T HE SACRED PASCHAL TRIDUUM T HE GREAT VIGIL of E ASTER in the H OLY NIGHT The Lucernarium: Service of Light, Liturgy of the Word, Blessing of Water, Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation & Liturgy of the Eucharist HOLY SATURDAY, 31 MARCH 2018 HALF-PAST SEVEN in the EVENING T HE CHURCH of SAINT MONICA BERWYN, PENNSYLVANIA
T HE GREAT VIGIL of E ASTER in the H OLY NIGHT The Lucernarium: Service of Light, Liturgy of the Word, Blessing of Water & Liturgy of the Eucharist HOLY SATURDAY, 31 MARCH at 7:30 PM T HE LUCERNARIUM: SERVICE of LIGHT In accord with ancient tradition, this night is one of vigil for the Lord. The Gospels proclaim a reminder to the faithful to have their lamps burning ready, to be like those awaiting the return of the master, ready to be seated at the table of the Lord. The faithful gather on the Church Entrance Plaza for the Blessing of the Easter Fire. BLESSING of the FIRE on the CHURCH PLAZA PREPARATION and LIGHTING of the PASCHAL CANDLE PROCESSION PROCLAMATION of the EXSULTET 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. The people sing: And with your spirit. V. Lift up your hearts. The people sing: We lift them up to the Lord. V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. The people sing: 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. The people sing: Amen. Candles are extinguished after the proclamation of the Exsultet. T HE LITURGY of the WORD FIRST READING Genesis 1:1-2:2 PSALM
PRAYER SECOND READING Exodus 4:15-15:1 PSALM PRAYER THIRD READING Isaiah 55:1-11 PSALM PRAYER FOURTH READING Ezekiel 36: 16-17a, 18-28 PSALM PRAYER
GLORIA from the Heritage Mass Owen Alstott
PRAYER EPISTLE Paul 6: 3-11 GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Easter Alleluia All remain standing for the Gospel. The response is: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ. GOSPEL Matthew 28:1-10 All are seated. HOMILY PRESENTATION of the CANDIDATES INVITATION TO PRAYER LITANY of the SAINTS T HE CELEBRATION of BAPTISM
BLESSING of BAPTISMAL WATER RENUNCIATION of SIN The Priest begins with a short prayer, then continues by questioning the elect: Priest: And so I ask you: Do you renounce Satan? The elect: I do. Priest: And all his works? The elect: I do. Priest: And all his empty show? The elect: I do. PROFESSION of FAITH for the ELECT Then the Priest continues: Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth? The elect: I do. Priest: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered death and was buried, rose again from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father? The elect: I do. Priest: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting? The elect: I do. BAPTISM ANOINTING AFTER BAPTISM PRESENTATION of A LIGHTING CANDLE
RENUNCIATION of SIN T HE RENEWAL of B APTISMAL PROMISES Priest: And so I ask you: Do you renounce Satan? Priest: And all his works? Priest: And all his empty show? The people reply: I do. The people reply: I do. The people reply: I do. PROFESSION of FAITH Then the Priest continues: Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth? The people reply: I do. Priest: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered death and was buried, rose again from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father? The people reply: I do. Priest: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting? The people reply: I do. BLESSING of the ASSEMBLY: Come to the River Robert Hurd T HE CELEBRATION of R ECEPTION INVITATION & PROFESSION BY THE CANDIDATES THE ACT OF RECEPTION T HE CELEBRATION of C ONFIRMATION INVITATION LAYING ON of HANDS ANOINTING with CHRISM UNIVERSAL PRAYER Response: Risen Lord, hear our prayer.
T HE LITURGY of the E UCHARIST OFFERTORY CHANT: Alleluia, Sing to Jesus HYFRYDOL PRAYER for ACCEPTANCE The priest prays: Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father. The people rise and reply: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of His name, for our good and the good of all His holy Church. PRAYER OVER the OFFERINGS PREFACE DIALOGUE The priest prays: The Lord be with you. The priest prays: Lift up your hearts. The priest prays: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. The people reply: And with your spirit. The people reply: We lift them up to the Lord. The people reply: It is right and just.
SANCTUS from the Heritage Mass All kneel. MYSTERY of FAITH from the Heritage Mass GREAT AMEN from the Heritage Mass All stand. T HE COMMUNION RITE LORD S PRAYER & DOXOLOGY SIGN of PEACE AGNUS DEI from Mass XVIII, Chant Setting by Dr. Leo Nestor
COMMUNION CHANT: Ye Sons and Daughters O FILII ET FILIAE All are seated. CHORAL ANTHEM: Alleluia, song of gladness Henry Purcell (1659-1695) Alleluia, song of gladness, voice of joy that cannot die; Alleluia is the anthem ever dear to choirs on high; In the house of God abiding thus they sing eternally. Alleluia to the highest, Alleluia, joyfully. Alleluia thou resoundest, true Jerusalem and free; Alleluia, joyful mother, all thy children sing with thee; But by Babylon s sad waters mourning exiles now are we. There we stand and raise our voices to the blessed Trinity. Alleluia we deserve not here to chant forevermore; Alleluia our transgressions make us for a while give o er; For the holy time is coming bidding us our sins deplore. At the last to keep Thine Easter, Alleluia evermore. - John Mason Neale (1818-1866) All stand. PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
T HE CONCLUDING RITE GREETING...and with your spirit. EXHORTATION SOLEMN BLESSING DISMISSAL RECESSIONAL HYMN: The Strife is O er VICTORY POSTLUDE: Improvisation on VICTORY Frank Orman (b. 1981) CHRIST OUR PASSOVER HAS BEEN SACRIFICED; THEREFORE LET US KEEP THE FEAST WITH THE UNLEAVENED BREAD OF PURITY AND TRUTH, ALLELUIA.