Purple – Holy Saturday Liturgy
White – Mass of Easter Vigil
Blessing of the New Fire
¶ This ritual is traditionally kept on the morning of Holy Saturday. This is the last rite following the Lenten protocol of Vespers in the late morning, with Compline in the afternoon and Matins and Lauds of the following day in the evening. Thus Paschaltide begins with the Mass of Easter Vigil. Those who participate in this liturgy fulfill their obligation to attend mass on Easter. Also, those under obligation to recite the offices fulfill their obligation to recite Vespers for this day by participating in this office, and thus do not recite it from the Breviary.
¶ The altars are covered with cloths. Candles are placed on the altar, but not lit. The new fire is lit outside the church. The priest, vested in violet cope (or without chasuble) goes, accompanied by the Ministers, servers as required, the thurifer, the crucifer, and a bearer of the Holy Water to the place where the new fire is lit.
Collect to Bless the Fire
V. Dominus vobiscum.
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
Oremus.
Deus, qui per Filium tuum, angularem scilicet lapidem, claritatis tuae ignem fidelibus contulisti: productum e silice, nostris profuturum usibus, novum hunc ignem sancti+fica: et concede nobis, ita per haec festa paschalia caelestibus desideriis innammari; ut ad perpetuae claritatis, puris mentibus, valeamus festa pertingere. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen.
Collect to Bless the Five Grains of Incense
Veniat, quaesumus, omni-potens Deus, super hunc incensum cereum larga tuae bene + dictionis infusio: et hunc nocturnum splen-dorem, invisibilis regenerator, intende; ut non solum sacrificium, quod hac nocte litatum est, arcana luminis tui admixtione refulgeat; sed in quocumque loco ex huius sanctiflcationis mysterio aliquid fiierit deportatum, expulsa dia-bolicae fraudis nequitia, virtus tuae maiestatis assistat. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen.
¶ Then the thurifer takes coals from the fire and places them in the thurible. The priest blesses the incense in the usual manner and places is in the thurible. He then sprinkles the five grains of incense and the fire three times with holy water, saying the antiphon Asperges me (but not including the Psalm). He then censes them thrice. Meanwhile, the lights in the church are extinguished so that they may be presently lighted afresh from the new fire. Then the Deacon, vesting himself in a white dalmatic, takes the reed on which there are three candles set in the form of a triangle. The procession begins with the thurifer and an acolyte bearing a bowl with the five grains of incense. The Sub-Deacon follows with the cross, and then the clergy in due order: first the Deacon with the reed, then the Celebrant. When the Deacon has come into the church, he lowers the reed, and one of the candles is lit by a taper brought by an acolyte, the taper having been lit by the new fire. The Deacon lifts up the reed, and all genuflect, except the Sub-Deacon, who is bearing the Cross.
¶ The Deacon sings:
Lumen Christi. (The Light of Christ.)
R. Deo gratias. (R. Thanks be to God.)
¶ Then, in the center of the church the Deacon stops, lowers the reed, and a second candle is lit. Genuflecting, the Deacon sings as above again (in a higher pitch). Processing to the altar, the Deacon again stops, lowers the reed, and the third candle is lit. Genuflecting, the Deacon sings as above again (in a still higher pitch). The Celebrant proceeds to the Epistle horn, while the Deacon gives the reed to the acolyte. The Deacon takes the book, and asks for a blessing in the usual manner from the Celebrant as at the Gospel. The Celebrant responds:
Dominus sit in corde tuo, et in labiis tuis: ut digne et competenter annunties suum paschale prae-conium: In nomine Patris, et Filii, + et Spiritus Sancti. R. Amen.
¶ A Celebrant celebrating without assistance of a Deacon or other priest says instead:
Iube, Domine, benedicere. – Dominus sit in corde meo, et in labiis meis: ut digne et competenter annuntiem suum paschale prae-conium. Amen.
¶ Then the Deacon, with all standing as at the Gospel, sings the Paschal Praises.
Paschal Praises
EXsultet iam Angelica turba caelorum : exsultent divina mysteria : et pro tanti Regis victoria tuba insonet salutaris. Gaudeat et tellus tantis irradiata fulgoribus : et aeterni Regis splendore illustrata, totius orbis se sentiat amisisse caliginem. Laetetur et mater Ecclesia, tanti luminis adornata fulgoribus : et magnis populorum vocibus haec aula resultet. Quapropter adstantes vos, fratres carissimi, ad tam miram hujus sancti luminis claritatem, una mecum quaeso, Dei omnipotentis misericordiam invocate. Ut, qui me non meis meritis intra Levitarum numerum dignatus est aggregare, luminis sui claritatem infundens, cerei hujus laudem implere perficiat. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium suum : Qui cum eo vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus. Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.
¶ Or...
LET the angelic choirs of Heaven now rejoice : let the divine Mysteries rejoice : let sound forth the victory of so great a King the trumpet of salvation. Let the earth also rejoice, made radiant by such splendor : and enlightened with the brightness of the eternal King, let it know that the darkness of the whole world is scattered. Let our mother the Church also rejoice, adorned with the brightness of so great a light : and let this temple resound with the loud acclamations of the people. Wherefore I beseech you, most beloved brethren, who are here present in the wondrous brightness of this holy light, to invoke with me the mercy of almighty God. That he who has vouchsafed to admit me among the Levites without any merits of mine, would pour forth the brightness of his light upon me, and enable me to perfect the praise of this wax candle. Through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord : Who with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, ever one God. World with-out end. R. A-men.
Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
V. Sursum corda.
R. Habemus ad Dominum.
V. Gratias agamus, Domino Deo nostro.
Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
V. Sursum corda.
R. Habemus ad Dominum.
V. Gratias agamus, Domino Deo nostro.
R. Dignum et justum est.
VERE dignum et justum est, invisibilem Deum Patrem omnipotentem Filiumque ejus unigenitum, Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, toto cordis ac mentis affectu et vocis ministerio personare. Qui pro nobis aeterno Patri Adae debitum solvit : et veteris piaculi cautionem pio cruore detersit. Haec sunt enim festa paschalia, in quibus verus ille Agnus occiditur, cujus sanguine postes fidelium consecrantur. Haec nox est, in qua primum patres nostros, filios Israel eductos de Aegypto, Mare Rubrum sicco vestigio transire fecisti. Haec igitur nox est, quae peccatorum tenebras columnae illuminatione purgavit. Haec nox est, quae hodie per universum mundum in Christo credentes, a vitiis saeculi et caligine peccatorum segregatos, reddit gratiae, sociat sanctitati. Haec nox est, in qua destructis vinculis mortis Christus ab inferis victor ascendit. Nihil enim nobis nasci profuit, nisi redimi profuisset. O mira circa nos tuae pietatis dignatio! O inaestimabilis dilectio caritatis : ut servum redimeres, Filium tradidisti! O certe necessarium Adae peccatum, quod Christi morte deletum est! O felix culpa, quae talem ac tantum meruit habere Redemptorem! O vere beata nox, quae sola meruit scire tempus et horam, in qua Christus ab inferis resurrexit! Haec nox est, de qua scriptum est : et nox sicut dies illuminabitur : et nox illuminatio mea in deliciis meis. Hujus igitur sanctificatio noctis fugat scelera, culpas lavat : et reddit innocentiam lapsis, et maestis laetitiam. Fugat odia, concordiam parat, et curvat imperia.
¶ Or...
The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
V. Lift up your hearts.
R. We lift them up unto the Lord.
V. Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God....
R. It is meet and right so to do.
IT is truly meet and right to proclaim with all our heart and all the affection of our mind, and with the ministry of our voices, the invisible God, the Father almighty, and his only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who repaid for us to his eternal Father the debt of Adam : and by the merciful shedding of his Blood, cancelled the debt incurred by original sin. For this is the Paschal Festival; in which that true Lamb is slain, with whose Blood the doorposts of the faithful are consecrated. This is the night, in which thou didst formerly cause our forefathers, the children of Israel, when brought out of Egypt, to pass through the Red Sea with dry foot. This, therefore, is the night which dissipated the darkness of sinners by the light of the pillar. This is the night which at this time throughout the world restoreth to grace and uniteth in sanctity those that believe in Christ,
and are separated from the vices of the world and the darkness of sinners. This is the night in which, destroying the chains of death, Christ arose victorious from the grave. For it would have profited us nothing to have been born, unless redemption had also been bestowed upon us. O wondrous condescension of thy mercy towards us! O inestimable affection of love : that thou mightest redeem a slave, thou didst deliver up thy Son! O truly needful sin of Adam, which was blotted out by the death of Christ! O happy fault, that merited to possess such and so great a Redeemer! O truly blessed night, which alone deserved to know the time and hour, when Christ rose again from hell! This is the night, of which it is written : and the night shall be as clear as the day : and the night is my light in my delights. There-fore the hallowing of this night putteth to flight all wickedness, cleanseth sins : and restoreth innocence to the fallen, and gladness to the sorrowful. It driveth forth hatreds, it prepareth concord, and bringeth down haughtiness.
¶ Here the celebrant comes from the sedilia to the stand with the Paschal candle before the altar. He stands at the candle facing the altar, and the Deacon stands to his right. The Sub-Deacon remains standing to the Gospel side of the Paschal Candle holding the The Celebrant then inscribes the cross, Alpha and Omega, and Date on the Paschal candle if this has not been done, in the arrangement indicated in the diagram. Once the candle has been so marked, the Deacon inserts the five grains of incense in the cross (see diagram) in the order indicated below:
¶ After the above, the Celebrant returns to the sedilia, and the Deacon continues:
IN hujus igitur noctis gratia, suscipe, Sancte Pater, incensi hujus sacrificium vespertinum : quod tibi in hac cerei oblatione solemni, per ministrorum manus de operibus apum, sacrosancta reddit Ecclesia. Sed iam columnae hujus praeconia novimus, quam in honorem Dei rutilans ignis accendit. Qui licet sit divisus in partes, mutuati tamen luminis detrimenta non novit. Alitur enim liquantibus ceris, quas in substantiam pretiosae hujus lampadis apis mater eduxit. O vere beata nox, quae exspoliavit Aegyptios, ditavit Hebraeos! Nox, in qua terrenis caelestia, humanis divina iunguntur.
¶ Or...
Wherefore in this sacred night, receive, O holy Father, the evening sacrifice of this incense : which holy Church rendereth unto thee by the hands of thy ministers, in the solemn offering of this wax candle, made out the work of bees : Now also we know the praises of this pillar, which the shining fire enkindleth to the honor of God. Which fire, although divided into parts, suffereth no loss from its light being borrowed. For it is nourished by the melting wax, which the mother bee produced for the substance of this precious light. O truly blessed night, which plundered the Egyptians and enriched the Hebrews! A night in which heavenly things are united to those of earth, and things divine to those which are of man.
¶ Here the Deacon lights the Paschal candle and the lamps (but not the altar candles). He continues:
OREMUS ergo te Domine : ut cererus iste in honorem tui nominis consecratus, ad noctis hujus caliginem destruendam, indeficiens perseveret. Et in odorem suavitatis acceptus, supernis luminaribus misceatur. Flammas ejus lucifer matutinus inveniat. Ille, inquam, lucifer, qui nescit occasum. Ille qui regressus ab inferis humano generi serenus illuxit. Precamur ergo te, Domine : ut nos famulos tuos, omnemque clerum et devotissimum populum : una cum reverendissimo† Antistite nostro N.*, quiete temporum concessa, in his Paschalibus gaudiis assidua protectione regere, gubernare et conservare digneris. Respice etiam ad eos, qui non in potestate regunt, et, ineffabili pietatis et misericordiae tuae munere, dirige cogitationes eorum ad iustitiam et pacem, ut de terrena operositate ad caelestem patriam perveniant cum omni populo tuo. Per eundem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium tuum : Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus : per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.
¶ Or...
