it know that the darkness of the whole world is scattered. Let our mother the Church also rejoice, adorned with the brightness of so great a light; and let this temple resound with the loud acclamations of the people. Wherefore, I beseech you, most beloved brethren, who are here present in the wondrous brightness of this holy light, to invoke with me the mercy of Almighty God. That He who has vouchsafed to admit me among the Levites, without any merit of my own, would pour forth the brightness of His light to enable me to perfect the praise of this candle of wax. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, His Son, Who with Him and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, one God, forever and ever, world without end.
[All:] Amen.[Deacon or Priest:]
The Lord be with you.[All:]
And with thy spirit.[Deacon or Priest:]
Lift up your hearts.[All:]
We have lifted them up to the Lord.[Deacon or Priest:]
Let us Give thanks to the Lord our God.[All:]
It is meet and just.[Deacon or Priest::]
It is truly meet and just to proclaim with all our hearts and all the affection of our minds, and with the ministry of our voices, the invisible God, the Father Almighty, and His only-begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who repaid for us to His eternal Father the debt of Adam; and, by the merciful shedding of His blood, cancelled the guilt incurred by original sin. For this is the Paschal festival, in which the true Lamb is slain, with Whose blood the doorposts of the faithful are consecrated. This is the night in which Thou didst formerly cause our forefathers, the children of Israel, when brought out of Egypt, to pass through the Red Sea with dry feet. This, therefore, is the night that dissipated the darkness of sinners by the light of the pillar. This is the night, which, at this time throughout the world, restores to grace, and unites in sanctity, those who believe in Christ, and who are separated from the vices of the world and the darkness of sinners. This is the night in which, destroying the chains of death, Christ arose victorious from the grave. For it would have profited us nothing to have been born, unless redemption had also been bestowed upon us. O wondrous condescension of Thy mercy toward us! O inestimable affection of love, that Thou mightest redeem a slave, Thou didst deliver up Thy Son. O truly needful sin of Adam, which was blotted out by the death of Christ! O happy fault, that merited to possess such and so great a Redeemer! O truly blessed night, which alone deserved to know the time and hour when Christ rose again from hell! This is the night, of which it is written: "And the night shall be as clear as the day; and the night is my light in my delights." Therefore the hallowing of this night puts to flight all wickedness, cleanses sins, and restores innocence to the fallen and gladness to the sorrowful. It drives forth hatred, it produces concord, and it curbs haughtiness.
The deacon fixes the five grains of incense, enclosed in the "nails," into the Paschal candle, in the form of a cross.
[Deacon or Priest::]
Wherefore, in this sacred night, receive, O holy Father, the evening sacrifice of this incense, which holy Church renders unto Thee by the hands of Thy ministers in the solemn offering of this candle of wax, made out of the work of bees. Now, also, we know the praise of this pillar, which the shining fire enkindles to the honor of God.
[If a triple candle was used, the Paschal candle is now lighted.]
[Deacon or Priest::]
Which fire, although divided into parts, suffers no loss from its light being borrowed. For it is nourished by the melting wax, which the mother bee produced for the substance of this precious light.The altar candles, and other lights in the church are now lighted.
[Deacon or Priest::]
O truly blessed night, which plundered the Egyptians and enriched the Hebrews! A night in which heavenly things are united to those of earth, and things divine to those of man. We beseech Thee, therefore, O Lord, that this candle of wax, hallowed in honor of Thy name, may continue to burn to dissipate the darkness of this night. And being accepted as a sweet savor, may it be united with the heavenly lights. Let the morning star find its flame alight. That star, I mean, which knows no setting: He Who, returning from hell, serenely shone forth upon mankind. We beseech Thee, therefore, O Lord, that Thou wouldst grant peaceful times during this Paschal Festival; and vouchsafe to rule, govern, and keep with Thy constant protection, us Thy servants, and all the clergy, and the devout people, together with our most Holy Father, Pope N., and our Bishop N. Through the same Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord, Who with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, God, forever and ever, world without end.
[All:] Amen.The deacon [priest] resumes the purple vestments.
