Christ Indeed Has Truly Risen
Beginning with last night’s Easter Vigil the Church has embarked on the most important 50 days of the Liturgical Year. Easter is the celebration of the Lord’s resurrection from the dead and our salvation. It culminates in his Ascension to the Father and sending of the Holy Spirit upon the Church.
The Easter season stretches 50 days, from East Sunday to Pentecost, but a special part of that season, the “Octave of Easter” comprises the eight days from East Sunday to the Second Sunday of Easter. During these eight days the Church celebrates the joy of Easter as if Easter Sunday is happening over and over. The joy of the Octave is expressed in the words of St. Paul in his 1st Letter to the Corinthians, Alleluia! All faith flows from faith in the resurrection: “If Christ has not been raised, then empty is our preaching; empty, too, is your faith.” (1 Cor 15:14)
The word “Easter” comes from Old English, meaning simply the “East.” The sun rises in the East, bringing light, warmth and hope. It is a symbol for the Christian of the rising Christ, who is the true Light of the world. Last night at the Easter vigil, Archbishop Cupich blessed the fire used to light the Pascal Candle and that fire was eventually shared with everyone in the Cathedral to light their candles as the deacon carried the lit Pascal Candle through the darkness of the night proclaiming the Exsultet, the proclamation of Easter: God’s saving activity throughout human history, culminating in Christ’s defeat of death and resurrection from the dead.
The Pascal candle is the central symbol of Christ’s divine light. It is kept near the ambo (the lectern used for the readings at Mass) throughout the Easter season. It is lit for all liturgical celebrations. Afterward it is moved to the baptistery and used at every baptism.
St. Augustine was fond of quoting part of the Exsultet that exhorts us: “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”
Nicholas O’Hearn
Holy Name Parishioner; Co-Chair, Cathedral’s Faith Formation Commission;
Member, RCIA catechetical team and usher
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