We beseech thee, therefore, O Lord : that this wax candle hallowed in honor of thy Name, may continue to burn to dissipate the darkness of this night. And being accepted as a sweet savor, may be united with the heavenly lights. Let the morning star find its flame alight. That star I mean, which knoweth no setting. He who returning from hell, serenely shone forth upon mankind. We beseech thee therefore, O Lord : that thou wouldst grant peaceful times during this Paschal Festival : and vouchsafe to rule, govern, and keep with thy constant protection us thy servants, and all the clergy, and the devout people, together with our most reverend† Bishop N.* Look also on our temporal rulers, and with ineffable kindness and mercy, so direct their thoughts towards justice and peace, that they, and all thy subjects, may safely journey from the engrossing cares of this world to their heavenly homeland. Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord : who with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth: ever one God. World without end. R. Amen.
* And note that in the case of a Metropolitan Archbishop or the Patriarch, the word Bishop is replaced with Metropolitan or Patriarch respectively. The first syllable is sung as for Bishop, and the remaining sylables, i.e., -ropolitan or -riarch, are sung on the note provided above for the second syllable of Bishop. Similarly, in the Latin text, Antistite is replaced as required with Metropolitano or Patriarcha. For a mass sung by the Patriarch, Bishop is replaced with Pope, or Antistite is replaced with Pontifice.
† For a mass sung by the Patriarch, reverend is replaced with reverend and reverendissimo is replaced with beatissimo.
¶ The Deacon removes his white vestments and returns to purple. The liturgy continues with the Prophecies.
In the beginning, God created heaven and earth. And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved over the water. And God said: Be light made. And light was made. And God saw the light that it was good: and he divided the light from the darkness. And he called the light Day, and the darkness Night: and there was evening and morning, one day. And God said: Let there be a firmament made amidst the waters: and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made a firmament, and divided the waters that were under the firmament from those that were above the firmament. And it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven: and the evening and morning were the second day. God also said: Let the waters that are under the heaven be gathered together into one place; and let the dry land appear. And it was so done. And God called the dry land Earth: and the gathering together of the waters he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. And he said: Let the earth bring forth his green herb, after its kind, which may have seed in itself upon the earth. And it was so done. And the earth brought forth the green herb, and such as yieldeth seed according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And the evening and morning were the third day. And God said: Let there be lights made in the firmament of heaven to divide the day and the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years.: to shine in the firmament of heaven. and to give light to the earth. And it was so done. And God made two great lights: a greater light to rule the day; and a lesser light to rule the night: and the stars. And he set them in the firmament of heaven, to shine upon the earth, and to rule the day and the night, and to divide the earth, and to rule the day and the night, and to divide the light and the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And the evening and morning were the fourth day. God also said: Let the waters bring forth the creeping creature having life, and the fowl that may fly over the earth under the firmament of heaven. And God created the great whales, and every living thing and moving creature which the waters brought forth, according to their kinds, and every winged fowl according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And he blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the waters of the sea: and let the birds be multiplied upon the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. And God said: Let the earth bring forth the living creature in its kind, cattle, and creeping things, and beasts of the earth according to their kinds. And it was so done. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, and cattle, and every thing and every thing that creepeth on the earth after its kind. And God saw that it was good. And he said: Let us make man to his own image and likeness: and let him have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and the beasts, and the whole earth, and every creeping creature that moveth upon the earth. And God created man to his own image: to the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. And God blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and all living creatures that move upon the earth. And God said: Behold, I have given you every herb-bearing seed upon the earth, and all trees that have in themselves seed of their own kind to be your meat: and to all the beasts of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to all that move upon the earth, and wherein there is life, that they may have to feed upon. And it was so done. And God saw all the things that he had made, and they were very good. And the evening and morning were the sixth day. So the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the furniture of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made: and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done.
Oremus.
(Let us pray.)
Deacon: Flectamus genua.
(Let us bend the knee.)
Sub-Deacon: Levate.
(Arise.)
O God, who hast wonderfully created man, and more wonderfully restored him: grant us, we beseech thee, to stand firm with strong minds against the allurements of sin, that we may deserve to arrive at everlasting joys. Through. R. Amen.
And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians. And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed glo-riously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Tract: Let us sing to the Lord, for he is gloriously honored: the horse and the rider he hath thrown into the sea: He hath become my helper and protector unto salvation. V. He is my God, and I will honor him: the God of my father, and I will extol him. V. He is the Lord that destroyeth wars: the Lord is his Name.
Oremus.
(Let us pray.)
Deacon: Flectamus genua.
(Let us bend the knee.)
Sub-Deacon: Levate.
(Arise.)
O God, whose ancient miracles we see shining also in our days, whilst by the water of regeneration thou dost operate for the salvation of the Gentiles, that which by the power of thy right hand thou didst confer upon one people, by delivering them from the Egyptian persecution: grant that all the nations of the world may become the children of Abraham, and partake of the dignity of the people of Israel. Through. R. Amen.
In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
Tract: A vineyard was made on a hill in a fruitful place. V. And he fenced it in, and picked the stones out of it, and planted it with the choicest vines, and built a tower in the midst thereof.
V. And set up a winepress therein: for the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel.
Oremus.
(Let us pray.)
Deacon: Flectamus genua.
(Let us bend the knee.)
Sub-Deacon: Levate.
(Arise.)
O God, who hast declared to all the children of thy Church by the voice of the holy prophets, that in all places of thine empire, thou art the Sower of good seed, and the Cultivator of chosen branches: grant to thy people who are called by thee by the name of vines and har-vestfield, that they may root out all thorns and briars, and produce good fruit in abundance. Through. R. Amen.
And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware. Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel. And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee. And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the Lord; and how much more after my death? Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands. And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.
Tract: Hear, O ye heavens, the things I speak, let the earth give ear to the words of my mouth.
V. Let my doctrine gather as the rain, let my speech distill as the dew, as a shower upon the herb. V. And as drops upon the grass: because I will invoke the name of the Lord. V. Give ye magni-ficence to our God: The works of God are perfect, and all his ways are judgments. V. God is faithful and without any iniquity, he is just and right.
Oremus.
(Let us pray.)
Deacon: Flectamus genua.
(Let us bend the knee.)
Sub-Deacon: Levate.
(Arise.)