The following lessons are read by a lector or by the priest and his ministers:
THE PROPHECIES:
The First Prophecy
Genesis i: 1-31; ii: 1,2I
n the beginning God created heaven and earth; and the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God moved over the waters. And God said, «Let there be light»; and light was made. And God saw that it was good; and He divided the light from the darkness; and He called the light day and the darkness night; and there was evening and morning, the first day. And God said, «Let there be a firmament made amidst the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.» And God made a firmament, and divided the waters that were under the firmament from those that were above the firmament; and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven; and the evening and the morning were the second day. God also said, «Let the waters that are under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear»; and it was done. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called the Seas; and God saw that it was good. And He said, «Let the earth bring forth the green herb and such as may seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after its kind, which may have seed in itself upon the earth»; and it was done. And the earth brought forth the green herb and such as yielded seed according to its kind, and the tree that beareth fruit, having seed each one according to its kind. God saw that it was good; and the evening and morning were the third day. And God said, «Let there be lights made in the firmament of heaven to divide the day and the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and for years, to shine in the firmament of heaven, and to give light upon the earth»; and it was done. And God made two great lights, a greater light to rule the day, and a lesser light to rule the night; and the stars; and He set them in the firmament of heaven to shine upon the earth, and to rule the day and the night, and to divide the light and the darkness; and God saw that it was good; and the evening and morning were the fourth day. God also said, «Let the waters bring forth the creeping creatures having life, and the fowl that may fly over the earth under the firmament of heaven.» And God created the great whales and every living and moving creature, which the waters brought forth according to their kind; and God saw that it was Good. And He blessed them, saying, «Increase and multiply, and fill the waters of the sea, and let the birds be multiplied upon the earth»; and the evening and morning were the fifth day. And God said, «Let the earth bring forth the living creatures in their kind, cattle, and creeping things, and beasts of the earth, according to their kinds»; and it was done. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, and cattle, and everything that creeps upon the earth after its kind; and God saw that it was good. And He said, «Let us make man to our image and likeness, and let him have dominion over the fish of the sea, and the fowl of the air, and the beasts and the whole earth, and every creeping creature that moves upon the earth.» And God created man to His own image; to the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them, saying, «Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and the fowl of the air, and all living creatures that move upon the earth.» And God said, «Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed upon the earth, and all trees that have in themselves seed of their own kind, to be your meat; and to all the beasts of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to all that move upon the earth and wherein there is life, that they may have to feed upon»; and it was so done. And God saw all the things that He had made, and they were very good; and the evening and morning were the sixth day. So the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the furniture of them. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.[Priest:]
Let us pray.
[Deacon:] Let us kneel.
[Subdeacon:] Arise.[Priest:]
O God, who hast wonderfully created man, and more wonderfully redeemed him, grant us, we beseech Thee, to resist with strong mind the allurements of sin, that we may deserve eternal joys. This we ask of Thee . . . world without end.
[All:] Amen.The Second Prophecy
Exodus xiv: 24-31; xv: 1I
n those days the morning watch was come, and behold, the Lord, looking upon the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and of cloud, slew their host and overthrew the wheels of the chariots; and they were carried into the deep. And the Egyptians said, «Let us flee from Israel, for the Lord fights for them against us.» And the Lord said unto Moses, «Stretch forth thy hand over the sea that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, and upon their chariots and horsemen.» And when Moses had stretched forth his hand toward the sea, it returned at the first break of day, to its former place. And as the Egyptians were fleeing, the waters came upon them, and the Lord shut them up in the middle of the waves. And the waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen of the army of Pharao, who had come into the sea after them; neither did there remain so much as one of them. But the children of Israel marched through the midst of the sea upon dry land; and the waters were to them as a wall on the right hand and on the left; and the Lord delivered Israel in that day out of the hands of the Egyptians. And they saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore, and the mighty hand that the Lord had used against them. And the people feared the Lord, and they believed the Lord and Moses, His servant. Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this canticle unto the Lord, saying:The reader may have to prompt the congregation to join in reciting the following tract, a continuation of the reading above.
Tract
Exodus xv: 1,2.[All:]
«Let us sing to the Lord, for He is gloriously honored. The horse and the rider He has thrown into the sea. He has become my helper and protector unto salvation. He is my God and I will honor Him. He is the Lord that destroys wars. The Lord is His name.»[Priest:]
Let us pray.
[Deacon:] Let us kneel.
