Showing posts with label * Easter *. Show all posts
Showing posts with label * Easter *. Show all posts
EASTER SUNDAY / THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD
EASTER SUNDAY MASS READINGS (March 27, 2016):
- First Reading: Acts 10:34a, 37-43
- Responsorial Psalm:
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
or... Alleluia.
- Second Reading: Col 3:1-4 (or 1 Cor 5:6b-8)
- Sequence - Victimae paschali laudes:
Christians, to the Paschal Victim
Offer your thankful praises!
A Lamb the sheep redeems;
Christ, who only is sinless,
Reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:
The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak, Mary, declaring
What you saw, wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ, who is living,
The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
bright angels attesting,
The shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;
to Galilee he goes before you.”
Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.
Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
Amen. Alleluia.
- Alleluia:
Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed;
Let us then feast with joy in the Lord.
- Gospel: Jn 20:1-9
EASTER VIGIL / HOLY SATURDAY / PASCHAL VIGIL
EASTER VIGIL MASS READINGS (March 26, 2016):
(source: USCCB.org)
- First Reading = Gn 1:1—2:2 (or GN 1:1, 26-31a)
- Responsorial Psalm:
Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
(or...The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.)
- Second Reading: Gn 22:1-18 (or GN 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18)
- Responsorial Psalm:
You are my inheritance, O Lord.
- Third Reading: Ex 14:15—15:1
- Responsorial Psalm:
Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
- Fourth Reading: Is 54:5-14
- Responsorial Psalm:
I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
- Fifth Reading: Is 55:1-11
- Responsorial Psalm:
You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
- Sixth Reading: Bar 3:9-15, 32-4:4
- Responsorial Psalm:
Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
- Seventh Reading: Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28
- Responsorial Psalm:
(when baptism is celebrated):
Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for you, my God.
or (when baptism is not celebrated):
You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
or Create a clean heart in me, O God.
- Epistle: Rom 6:3-11
- Responsorial Psalm:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
- Gospel: Lk 24:1-12
ABOUT:
- Easter Vigil, also called the Paschal Vigil or the Great Vigil of Easter, is a service held in traditional Christian churches as the first official celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. Historically, it is during this service that people are baptized and that adult catechumens are received into full communion with the Church. It is held in the hours of darkness between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Day – most commonly in the evening of Holy Saturday or midnight – and is the first celebration of Easter, days traditionally being considered to begin at sunset.
Among liturgical western churches including the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and Lutheran churches, the Easter Vigil is the most important service of public worship and Masses of the liturgical year, marked by the first use since the beginning of Lent of the exclamatory "Alleluia", a distinctive feature of the Easter season.
In Eastern Orthodox churches, Oriental Orthodox churches, and other traditions of Eastern Christianity, the extremely festive ceremonies and Divine Liturgy which are celebrated during the Easter Vigil are unique to that night and are the most elaborate and important of the liturgical year.
- In the Roman Catholic tradition, the Easter Vigil consists of four parts:
- The Service of Light
- The Liturgy of the Word
- Christian Initiation and the Renewal of Baptismal Vows
- Holy Eucharist
Once the candle has been lit there follows the ancient and dramatic rite of the Lucernarium, in which the candle is carried by a deacon through the nave of the church, itself in complete darkness, stopping three times to chant the acclamation 'Light of Christ' (Lumen Christi), to which the assembly responds 'Thanks be to God' or 'Deo Gratias'. As the candle proceeds through the church, all present (i.e. those who have received the "Light of Christ") receive candles which are lit from the Paschal candle. As this symbolic "Light of Christ" spreads throughout those gathered, the darkness is decreased.
The deacon, priest, or a cantor now chants the Exsultet (also called the "Easter Proclamation" or "Paschal Praeconium"), after which the people take their seats as the Liturgy of the Word begins.
Once the candle has been placed on its stand in the sanctuary, the lights in the church are switched on and the assembly extinguish their candles (although in some churches, the custom is to continue the liturgy by candlelight or without any lights until the Gloria).