O God, the exaltation of the humble, and the strength of the righteous, who, by thy holy servant Moses, wast pleased so to instruct thy people by the singing of thy sacred canticle, that the renewal of the law should be also our guidance: show forth thy power to all the multitude of Gentiles justified by thee, and by mitigating thy terror grant them joy: that, all sins being blotted out by thy remission, the threatened vengeance may give way to salvation. Through. R. Amen.
¶ The Sacred Ministers, still vested in purple, process to the place of the baptismal font while a suitable tract or hymn may be sung. Then the Celebrant begins:
V. Dominus vobiscum.
(The Lord be with you.)
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
(And with thy spirit.)
Oremus.
(Let us pray.)
Almighty and everlasting God, be present at these Mysteries of thy great kindness, be present at these Sacraments: and send forth thy Spirit of adoption to regenerate the new people, whom the font of baptism brings forth; that what is to be done by our humble ministry may be accomplished by the effect of thy power. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God:
¶ And then continuing singing in the tone of the Preface, with hands joined as usual:
World without end.
R. Amen.
Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
R. Amen.
Dominus vobiscum.
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
V. Sursum corda.
R. Habemus ad Dominum.
V. Gratias agamus, Domino Deo nostro.
R. Dignum et justum est.
VEre dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere : Domine, sancte Pater, omnipotens aeterne Deus : Qui invisibili potentia sacramentorum tuorum mirabiliter operaris effectum : et licis non tantis mysteriis exsequendis simus indigni : tu tamen gratiae tuae dona non deserens, etiam ad nostras preces aures tuae pietatis inclinas. Deus, cujus Spiritus super aquas inter ipsa mundi primordia ferebatur : ut iam tunc virtutem sanctificationis aquarum natura conciperet. Deus, qui nocentis mundi crimina per aquas abluens, regenerationis speciem in ipsa diluvii effusione signasti : ut, unius ejusdemque elementi mysterio, et finis esset vitiis, et origo virtutibus. Respice, Domine, in faciem Ecclesiae tuae, et multiplica in ea regenerationes tuas, qui gratiae tuae affluentis impetu laetificas civitatem tuam : fontemque baptismastis aperis toto orbe terrarum gentibus innovandis : ut, tuae maiestatis imperio, sumat Unigeniti tui gratiam de Spiritu Sancto.
¶ Or...
IT is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should give thanks unto thee at all times and in all places : O holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God : Who, by thine ineffable power dost wonderfully produce the effect of thy Sacraments: and though we are unworthy to perform such great mysteries: yet, as thou dost not abandon the gifts of thy grace, so thou inclinest the ears of thy goodness, even unto our prayers. O God, whose Spirit in the very beginning of the world moved over the waters : that even then the nature of water might receive the virtue of sanctification. O God, who by water didst wash away the crimes of the guilty world, and by the pouring out of the deluge didst give a figure of regeneration: that one and the same element might in a mystery be the end of vice and the beginning of virtue. Look, O Lord, on the face of thy Church, and multiply in her thy regenerations, who by the streams of thine abundant grace fillest thy city with joy : and openest the font of Baptism all over the world for the renewal of the Gentiles : that by the command of thy Majesty she may receive the grace of thine only Son from the Holy Ghost.
¶ Here the priest divides with his open hand the water in the form of a cross, and then dries his hand on a towel.
¶ He continues...
Qui hanc aquam, regenerandis hominibus praeparatam, arcana sui numinis admixtione fecundet : ut, sanctificatione concepta, ab immaculato divini fontis utero, in novam renata creaturam, progenies caelestis emergat : et quos aut sexus in corpore aut aetas discernit in tempore, omnes in unam pariat gratia mater infantiam. Procul ergo hinc, iubente te, Domine, omnis spiritus immundus abscedat : procul tota nequitia diabolicae fraudis absistat. Nihil hic loci habeat contrariae virtutis admixtio : non insidiando circumvolet : non latendo subrepat: non inficiendo corrumpat.
¶ Or...
May he by a secret mixture of his divine virtue render this water fruitful for the regeneration of men : to the end that a heavenly offspring, conceived by sanctification, may emerge from the immaculate womb of this divine font, reborn a new creature: and may all, however distinguished either by sex in body, or by age in time, be brought forth to the same infancy by grace, their mother. Therefore may all unclean spirits, by thy command, O Lord, depart far from hence: may the whole malice of diabolical deceit be entirely banished. May no power of the enemy prevail here : let him not fly about to lay his snares : may he not creep in by stealth: may he not corrupt with his poison.
¶ The priest then touches the water with his hand and then continues.
Sic haec sancta et innocens creatura, libera ab omni impugnatoris incursu, et totius nequitiae purgata discessu. Sit fons vivus, aqua regenerans, unda purificans: ut omnes hoc lavacro salutifero diluendi, operante in eis Spiritu Sancto, perfectae purgationis indulgentiam consequantur.
¶ Or...
May this holy and innocent creature be free from all the assaults of the enemy, and purified by the destruction of all his wickedness. May it be a living fountain, a regenerating water, a purifying stream: that all those that are to be washed in this saving bath may obtain, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, the grace of a perfect cleansing.
¶ The priest then makes three crosses over the Font, while singing...
Unde benedico te, creatura aquae, per Deum + vivum, per Deum + verum, per Deum + sanctum: per Deum qui, te in principio verbo separavit ab arida : cujus Spiritus super te ferebatur.
¶ Or...
Therefore, I bless thee, O creature of water, by the living + God, by the true + God, by the holy + God: by that God who, in the beginning, separated thee by his word from the dry land: whose Spirit moved over thee.
¶ Here he divides the water with his hand and scatters it to the four corners of the earth, and then sings...
Qui te de paradisi fonte manare fecit, et in quatuor fluminibus totam terram rigare praecepit. Qui te in deserto amaram, suavitate indita, fecit esse potabilem, et sitienti populo de petra produxit. Bene+dico te et per Jesum Christum Filium ejus unicum, Dominum nostrum : qui te in Cana Galilaeae signo admirabili sua potentia convertit in vinum. Qui pedibus super te ambulavit : et a Joanne in Jordane in te baptizatus est. Qui te una cum sanguine de latere suo produxit: et discipulis suis jussit, ut credentes baptizarentur in te, dicens: Ite, docete omnes gentes, baptizantes eos in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.