[Subdeacon:] Arise.[Priest:]
O God, whose ancient miracles we see shining even in our times; since what by the power of Thy right hand, Thou didst confer upon one people by delivering them from Egyptian persecution, Thou dost operate by the water of regeneration for the Gentiles, grant that the fullness of the whole world may pass over to the children of Abraham, and the dignity of Israelites. Through our Lord . . . world without end.
[All:] Amen.The Third Prophecy
Isaias iv: 2-6I
n that day, the bud of the Lord shall be in magnificence and glory, and the fruit of the earth shall be high; and a great joy to those who have escaped out of Israel. And it shall come to pass that, everyone who shall be left in Sion and who shall remain in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, every one who is written in life in Jerusalem. And the Lord shall wash away the filth of the daughters of Sion, and shall wash away the blood of Jerusalem out of the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning. And the Lord will create upon every place of Mount Sion and where He is called upon, a cloud by day, and a smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire in the night; for over all the glory shall be a protection. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shade in the daytime from the heat, and a security and covert from the whirlwind, and from rain.Tract
Isaias v: 1,2,7.[All:]
My beloved had a vineyard on a hill in a fruitful place. And he enclosed it with a fence, and made a ditch round about it, and planted it with the vine of Sorec, and built a tower in the midst thereof. And he made a winepress in it, for the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the house of the Lord.[Priest:]
Let us pray.
[Deacon:] Let us kneel.
[Subdeacon:] Arise.[Priest:]
O God, who by the voice of Thy holy prophets hast made manifest to all the children of the Church, that through the whole extent of Thine empire Thou art the sower of good seed and the cultivator of chosen branches; grant to Thy people who are called by the names of vines and harvests, that they may root out all thorns and briers, and bring forth good fruit in abundance. This we ask of Thee . . . world without end.
[All:] Amen.The Fourth Prophecy
Deuteronomy iv: 2-6I
n those days, Moses wrote the canticle and taught it unto the children of Israel. And the Lord commanded Joshue, the sun of Nun, and said, «Take courage and be valiant, for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land I have promised, and I will be with thee.» Therefore, after Moses had written the words of the Law in a volume and finished it, he commanded the Levites, who carried the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, saying, «Take this book, and put it into the side of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a testimony against you. For I know your obstinacy and your most stiff neck. While I am yet living and going in with you, you have always been rebellious against the Lord; how much more when I shall be dead? Gather unto me all the ancients of your tribes and your doctors, and I will speak these words in their hearing, and will call heaven and earth to witness against them. For I know that after my death, you will do wickedly and will quickly turn aside from the way that I have commanded you; and evils shall come upon you in the latter times, when you shall do evil in the sight of the Lord to provoke Him by the works of your hands.» Moses therefore spoke, in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel, the words of this canticle, and finished it, even to the end.Tract
Deuteronomy xxxii: 1-4.[All:]
«Attend, O heaven, and I will speak. And let the earth hear the words that come out of my mouth. Let my speech be expected like the rain, and let my words fall like the dew. Like the shower upon the grass, and like the snow upon the dry herb, because I invoke the name of the Lord. Confess the greatness of our God; the works of God are true, and all His ways are justice. God is faithful, in Whom there is no iniquity. The Lord is just and holy.»[Priest:]
Let us pray.
[Deacon:] Let us kneel.
[Subdeacon:] Arise.[Priest:]
O God, the exaltation of the humble, and the strength of the righteous, who by Thy holy servant Moses was pleased to instruct Thy people by the singing of the sacred canticle, that the renewal of the Law would serve for our direction; show Thy power to all the multitude of the peoples justified before Thee, and whilst Thou dost diminish fear, grant them joy, that all sins being pardoned by Thee, the threatened vengeance may be turned into salvation. Through our Lord Jesus . . .
[All:] Amen.THE BAPTISMAL SERVICE
The celebrant and ministers approach the font or other waters to be blessed.
Tract
[All:]
As the hart panteth after the fountains of water, so my soul panteth after Thee, O God. My soul has thirsted for the living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God? My tears have been my bread day and night, while they say to me daily, "Where is thy God?"[Priest:]
The Lord be with you.
[All:] And with thy spirit.[Priest:]
Let us pray. O almighty and eternal God, look mercifully on the devotion of the people who are about to be born anew, and pant like the hart after the fountain of Thy waters. Mercifully grant that the thirst of their faith may, by the Sacrament of Baptism, sanctify their souls and bodies. This we ask of Thee ... world without end.
