I was listening to a beautiful recording of the Exsultet, an "ancient hymn of praise" which means REJOICE! This hymn is typically prayed at the Easter Vigil.
I was moved by the words of this hymn, particularly:
"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."
At the Easter Vigil (the night before Easter), everyone's individual candles are lit from the one Easter Candle. We gather in darkness and the light from our collective candles breaks through the darkness as the Light of Christ spreads.
The hymn tells us that this light becomes "a fire into many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light."
If you have never been to a Catholic Easter Vigil Mass, I encourage you to do so. It is an explosion for the senses, from the light, to the smells and the sounds. The prayers are extraordinary.
Why not, just this once, if you have never been, join in this celebration? This is also the night, where those who have been preparing, are entering the Church, receiving one (or all) of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist).
If you click HERE you will find the words of the Exsultet, and if you open a new tab and click on this LINK, you can listen to it while you read/pray with it.
Happy Easter in advance!
Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.com
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