¶ Or...
Who made thee flow from the fountain of paradise, and commanded thee to water the whole earth with thy four rivers. Who, changing thy bitterness in the desert in-to sweetness made thee fit to drink, and produced
thee out of a rock to quench the thirsty people. I bless + thee also by our Lord Jesus Christ, his only Son : Who in Cana of Galilee changed thee into wine by a wonderful miracle of his power. Who walked upon thee with dry foot : and was baptized in thee by John in the Jordan. Who made thee flow out of his side together with his Blood: and commanded his disciples, that such as believed should be baptised in thee, saying: Go, teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
¶ Continuing in recto tono...
Do thou, almighty God, mercifully assist us who observe this commandment: do thou graciously inspire us.
¶ He breathes three times on the water in the form of a cross and then sings in recto tono...
Do thou with thy mouth bless these clear waters: that besides their natural virtue of cleansing the body, they may also prove efficacious for the purifying of the soul.
¶ The priest then lowers the Paschal candle a little way into the water of the font, and going back to the tone of the Preface, continues...
Descendat in hanc plenitudinem fontis virtus Spiritus Sancti.
(May the virtue of the Holy Ghost descend into all the water of this font.)
¶ Then, taking the candle out of the water, he dips it again, this time more deeply, repeating in a higher tone Descendat or May the virtue... above.
¶ Then the candle is removed again and dipped to the bottom of the font, repeating again, Descendat or May the virtue...
¶ With the candle still in the water, he breathes thrice on the water in the form of a Greek letter Psi, and sings...
Totamque hujus aquae substantiam regenerandi fecundet effectu.
(And make the whole substance of this water fruitful for regeneration.)
¶ The Paschal candle is removed from the baptismal font, and the priest continues...
Hic omnium peccatorum maculae deleantur: hic natura ad imaginem tuam condita, et ad honorem sui reformata principii, cunctis vetustatis squaloribus emundetur : ut omnis homo, sacramentum hoc regenerationis ingressus, in verae innocentiae novam infantiam renascatur.
¶ Or...
Here may the stains of all sins be washed out : here may human nature, created in thine image, and reformed to the honor of its Author, be cleansed from all the filth of the old man : that all who receive the Sacrament of regeneration, may be born again new children of true innocence.
¶ Then the Celebrant recites (not sings):
Through, etc. or Per Dominum, etc., as usual.
¶ Here the priest takes some of the water and puts it into a container. With an aspergillum or the like, he sprinkles the people with some of the blessed water. Some of this water may also be kept aside for blessing homes during Paschaltide.
¶ Then the Celebrant pours the Oil of the Catechumens into the font in the form of a cross, saying...
Sanctificetur et fecundetur fons iste oleo salutis renascentibus ex eo, in vitam aeternam. R. Amen.
¶ Or...
May this font be sanctified and made fruitful by the Oil of salvation, for those who are born anew therein unto life everlasting. R. Amen.
¶ Next he pours in the Chrism in the form of a cross, saying...
Infusio chrismatis Domini nostri Iesu Christi, et Spiritus Sancti Paracliti, fiat in nomine sanctis Trinitatis. R. Amen.
¶ Or...
May the infusion of the Chrism of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Ghost the Comforter, be made in the Name of the Holy Trinity. R. Amen.
¶ Next he pours in at the same time both the Chrism and the Oil of the Sick, saying...
Commixtio chrismatis sancti-ficationis, et olei unctionis, et aquae baptismatis, pariter fiat in nomine Patris, + et Filii, + et Spiritus + Sancti. R. Amen.
¶ Or...
May this mixture of the Chrism of sanctification, and of the Oil of unction, and of the water of Baptism, be made to the Name of the + Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy + Ghost. R. Amen.
¶ Next he mixes the oil and water and scatters it over the font with his hand.
¶ If Baptism is to be administered at this liturgy, then it is done so in the solemn form at this time. If the Celebrant is a Bishop, then he and the clergy return to the foot of the altar for the preparatory rites of the solemn pontifical form of baptism, and then continue as usual. Afterwards, the Ministers return to the Sanctuary. An appropriate hymn may be sung.
¶ The Ministers lay aside their vestments and lie prostrate before the altar. Then, all kneeling, the litany is sung... (Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, and Kyrie Eleison are all chanted thrice.) During the second part of the Litany, the Ministers rise and retire to put on white vestments for the mass. Also during the second part of the Litany (with endings parce nobis Domine or spare us, O Lord), the altar candles are lit and the purple paraments exchanged for white ones. During this time and the Kyrie that follows (in the same manner as at the beginning of the Litany), the Ministers change from purple to white vestments in the sacristy, say the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, with Judica me and Gloria Patri, and then approach the altar and cense it in the usual manner.
The First Part of the Litany of the Saints
Kyrie, Eleison.
Christe, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have
mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the
world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy
on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have
mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, Pray.
Holy Virgin of virgins, Pray.
Saint Michael, Pray.
Saint Gabriel, Pray.
Saint Raphæl, Pray.
All ye holy angels and arch-
angels, Pray.
All ye holy orders of blessed spirits, Pray.
Saint John Baptist, Pray.
Saint Joseph, Pray.
All ye holy patriarchs and
prophets, Pray.
Saint Peter, Pray.
Saint Paul, Pray.
Saint Andrew, Pray.
Saint John, Pray.
All ye holy apostles and
evangelists, Pray.
All ye holy disciples of our Lord,
Pray.
Saint Stephen, Pray.
Saint Lawrence, Pray.
Saint Vincent, Pray.
All ye holy martyrs, Pray.
Saint Sylvester, Pray.
Saint Gregory, Pray.
Saint Augustine, Pray for us
All ye holy bishops and
confessors, Pray.
All ye holy doctors, Pray.
Saint Anthony, Pray for us
Saint Benedict, Pray.
Saint Dominic, Pray.
Saint Francis, Pray.
All ye holy priests and levites,
Pray.
All ye holy monks and hermits,
Pray.
Saint Mary Magdalen, Pray.
Saint Agnes, Pray.
Saint Cecilia, Pray.
Saint Agatha, Pray.
Saint Anastasia, Pray.