[All:] Amen.[Priest:]
The Lord be with you.
[All:] And with thy spirit.[Priest:]
Let us pray. O almighty and eternal God, be present at these mysteries of Thy great goodness. Be present at these Sacraments, and send forth the Spirit of adoption to regenerate the new people, whom the font of baptism brings forth; that what is to be done by our humble ministry may be accomplished by the effect of Thy power. This we ask of Thee through . . . world without end.
[All:] Amen.[Priest:]
The Lord be with you.
[All:] And with thy spirit.
[Priest:] Lift up your hearts.
[All:] We have lifted them up to the Lord.
[Priest:] Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
[All:] It is meet and just.[Priest:]
It is truly meet and just, right and profitable for us, at all times and in all places to give thanks to Thee, O Lord, the holy One, the Father Almighty, the everlasting God; Who by a power unseen by man dost wonderfully work the effects of Thy Sacraments. And although we be unworthy for the performance of such great mysteries, nonetheless, not deserting the gifts of Thy grace, Thou dost incline the ear of thy pity to the prayers of such as we. O God, whose Spirit was borne upon the waters from the very beginning of the world, that even the nature of the waters might be impregnated with Thy sanctifying power; O God, Who, washing away with Thy waters, the guilt of an offending world, didst exhibit the form of regeneration in the very pouring forth of the flood, that by the mystery of the one and same element, there might be both an end to sin, and a beginning of righteousness. Look, O Lord, upon the face of Thy Church, and multiply Thy regenerations within her, Thou who dost gladden the city with the tide of Thine affluent grace, and dost open the fountain of Baptism for the renewal of nations throughout all the world, that by the command of Thy majesty, she may receive from the Holy Ghost the grace of Thine only-begotten Son.The priest divides the waters with his hand in the form of a cross.
And may that same Holy Ghost, by the hidden virtue of His Godhead, make fruitful this water prepared for the regeneration of men, that a heavenly offspring, conceived in sanctification, may emerge from the immaculate womb of this divine font, reborn to newness of life, and that grace, as a mother, bring forth everyone, however different in age or sex, into a like spiritual infancy. At Thy bidding, therefore, O Lord, may every unclean spirit depart from hence; far be removed all malice of diabolical deceit. Here let no admixture of the enemy's power have any place; let it not hover in ambush; let it not creep in unperceived; let it not corrupt with infection.
The priest touches the water with his hand.
May this holy and innocent creature be free from every assault of the adversary and purged of every flaw of wickedness. May it be a living fountain, a regenerating water, a purifying tide; that all who shall be washed in these waters of salvation may, by the working of the Holy Ghost in them, obtain the perfect favor of cleansing.
The priest makes the sign of the cross three times over the water, saying:
Wherefore, I bless thee, O creature water, in the name of the living + God, of the true + God, of the holy + God, of the God Who, in the beginning, by His word, divided thee from the dry land; whose spirit was borne upon thee.
Parting the water with his hand, the priest casts them to "the four corners of the earth," north, south, east, and west.
He it was Who bade thee to flow from the fountain of paradise and commanded thee to water the earth in four rivers. Who, when thou wast bitter in the desert, put sweetness into thee, made thee good to drink, and drew thee from the rock for His thirsty people. I bless + thee also in the name of Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who by a wonderful miracle in Cana of Galilee, converted thee into wine; Who with His feet walked upon thee; and was baptized in thee by John in the Jordan. Who gave thee forth, together with blood from His side; and ordered His disciples that those who believed should be Baptized in thee, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
In a lower tone:
Do thou, O Almighty God, of Thy clemency be with us while we keep these precepts; do Thou inspire us.
He breathes upon the water in the form of a cross.
These pure waters Thou wilt bless with Thy mouth; that, beside the natural cleansing which they perform in the washing of bodies, they may also be efficacious for the purifying of souls.
He immerses the Paschal Candle into the water of each font, thrice, more deeply each time, saying each time:
May the virtue of the Holy Ghost descend into all the waters of this font.
While the Candle is immersed, he breathes on the waters in the form of the Greek letter “psi.”
Ψ
And may He render the whole substance of this water fruitful with the quality of regeneration.