The Liturgy of the Word consists of seven readings from the Old Testament (i.e., 1. Genesis 1:1-2:2; 2. Genesis 22:1-18; 3. Exodus 14:15-15:1; 4. Isaiah 54:4a.5-14; 5. Isaiah 55:1-11; 6. Baruch 3:9-15.32-4:4; 7. Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28), although it is permitted to reduce this number for pastoral reasons (to at least three, or for very pressing pastoral reasons two, lessons) if reduced, it is customary to use readings 1, 3, 5 and 7). The account of the Israelites' crossing of the Red Sea (which may never be omitted) is given particular attention in the readings since this event is at the centre of the Jewish Passover, which Christians believe Christ's death and resurrection is the fulfillment of. Each reading is followed by a psalm or biblical canticle (i.e., Psalm 10, Exodus 15:1-18, Psalm 30, Isaiah 12:2-6, Psalm 19, Psalm 42 & 43) sung responsorially and a prayer relating what has been read in the Old Testament to the Mystery of Christ. After these readings conclude, the candles are lit on the altar and the Gloria in Excelsis Deo is sung for the first time since before Lent (with the exception of Holy Thursday, as well as any solemnities or feasts that occurred during Lent), and the church bells and the organ, silent since that point on Holy Thursday, are sounded again - although it is customary in some churches to have no organ playing during Lent at all, except when accompanying hymns. (In the pre-Vatican II rite, the statues, which have been covered during Passiontide, are unveiled at this time.) The opening collect is read. The reading from the Epistle to the Romans (i.e., Romans 6:3-11) is proclaimed, followed by the chanting of Psalm 118. The Alleluia is sung for the first time since the beginning of Lent (or, in the pre-Vatican II rite, since Septuagesima) - however, it is a very solemn alleluia at this time. The Gospel of the Resurrection (i.e., Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8 or Luke 24:1-12) then follows, along with a homily.
After the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word, the water of the baptismal font is solemnly blessed and any catechumens and candidates for full communion are initiated into the church, by baptism and/or confirmation, respectively. After the celebration of these sacraments of initiation, the congregation renews their baptismal vows and receive the sprinkling of baptismal water. The prayers of the faithful (of which the newly baptised are now a part) follow.
After the prayers, the Liturgy of the Eucharist continues as usual. This is the first Mass of Easter Day. During the Eucharist, the newly baptized receive Holy Communion for the first time. According to the rubrics of the Missal, the Eucharist should finish before dawn.
In the 20th century, the Easter liturgy have twice undergone major reforms: once with the liturgy reform, and once with the Pian reforms of the Easter week. For that sake, we give here a short summary the different forms. In the form that was in use until into the 1950s and underwent little change during the centuries before, at the Easter fire only that fire itself and the incense were blessed. The light was then brought into the Church in procession (led by the usual processional cross) on a kind of tenebrae-hearse, but with three candles only, one of which each was lighted for each "Lumen Christi" acclamation (followed by a kneefall). The Exsultet then functioned as the blessing prayer for the paschal candle.
The Liturgy of the word consisted of twelve readings, for the most part without responsory chants: the seven mentioned above except the fourth and seventh, plus the reading of the Flood (Gen 5-8) as the second; followed by a different one from Ezekiel (37:1-14), plus Isaiah 4:1-6, Exodus 12:1-11 (the introduction of the Paschal rites, also read then on Good Friday and now on Maundy Thursday), Jonah 3:1-10, Deuteronomy 31:22-30, Daniel 3:1-24. The prayers after the lessons were preceded by a Flectamus genua kneefall, except for the last. The Old Testament readings were then followed by the blessing of the baptismal Font, an eventual baptism of baptizands, and the litany of the Saints, in that order. All this was done in violet paraments with pluvial (though the deacon, or even the celebrant in the absence of a deacon, wore a white dalmatic for the light procession and for the Exsultet). Then followed "Mass", that is, the usual introductory prayers (Judica me and so on) would be begun, the liturgical color changing to white and the celebrant exchanging his pluvial for a chasuble. This particular Mass had no Introit, Agnus Dei, Postcommunio or Last Gospel, though. Its Epistle was Colossians 3:1-4, the Gospel was Matthew 28:1-7. Mass would immediately be followed by abbreviated Vespers.