All ye holy virgins and widows,
Pray.
All ye holy men and women,
saints of God, Intercede for us. Be merciful to us, pray for us.
The Second Part of the Litany of Saints
Be merciful to us, Spare us,
O Lord.
Be merciful to us, Hear us,
O Lord.
From all evil, O Lord, deliver us.
From all sin, O Lord, deliver us.
From everlasting death, O Lord,
deliver us.
Through the mystery of thy holy
incarnation, O Lord, deliver us.
Through thy coming, O Lord,
deliver us.
Through thy nativity, O Lord,
deliver us.
Through thy baptism and holy
fasting, O Lord, deliver us.
Through thy cross and passion,
O Lord, deliver us.
Through thy death and burial,
O Lord, deliver us.
Through thy holy resurrection,
O Lord, deliver us.
Through thine admirable
ascension, O Lord, deliver us.
Through the coming of the Holy Ghost the Comforter, O Lord,
deliver us.
In the day of judgment, O Lord,
deliver us.
We sinners, We beseech thee,
hear us.
That thou spare us, We beseech
thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to rule and
preserve thy holy Church, We
beseech thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to preserve
our apostolic prelate and all
ecclesiastical orders in holy
religion. We beseech thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to humble
the enemies of thy holy Church, We beseech thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to grant
peace and true concord to
Christian kings and princes,
We beseech thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to confirm
and preserve us in thy holy ser-
vice. We beseech thee, hear us.
That thou render eternal good
things to all our benefactors,
We beseech thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to give and
preserve the fruits of the earth,
We beseech thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to give eter-
nal rest to all the faithful
departed. We beseech thee,
hear us.
That thou vouchsafe graciously
to hear us. We beseech thee,
hear us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away
the sins of the world, spare us,
O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away
the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away
the sins of the world, have
mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
¶ Repeat the Kyrie Eleison.
¶ Note that those who participate in both the preceding liturgy of Holy Saturday and the following Easter Vigil, as this mass is the First Mass of Sunday of the Resurrection, fulfill their obligation to attend mass at Easter.
¶ Here the priest shall begin the Gloria in Excelsis Deo, and the bells shall immediately be set ringing.
¶ After the Gloria, the Celebrant shall begin as usual:
V. Dominus vobiscum. (The Lord be with you.)
R. Et cum spiritu tuo. (And with thy spirit.)
Oremus. (Let us pray.)
O God, who dost illuminate this most holy night by the glory of the Lord's Resurrection, preserve in the new children of thy family the spirit of adoption which thou hast given; that renewed in body and mind, they may render to thee a pure service. Through.
EPISTLE Col. 3. 1-4
Brethren, if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God: mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ should appear, who is your life, then you also shall appear with him in glory
ALLELUIA
¶ The Celebrant intones the Alleluia, and then the Choir sings it twice more with him. Then the choir continues with the Antiphon and Tract below.
Alleluia.
Antiphon: Give praise to the Lord, for he is good; « for his mercy endureth forever.
TRACT Ps. 116. 1, 2
O praise the Lord, all ye nations, and praise him all ye people. For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth forever.
+ The Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (28. 1-7)
And in the end of the Sabbath, when it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And behold there was a great earthquake. For an Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and coming, rolled back the stone and sat upon it: and his countenance was as lightening and his raiment as snow. And for fear of him the guards were struck with terror and became as dead men. And the Angel answering, said to the women: Fear not you: for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified: He is not here: for his is risen, as he said. Come and see the place where the Lord was laid. And going quickly, tell ye his disciples that he is risen: and behold he will go before you into Galilee: there you shall see him. Lo, I have foretold it to you.
¶ The Creed is not said. The Offertory continues as usual with the salutation, but no Offertory verse is said. At the end of the Lavabo, the Gloria Patri is again said.
SECRET
Accept, we beseech thee, O Lord, the prayers of thy people together with the sacrifice they offer: that what has begun by the Paschal Mysteries, may by thine arrangement result in our eternal healing. Through.
¶ The Preface of Easter is used, with the proper variant for the night. In the Canon of the Mass, the Pax Domini is said, but the Peace is not given. The Agnus Dei is not sung, and there is no Post-Communion collect. The special Communicantes is given below. The form of the Hanc Igitur is given in the Canon.
COMMUNICANTES
Communicantes, et noctem sacratissimam celebrantes Resur-rectionis Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundum carnem: sed et memoriam venerantes, in primis gloriosae semper Virginis Mariae, Genitricis ejusdem Dei et Domini nostri Jesu Christi: sed et beatorum Aposto-lorum ac Martyrum tuorum, Petri et Pauli, Andreae, Jacobi, Joannis, Thomae, Jacobi, Philippi, Bartholomaei, Matthaei, Simonis et Thaddaei: Lini, Cleti, Clementis, Xysti, Cornelii, Cypriani, Laurentii, Chrysogoni, Joannis et Pauli, Cosmae et Damiani: et omnium Sanctorum tuorum ; quorum meritis precibusque concedas, ut in omnibus protectionis tuae muniamur auxilio. (Join the hands.) Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
¶ After Communion and the Ablutions is chanted the Alleluia and Laudate Dominum.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
¶ And then following on a Psalm tone:
Laudate Dominum
Praise ye the Lord in his holy places: « praise ye him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise ye him for his mighty acts: « praise ye him according to the multitude of his greatness.
3 Praise him with sound of trumpets: « praise him with psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with timbrel and choir: « praise him with strings and organs.
5 Praise him on high sounding cymbals: praise him on cymbals of joy. « Let every spirit praise the Lord.
6 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, « and to the Holy Ghost.
7 As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, « world without end. Amen.
¶ Repeat the Antiphon: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
¶ Then follows the Vespere autem sabbati and the Magnificat.
Vespere autem sabbati & Magnificat
¶ The altar is censed during the Magnificat as usual. The Celebrant intones the Vespere autem sabbati as below, and then the choir continues.
Vespere autem sabbati :
(In the end of the sabbath :)
¶ And the choir continues:
« quae lucescit in prima sabbati, venit Maria Magdalene, et altera Maria, vedere sepulcrum, alleluia.