The Candle is removed, dried, and placed back into its holder.
Here may the stains of all sins be washed away; here may nature, created to Thine image and reformed to the honorable estate of its origin, be cleansed of all the foulness of the past; that every human being, by entering into this Sacrament of regeneration, may be born again into a new infancy of true innocence. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who shall come to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire.
[All:] Amen.He pours a little of the Oil of the Catechumens
(only into the font of Baptismal water).May this font be sanctified and made fruitful of the oil of salvation to those who are born again from it unto everlasting life.
[All:] Amen.He pours a little of the Holy Chrism
(only into the font of Baptismal water).May the infusion of the Chrism of our Lord Jesus Christ and of the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, be made in the name of the Holy Trinity.
[All:] Amen.Lastly, he pours a little of the Oil of Catechumens and the Holy Chrism
(only into the font of Baptismal water).May this mixture of the Oils of Chrism and of Catechumens and the water of Baptism, be made in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
[All:] Amen.If any catechumens are to be Baptized, this now takes place.
If the faithful are to renew their Baptismal promises, the priest puts on a white stole and cope, incenses the Paschal Candle, and addresses them:
Dearly beloved, brethren, on this most holy night, holy Mother the Church, calling to mind the death and burial of our Lord Jesus Christ, keeps a vigil for Him, returning love for love; she rejoices exceedingly, while celebrating his glorious resurrection.
But since, as the Apostles teach, we have been buried with Christ by Baptism unto death, we also must walk in the newness of life, just as Christ has arisen from the dead; knowing that the old man in us has been crucified along with Christ, so that we may no longer serve sin. Therefore, let us realize that we are dead to sin, but alive unto God, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, now that the Lenten exercises have been accomplished, let us renew the promises of holy Baptism, by which we formerly renounced Satan and his works, as well as the world, which is at enmity with God; let us promise to serve God faithfully in His Holy Catholic Church.
Therefore:
[Priest:]
Do you renounce Satan?
[All:] We do renounce him.[Priest:]
And all his works?
[All:] We do renounce them.[Priest:]
And all his display?
[All:] We do renounce it.[Priest:]
Do you believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?
[All:] We do believe.[Priest:]
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was born into this world and suffered for us?
[All:] We do believe.[Priest:]
And do you believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
[All:] We do believe.[Priest:]
Now let us pray all together, as our Lord Jesus Christ taught us to pray.
[All:] Our Father....[Priest:]
And may almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has given us a new birth by means of water and the Holy Ghost, and forgiven all our sins, preserve us by His grace in the same Christ Jesus our Lord to life everlasting.
[All:] Amen.The people are sprinkled with holy water.
THE LITANY OF THE SAINTS
The litany is intoned by the priest, or another appointed cantor.
Kýrie eleíson[Priest:]
[All:] Christe eleíson.[Priest:]
Kýrie eleíson. Christe audi nos.
[All:] Christe exaudi nos.[Priest:]
Pater de cælis Deus.
[All:] Miserere nobis.[Priest:]
Fili, Redemptor mundi Deus.
[All:] Miserere nobis.[Priest:]
Spiritus Sancti Deus.
[All:] Miserere nobis.[Priest:]
Sancta Trinitas unus Deus.
[All:] Miserere nobis.[Priest:]
Sancta Maria.
[All:] Ora pro nobis.[Priest:] Sancta Dei Genetrix.
[All:] Ora...Sancta Virgo Virginum. Ora...
Sancta Michael. Ora...
Sancta Gabriel. Ora...
Sancta Raphael. Ora...
Omnes Sancti Angeli et Archangeli.
Orate pro nobisOmnes sancti bætorum Spiritum ordines. Orate...
Sancte Joannes Baptista. Ora...
Sancte Joseph. Ora...
Omnes Sancti Patriarchi et Prophetæ. Orate...
Sancte Petre. Ora...
Sancte Paule. Ora...
Sancte Andréa. Ora...
Sancte Joánnes. Ora...
Omnes sancti Apóstoli et Evangelístæ. Orate...
Omnes sancti Discípuli Dómini. Orate...
Sancte Stéphane. Ora...
Sancte Laurénti. Ora...
Sancte Vincénti. Ora...
Omnes sancti Mártyres. Orate...