In the liturgy as reformed by Pope Pius XII., which is still in use in Old-Mass communities, the blessing of the Candle was separated from the Exsultet and moved to the beginning where we have it now; thus, the triangle-candlestick became superfluous, and due to the fact that the Paschal candle was already present, the processional cross and the kneefalls were left away. For the first Lumen Christi, the priest would light his own candle at the Paschal candle; for the second, the rest of the clergy plus altar servers would, and for the third, the entire congregation. The Exsultet's function was turned (without change in the text) into a jubilant praise of the Paschal candle already blessed. From the Old Testament readings, only four were kept, to wit the erstwhile first (Creation - now also first), fourth (Red Sea - now third), eighth (second Isaiah) and eleventh (Deuteronomy). Then followed the litany of the Saints, first part (which is just the names of the saints), blessing of the Font, eventual baptisms, the newly introduced renewal of baptism Blessings, and then the second part of the litany, and then Mass (without the introductory prayers), followed by Easter lauds (no longer Holy Saturday Vespers).
LINKS/ SOURCES:
- "March 26, 2016" (source: USCCB)
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032616.cfm
- "The Roman Missal and the Easter Vigil" (source: USCCB)
http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/triduum/roman-missal-and-the-easter-vigil.cfm
-
GOOD FRIDAY / HOLY FRIDAY
GOOD FRIDAY MASS READINGS (March 25, 2016):
(source: USCCB.org)
- First Reading = Is 52:13—53:12
- Responsorial Psalm = (Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25)(Lk 23:46)
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
- Second Reading: Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9
- Verse Before The Gospel: (Phil 2:8-9)
Christ became obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name which is above every other name.
- Gospel: Jn 18:1—19:42
ABOUT:
- commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary
- definition/ etymology:
Good Friday, called Feria VI in Parasceve in the Roman Missal, he hagia kai megale paraskeue (the Holy and Great Friday) in the Greek Liturgy, Holy Friday in Romance Languages, Charfreitag (Sorrowful Friday) in German, is the English designation of Friday in Holy Week — that is, the Friday on which the Church keeps the anniversary of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Parasceve, the Latin equivalent of paraskeue, preparation (i.e. the preparation that was made on the sixth day for the Sabbath; see Mark 15:42), came by metonymy to signify the day on which the preparation was made; but while the Greeks retained this use of the word as applied to every Friday, the Latins confined its application to one Friday. Irenaeus and Tertullian speak of Good Friday as the day of the Pasch; but later writers distinguish between the Pascha staurosimon (the passage to death), and the Pascha anastasimon (the passage to life, i.e. the Resurrection). At present the word Pasch is used exclusively in the latter sense. The two Paschs are the oldest feasts in the calendar.
From the earliest times the Christians kept every Friday as a feast day; and the obvious reasons for those usages explain why Easter is the Sunday par excellence, and why the Friday which marks the anniversary of Christ's death came to be called the Great or the Holy or the Good Friday. The origin of the term Good is not clear. Some say it is from "God's Friday" (Gottes Freitag); others maintain that it is from the German Gute Freitag, and not specially English. Sometimes, too, the day was called Long Friday by the Anglo-Saxons; so today in Denmark.
LINKS/ SOURCES:
- "GOOD FRIDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION" (source: USCCB)
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032516.cfm
- "Good Friday" (source: Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday
- "Good Friday" (source: Catholic Encyclopedia)
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06643a.htm
- "Indian Catholic priest 'kidnapped by ISIS' in Yemen may be crucified on Good Friday, say religious groups" (source: Daily Mail UK)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3507652/Indian-Catholic-priest-kidnapped-ISIS-Yemen-crucified-Good-Friday-say-religious-groups.html
EASTER SUNDAY (2015)
GREETING
GLORIA
COLLECT (OPENING PRAYER)
1st READING- Acts of the Apostles 10: 34a, 37-43
RESPONSORIAL PSALM- This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad!
2nd READING- 1 Corinthians 5: 6b-8
SEQUENCE (Stand)
- Christians, to the Paschal Victim
Offer your thankful praises!
A Lamb the sheep redeems;
Christ, who only is sinless,
Reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:
The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak, Mary, declaring
What you saw, wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ, who is living,
The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
bright angels attesting,
The shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;
to Galilee he goes before you.”
Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.
Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
Amen. Alleluia.