(« as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, « came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre, alleluia.)
MAGNIFICAT
Magnificat anima mea Dominum, et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salvatore meo.
Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae. Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.
Quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est, (here all make a profound reverence) et sanctum nomen eius.
Et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies timentibus eum.
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo, dispersit superbos mente cordis sui;
Deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles;
Esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes.
Suscepit Israel puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae, sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in saecula.
Gloria Patri, etc.
¶ Or...
My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me, (here all make a profound reverence) and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
Glory be, etc.
(Antiphon:) Vespere autem sabbati † quae lucescit in prima sabbati,« venit Maria Magdalene, et altera Maria, vedere sepulcrum, alleluia.
Or else: In the end of the sabbath † as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, « came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre, alleluia.
V. Dominus vobiscum.
(The Lord be with you.)
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
(And with thy spirit.)
Oremus.
(Let us pray.)
WE beseech thee, O Lord, pour into our hearts the love of thy Holy Spirit : that as thou hast now fulfilled us with this Paschal Sacrament, so thou wouldst make us to continue in all godly concord. Through...in the unity of the same.
Dismissal
Ite missa est alleluia, alleluia.
¶ And the response Thanks be to God or Deo gratias is given as usual, but according to the same tone as above for the dismissal (that is, with the Alleluias added). The priest, after saying the Placeat tibi, gives the blessing in the usual manner. The Last Gospel is not read.
R. And with thy spirit.
V. Lift up your hearts.
R. We lift them up unto the Lord.
V. Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God....
R. It is meet and right so to do.
IT is truly meet and right to proclaim with all our heart and all the affection of our mind, and with the ministry of our voices, the invisible God, the Father almighty, and his only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who repaid for us to his eternal Father the debt of Adam : and by the merciful shedding of his Blood, cancelled the debt incurred by original sin. For this is the Paschal Festival; in which that true Lamb is slain, with whose Blood the doorposts of the faithful are consecrated. This is the night, in which thou didst formerly cause our forefathers, the children of Israel, when brought out of Egypt, to pass through the Red Sea with dry foot. This, therefore, is the night which dissipated the darkness of sinners by the light of the pillar. This is the night which at this time throughout the world restoreth to grace and uniteth in sanctity those that believe in Christ,
and are separated from the vices of the world and the darkness of sinners. This is the night in which, destroying the chains of death, Christ arose victorious from the grave. For it would have profited us nothing to have been born, unless redemption had also been bestowed upon us. O wondrous condescension of thy mercy towards us! O inestimable affection of love : that thou mightest redeem a slave, thou didst deliver up thy Son! O truly needful sin of Adam, which was blotted out by the death of Christ! O happy fault, that merited to possess such and so great a Redeemer! O truly blessed night, which alone deserved to know the time and hour, when Christ rose again from hell! This is the night, of which it is written : and the night shall be as clear as the day : and the night is my light in my delights. There-fore the hallowing of this night putteth to flight all wickedness, cleanseth sins : and restoreth innocence to the fallen, and gladness to the sorrowful. It driveth forth hatreds, it prepareth concord, and bringeth down haughtiness.
¶ Here the celebrant comes from the sedilia to the stand with the Paschal candle before the altar. He stands at the candle facing the altar, and the Deacon stands to his right. The Sub-Deacon remains standing to the Gospel side of the Paschal Candle holding the The Celebrant then inscribes the cross, Alpha and Omega, and Date on the Paschal candle if this has not been done, in the arrangement indicated in the diagram. Once the candle has been so marked, the Deacon inserts the five grains of incense in the cross (see diagram) in the order indicated below:
1
4 2 5
3
¶ After the above, the Celebrant returns to the sedilia, and the Deacon continues:
IN hujus igitur noctis gratia, suscipe, Sancte Pater, incensi hujus sacrificium vespertinum : quod tibi in hac cerei oblatione solemni, per ministrorum manus de operibus apum, sacrosancta reddit Ecclesia. Sed iam columnae hujus praeconia novimus, quam in honorem Dei rutilans ignis accendit. Qui licet sit divisus in partes, mutuati tamen luminis detrimenta non novit. Alitur enim liquantibus ceris, quas in substantiam pretiosae hujus lampadis apis mater eduxit. O vere beata nox, quae exspoliavit Aegyptios, ditavit Hebraeos! Nox, in qua terrenis caelestia, humanis divina iunguntur.
¶ Or...
Wherefore in this sacred night, receive, O holy Father, the evening sacrifice of this incense : which holy Church rendereth unto thee by the hands of thy ministers, in the solemn offering of this wax candle, made out the work of bees : Now also we know the praises of this pillar, which the shining fire enkindleth to the honor of God. Which fire, although divided into parts, suffereth no loss from its light being borrowed. For it is nourished by the melting wax, which the mother bee produced for the substance of this precious light. O truly blessed night, which plundered the Egyptians and enriched the Hebrews! A night in which heavenly things are united to those of earth, and things divine to those which are of man.
¶ Here the Deacon lights the Paschal candle and the lamps (but not the altar candles). He continues:
OREMUS ergo te Domine : ut cererus iste in honorem tui nominis consecratus, ad noctis hujus caliginem destruendam, indeficiens perseveret. Et in odorem suavitatis acceptus, supernis luminaribus misceatur. Flammas ejus lucifer matutinus inveniat. Ille, inquam, lucifer, qui nescit occasum. Ille qui regressus ab inferis humano generi serenus illuxit. Precamur ergo te, Domine : ut nos famulos tuos, omnemque clerum et devotissimum populum : una cum reverendissimo† Antistite nostro N.*, quiete temporum concessa, in his Paschalibus gaudiis assidua protectione regere, gubernare et conservare digneris. Respice etiam ad eos, qui non in potestate regunt, et, ineffabili pietatis et misericordiae tuae munere, dirige cogitationes eorum ad iustitiam et pacem, ut de terrena operositate ad caelestem patriam perveniant cum omni populo tuo. Per eundem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium tuum : Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus : per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.
¶ Or...