Sancte Silvéster. Ora...
Sancte Grégori. Ora...
Sancte Augustíne. Ora...
Omnes sancti Pontífices et Confessóres. Orate...
Omnes sancti Doctóres. Orate...
Sancte Antóni. Ora...
Sancte Benedícte. Ora...
Sancte Domínice. Ora...
Sancte Francísce. Ora...
Omnes sancti Sacerdótes et Levítæ. Orate...
Omnes sancti Mónachi et Eremítæ. Orate...
Sancta María Magdaléna. Ora...
Sancta Agnes. Ora...
Sancta Cæcília. Ora...
Sancta Agatha. Ora...
Sancta Anastásia. Ora...
Omnes sanctæ Vírgines et Viduæ. Orate...
[Priest:] Omnes Sancti et Sanctæ Dei.
[All] Intercédite pro nobis.---
[Priest:] Propitius esto.
[All] Parce nobis Dómine.[Priest:] Propitius esto.
[All] Exaudi nos Dómine.[Priest:] Ab omni malo.
[All] Líbera nos Dómine.Ab omni peccáto. Líbera nos Dómine.
A morte perpétua. Líbera nos Dómine.
Per mystérium sanctæ incarnatiónis tuæ. Líbera nos Dómine.
Per advéntum tuum. Líbera nos Dómine.
Per nativitátem tuam. Líbera nos Dómine.
Per baptísmum et sanctum jejúnium tuum. Líbera nos Dómine.
Per crucem et passiónem tuam. Líbera nos Dómine.
Per mortem et sepultúram tuam. Líbera nos Dómine.
Per sanctam resurrectiónem tuam. Líbera nos Dómine.
Per admirábilem ascensiónem tuam. Líbera nos Dómine.
Per advéntum Spíritus Sancti Parácliti. Líbera nos Dómine.
In die judícii. Líbera nos Dómine.
---
[Priest:] Peccatóres.
[All] Te rogámus, audi nos.Ut nobis parcas. Te rogámus, audi nos.
Ut Ecclésiam tuam sanctam régere et conserváre dignéris. Te rogámus, audi nos.
Ut domnum apostólicum, et omnes ecclesiásticos órdines in sancta religióne conserváre dignéris. Te rogámus, audi nos.
Ut inimícos sanctæ Ecclésiæ humiliáre dignéris. Te rogámus, audi nos.
Ut régibus et princípibus christiánis pacem et veram concórdiam donáre dignéris. Te rogámus, audi nos.
Ut nosmetípsos in tuo sancto servítio confortáre et conserváre dignéris. Te rogámus, audi nos.
Ut omnibus benefactóribus nostris sempitérna bona retríbuas. Te rogámus, audi nos.
Ut fructus terræ dare et conserváre dignéris. Te rogámus, audi nos.
Ut ómnibus fidélibus defúnctis réquiem ætérnam donáre dignéris. Te rogámus, audi nos.
Ut nos exaudíre dignéris. Te rogámus, audi nos.
[Priest:] Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi.
[All] Parce nobis Dómine.[Priest:] Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi.
[All] Exaudi nos Dómine.[Priest:] Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi.
[All] Miserére nobis.---
[Priest:] Christe.
[All] Audi nos.[Priest:] Christe.
[All] Exáudi nos.THE VIGIL MASS of the RESURRECTION
At the conclusion of the Litany of the Saints, the priest and ministers exchange their purple vestments for the white vestments of the Mass. There is no Introit. If the Mass is sung, the
Kýrie is chanted solemnly while the priest and ministers recite the prayers at the foot of the altar in a low tone. The priest then kisses the altar and incenses it. If Mass is recited, following the customary prayers at the foot of the altar, the Kyrie is recited by the celebrant alternately with the congregation. At the end of the Kyrie, the celebrant begins the Glória in excélsis. While this is sung or recited, the sanctuary bells are rung gently, and the violet drapes are removed from the altar and the images throughout the church.
[P]
Dóminus vobíscum.The Lord be with you.
[C]
Et cum spíritu tuo.And with thy spirit.
