Great Vigil of Easter

Great Vigil of Easter (with incense) (BRING BELLS!) This is the most ancient and elaborate of all Christian liturgies. In biblical time a day begins at sunset and so on Saturday at 7:30 PM we begin the celebration of the Day of Resurrection. In the darkness of the sanctuary we ignite the Easter fire, the symbol of the mysterious resurrection from death of Christ in the tomb; from the fire we light the Paschal candle which stands in the midst of the sanctuary for the forty days of Eastertide as a sign of the Risen Christ. We hear the narrative of God’s saving acts in the Old Testament; we make new Christians through the Sacrament of Baptism; finally we celebrate the First Eucharist of Easter with bells and organ and loud festal shouts.