ALLELUIA- Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed; let us then feast with joy in the Lord.
GOSPEL- John 20: 1-9
RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL PROMISES
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
PREFACE
MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION
OUR FATHER
SIGN OF PEACE
AGNUS DEI
COMMUNION
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
SOLEMN BLESSING
links/sources:
- "The Resurrection of the Lord - The Mass of Easter Day" (USCCB):
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040515.cfm
- "Easter Sunday" (EWTN):
https://www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/eastersunday.htm
- "Easter" (Wikipedia):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter
- "Easter" (Catholic Encyclopedia):
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05224d.htm
- "What is Easter?" (Religion Facts):
http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/holidays/easter.htm
- missalette
EASTER VIGIL (2015)
links/sources:
- "Holy Saturday- At the Easter Vigil" (readings/responses 2015) (USCCB):
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040415.cfm
- "Easter Vigil" (Wikipedia):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Vigil
- missalette/etc
PART I = THE SERVICE OF THE LIGHT
BLESSING OF THE FIRE
PREPARATION OF THE EASTER CANDLE
PROCESSION
EASTER PROCLAMATION (EXSULTET)
PART II = THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
1st READING: Genesis 1: 1, 26-31a (or Genesis 1: 1 - 2: 2)
RES. PSALM: Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
2nd READING: Genesis 22: 1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 (or Genesis 22: 1-18)
RES. PSALM: You are my inheritance, O Lord. (or The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.)
3rd READING: Exodus 14: 15 - 15: 1
RES. PSALM: Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
4th READING: Isaiah 54: 5-14
RES. PSALM: I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
5th READING: Isaiah 55: 1-11
RES. PSALM: You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation
6th READING: Baruch 3: 9-15, 32 - 4: 4
RES. PSALM: Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
7th READING: Ezekiel 36: 16-17a, 18-28
RES. PSALM (when baptism is celebrated): Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for you, my God.
RES. PSALM (when baptism is not celebrated): You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation. (or Create a clean heart in me, O God.)
GLORIA
COLLECT
EPISTLE: Romans 6: 3-11
ALLELUIA and PSALM: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL: Mark 16: 1-7
*PART III = THE LITURGY OF BAPTISM
LITANY:
- Lord, have mercy.
- Christ, have mercy.
- Lord, have mercy.
- (Holy Mary, Mother of God...All holy men and women, Saints of God) Pray for us.
- (Lord, be merciful...By the outpouring of the Holy Spirit) Lord, deliver us, we pray.
- (Be merciful to us sinners...Jesus, Son of the living God) Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.
- Christ, hear us.
- Christ, graciously hear us.
BLESSING OF BAPTISMAL WATER
RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL PROMISES
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
*PART IV = THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
PRESENTATION OF THE GIFTS
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
PREFACE OF EASTER I
SANCTUS
ACCLAMATION
THE COMMUNION RITE:
- THE LORD'S PRAYER
- INVITATION TO PEACE
- INVITATION TO COMMUNION
- PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
CONCLUDING RITE:
- SOLEMN BLESSING
- DISMISSAL
Good Friday (2015)
First Reading: Isaiah 52: 13 - 53: 12
Responsorial Psalm: Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
Second Reading: Hebrews 4: 14-16; 5: 7-9
Verse before the Gospel:
Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every other name.
Gospel Reading: John 18: 1 - 19: 42
links/sources:
- "Good Friday" (Catholic Encyclopedia):
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06643a.htm
- "Good Friday" (Wikipedia):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday
- "Good Friday of the Lord's Passion" (USCCB):
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040315.cfm
Holy Thursday/ Maundy Thursday/ The Lord's Supper/ Washing of the Feet (2015)
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First Reading: Exodus 12: 1-8, 11-14
Responsorial Psalm: Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
Verse before the Gospel: I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you.
Gospel Reading: John 13: 1-15
links/sources:
- "Holy Thursday - Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper" (USCCB):
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040215-evening-mass.cfm
- "Maundy Thursday" (Catholic Encyclopedia):
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10068a.htm
- "Maundy Thursday" (Wikipedia):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maundy_Thursday
- "Maundy Thursday" (EWTN):
http://www.ewtn.com/library/LITURGY/10068A.TXT