The (only) Collect:
O
rémus. Deus qui hanc sacratíssimam noctem glória Dóminicæ Resurrectiónis illústras: consérva in nova famíliætuæ progénie adoptiónis spíritum, quem dedísti; ut córpore et mente renováti, puram tibi exhíbeant servitútem. Per eúmdem Dóminum....L
et us pray. O God, Thou dost illumine this most holy night by the glory of the Lord's resurrection. Preserve in the new children of Thy family the spirit of adoption, which Thou hast given, that, renewed in body and mind, they may render a pure service unto Thee. Through the same Lord....The Epistle: Colossians iii: 1-4
Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Colossénses.
A reading from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Colossians.
F
ratres: Si consurrexístis cum Christo, quæ sursum sunt quærite, ubi Christus est in déxtera Dei sedens: quæ sursum sunt sápite, non quæ super terram. Mórtui enim estis, et vita vestra est abscóndita cum Christo in Deo. Cum Christus apparúit, vita vestra: tunc et vos apparébitis cum ipso in glória.B
rethren: If you have risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Mind the things that are above, not the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, your life, shall appear, then you too will appear with Him in glory.The choir or the priest and people chant or recite:
[P] Allelúja, allelúja, allelúja!
[P] Allelúja, allelúja, allelúja!
[C] Allelúja, allelúja, allelúja!
[C] Allelúja, allelúja, allelúja!
At the Gospel, candles are not carried, but incense is used. The blessing is asked in the normal manner. Gospel: Matthew xxviii: 1-7
Sequéntia sancti Evangélii secundum Matthǽum.
The continuation of the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
V
éspere autem sábbati quæ lucéscit in prima sábbati, venit María Magdaléne, et áltera María vidére sepúlchrum. Et ecce terræmótus factus est magnus. Angelus enim Dómini descéndit de cælo: et accédens revólvit lápidem, et sedébat super eum: erat autem aspéctus ejus sicut fulgur: et vestiméntum ejus sicut nix. Præ timóre autem ejus extérriti sunt custódes, et facti sunt velut mórtui. Respóndens autem Angelus, dixit muliéribus: «Nolíte timére vos: scio enim, quod Jesum, qui crucifíxus est, quæritis: non est hic: surréxit enim, sicut dixit. Veníte, et vidéte locum, ubi pósitus erat Dóminus. Et cito eúntes, dícite discípulis ejus, quia surréxit: et ecce præcédit vos in Galilæam: ibi eum vidébitis. Ecce prædixi vobis.»N
ow late in the night of the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the sepulchre. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, and drawing near rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment like snow. And for fear of him the guards were terrified, and became like dead men. But the angel spoke, and said to the women, «Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, Who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen even as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord was laid. And go quickly, tell His disciples that He has risen, and behold, He goes before you into Galilee; there you shall see Him. Behold, I have foretold it to you.»The Creed is not recited, nor the Offertory verse. The
Glória Patri is resumed at the end of the Lavábo. Secret:S
úscipe, quǽsumus, Dómine, preces pópuli tui, cum oblatiónibus hostiárum: ut paschálibus initiáta mystériis, ad æternitátis nobis medélam, te operánte, profíciant. Per Dóminum.A
ccept, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the prayers of Thy people, together with the sacrifice they offer; that what has begun by the Easter mysteries, may, by Thy working, profit us unto everlasting salvation. Through our Lord.The Preface for Easter is recited or chanted, with the words “i
n hac potíssimum nocte-on this night.” The paschal Communicantes and Hanc ígitur are read tonight and throughout the Octave. The “Agnus Dei,” the following prayer, and the kiss of peace are omitted. After the reception of Holy Communion, the Office of Lauds is sung or recited, replacing the Communion Hymn. Those on the Gospel side of the church sing the verses marked “1” and those on the Epistle side sing the verses marked “2.”OFFICE of LAUDS
[P]
Allelúja, allelúja, allelúja!Psalm cl
1.
Laudáte Dóminum in sanctuário ejus, * laudáte eum in augústo firmaménto ejus.1.
Praise the Lord in His sanctuary, * praise Him in the firmament of His strength.2.
Laudáte eum propter grándia ópera ejus, * laudáte eum propter summam majestátem ejus.2.
Praise Him for His mighty deeds, * praise Him for His sovereign majesty.1.
Laudáte eum clangóre tubæ, * laudáte eum psaltério et cíthara.1.
Praise Him with the blast of the trumpet, * praise Him with lyre and harp.2.
Laudáte eum tympano et choro, * laudáte eum chordis et órgano.2.
Praise him with timbrel and dance, * praise Him with strings and pipe.1.
Laudáte eum cymbalis sonóris, laudáte eum cymbalis crepitántibus: * omnis quod spirat, laudet Dóminum.1.
Praise him with sounding cymbals, praise Him with clanging cymbals, * Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!2.
Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spíritui Sancto,2.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son * and to the Holy Ghost.1.
Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.1.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.Allelúja, allelúja, allelúja!
[P]
[P]
Et valde mane * una sabbatórum, venit ad monuméntum, orto iam sole, allelúia![P]
And very early in the morning * after the Sabbath, they came to the sepulchre at sunrise, allelúia!Canticle of Zachary-Luke i: 68-79
1.
Benedictus Dóminus, Deus Israël, * quia visitávit et redémit pópulum suum,1.
Blessed Be the Lord, the God of Israel, * because He has visited and wrought redemption for His people.2.
Et eréxit cornu salútis nobis * in domo David servi sui,2.
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us * in the house of David His servant,1.
Sicut locútus est per os sanctórum, * qui olim fuérunt, prophetárum suórum:1.
As He promised through the mouths of His holy ones, * the prophets from of old:2.
Ut liberáret nos ab inimícus nostris, * et e manu ómnium qui odérunt nos,2.
Salvation from our enemies * and from the hands of all our foes.1.
Ut fáceret misericórdiam cum pátribus nostris, * et recordarétur foéderis sui sancti:1.
He has fulfilled His kindness to our fathers, * and has been mindful of His holy covenant2.
Jurisurándi, quod iurávit Abrahæ, parti nostro, * datúrum se nobis,2.
In the oath to Abraham our father, * by which He swore to grant us,1.
Ut sine timóre, e manu inimicórum nostrórum liberáti, * serviámus illi,1.
That, delivered from the hands of our enemies, * we should serve Him without fear,2.
In sanctitáte et iustítia coram ipso * ómnibus diébus nostris.2.
In holiness and justice before Him * all our days.1.
Et tu, puer, prophéta Altíssimi vocáberis: * præíbus enim ante fáciem Dómini ad parándas vias eius,1.
And thou, O child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; * for thou shalt go before the Lord to prepare His ways,2.
Ad dandam pópulo eius sciéntiam salútis * in remissióne peccatórum eórum,2.
To give His people knowledge of salvation * through forgiveness of their sins,1.
Per víscera misericórdiæ Dei nostri, * qua visitábit nos Oriens ex alto.1.
Because of the compassionate kindness of our God * with which the Orient from on high will visit us2.
Ut illúminet eos, qui in ténebris et in umbra mortis sedent, * ut dirigat pedes nostros in viam pacis.2.
To shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, * to guide our feet in the way of peace.1.
Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spíritui Sancto,1.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son * and to the Holy Ghost,2.
Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.2.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.[P]
Et valde mane * una sabbatórum, venit ad monuméntum, orto iam sole, allelúia![P]
And very early in the morning * after the Sabbath, they came to the sepulchre at sunrise, allelúia!
[P]
Dóminus vobiscum.[P]
The Lord be with you.[C]
Et cum spíritu tuo.[C]
And with thy spirit.[P]
Orémus. Spíritum nobis, Dómine, tuæ caritátis infúnde: ut quos sacraméntis paschálibus satiásti, tua fácias pietáte concórdes. Per Dóminum ... in eiúsdem Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.[P]
Let us pray. Pour forth upon us, O Lord, the Spirit of Thy love, that those whom Thou hast filled with the Easter Sacraments may, by Thy goodness, be of one mind. This we ask ... through the same Holy Spirit ... World without end.[C]
Amen.[C]
Amen.[P]
Dóminus vobiscum.[P]
The Lord be with you.[C]
Et cum spíritu tuo.[C]
And with thy spirit.[P]
Ite, missa est, allelúia, allelúia.[P]
Go, you are sent forth, allelúia, allelúia.[C]
Deo grátias, allelúia, allelúia.[C]
Thanks be to God, allelúia, allelúia.The double
"allelúia" is added in this manner throughout the octave.The Mass concludes in the normal manner with the
Pláceat, blessing, and last Gospel.
The Leonine prayers may be omitted.