We beseech thee, therefore, O Lord : that this wax candle hallowed in honor of thy Name, may continue to burn to dissipate the darkness of this night. And being accepted as a sweet savor, may be united with the heavenly lights. Let the morning star find its flame alight. That star I mean, which knoweth no setting. He who returning from hell, serenely shone forth upon mankind. We beseech thee therefore, O Lord : that thou wouldst grant peaceful times during this Paschal Festival : and vouchsafe to rule, govern, and keep with thy constant protection us thy servants, and all the clergy, and the devout people, together with our most reverend† Bishop N.* Look also on our temporal rulers, and with ineffable kindness and mercy, so direct their thoughts towards justice and peace, that they, and all thy subjects, may safely journey from the engrossing cares of this world to their heavenly homeland. Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord : who with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth: ever one God. World without end. R. Amen.
* And note that in the case of a Metropolitan Archbishop or the Patriarch, the word Bishop is replaced with Metropolitan or Patriarch respectively. The first syllable is sung as for Bishop, and the remaining sylables, i.e., -ropolitan or -riarch, are sung on the note provided above for the second syllable of Bishop. Similarly, in the Latin text, Antistite is replaced as required with Metropolitano or Patriarcha. For a mass sung by the Patriarch, Bishop is replaced with Pope, or Antistite is replaced with Pontifice.
† For a mass sung by the Patriarch, reverend is replaced with reverend and reverendissimo is replaced with beatissimo.
¶ The Deacon removes his white vestments and returns to purple. The liturgy continues with the Prophecies.
Prophecy the First
In the beginning, God created heaven and earth. And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved over the water. And God said: Be light made. And light was made. And God saw the light that it was good: and he divided the light from the darkness. And he called the light Day, and the darkness Night: and there was evening and morning, one day. And God said: Let there be a firmament made amidst the waters: and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made a firmament, and divided the waters that were under the firmament from those that were above the firmament. And it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven: and the evening and morning were the second day. God also said: Let the waters that are under the heaven be gathered together into one place; and let the dry land appear. And it was so done. And God called the dry land Earth: and the gathering together of the waters he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. And he said: Let the earth bring forth his green herb, after its kind, which may have seed in itself upon the earth. And it was so done. And the earth brought forth the green herb, and such as yieldeth seed according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And the evening and morning were the third day. And God said: Let there be lights made in the firmament of heaven to divide the day and the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years.: to shine in the firmament of heaven. and to give light to the earth. And it was so done. And God made two great lights: a greater light to rule the day; and a lesser light to rule the night: and the stars. And he set them in the firmament of heaven, to shine upon the earth, and to rule the day and the night, and to divide the earth, and to rule the day and the night, and to divide the light and the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And the evening and morning were the fourth day. God also said: Let the waters bring forth the creeping creature having life, and the fowl that may fly over the earth under the firmament of heaven. And God created the great whales, and every living thing and moving creature which the waters brought forth, according to their kinds, and every winged fowl according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And he blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the waters of the sea: and let the birds be multiplied upon the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. And God said: Let the earth bring forth the living creature in its kind, cattle, and creeping things, and beasts of the earth according to their kinds. And it was so done. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, and cattle, and every thing and every thing that creepeth on the earth after its kind. And God saw that it was good. And he said: Let us make man to his own image and likeness: and let him have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and the beasts, and the whole earth, and every creeping creature that moveth upon the earth. And God created man to his own image: to the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. And God blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and all living creatures that move upon the earth. And God said: Behold, I have given you every herb-bearing seed upon the earth, and all trees that have in themselves seed of their own kind to be your meat: and to all the beasts of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to all that move upon the earth, and wherein there is life, that they may have to feed upon. And it was so done. And God saw all the things that he had made, and they were very good. And the evening and morning were the sixth day. So the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the furniture of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made: and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done.
Oremus.
(Let us pray.)
Deacon: Flectamus genua.
(Let us bend the knee.)
Sub-Deacon: Levate.
(Arise.)
O God, who hast wonderfully created man, and more wonderfully restored him: grant us, we beseech thee, to stand firm with strong minds against the allurements of sin, that we may deserve to arrive at everlasting joys. Through. R. Amen.
Prophecy the Second
And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians. And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed glo-riously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Tract: Let us sing to the Lord, for he is gloriously honored: the horse and the rider he hath thrown into the sea: He hath become my helper and protector unto salvation. V. He is my God, and I will honor him: the God of my father, and I will extol him. V. He is the Lord that destroyeth wars: the Lord is his Name.
Oremus.
(Let us pray.)
Deacon: Flectamus genua.
(Let us bend the knee.)
Sub-Deacon: Levate.
(Arise.)
O God, whose ancient miracles we see shining also in our days, whilst by the water of regeneration thou dost operate for the salvation of the Gentiles, that which by the power of thy right hand thou didst confer upon one people, by delivering them from the Egyptian persecution: grant that all the nations of the world may become the children of Abraham, and partake of the dignity of the people of Israel. Through. R. Amen.
Prophecy the Third
In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
Tract: A vineyard was made on a hill in a fruitful place. V. And he fenced it in, and picked the stones out of it, and planted it with the choicest vines, and built a tower in the midst thereof.
V. And set up a winepress therein: for the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel.
Oremus.
(Let us pray.)
Deacon: Flectamus genua.
(Let us bend the knee.)
Sub-Deacon: Levate.
(Arise.)
O God, who hast declared to all the children of thy Church by the voice of the holy prophets, that in all places of thine empire, thou art the Sower of good seed, and the Cultivator of chosen branches: grant to thy people who are called by thee by the name of vines and har-vestfield, that they may root out all thorns and briars, and produce good fruit in abundance. Through. R. Amen.
Prophecy the Fourth
And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware. Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel. And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee. And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the Lord; and how much more after my death? Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands. And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.
Tract: Hear, O ye heavens, the things I speak, let the earth give ear to the words of my mouth.
V. Let my doctrine gather as the rain, let my speech distill as the dew, as a shower upon the herb. V. And as drops upon the grass: because I will invoke the name of the Lord. V. Give ye magni-ficence to our God: The works of God are perfect, and all his ways are judgments. V. God is faithful and without any iniquity, he is just and right.
Oremus.
(Let us pray.)
Deacon: Flectamus genua.
(Let us bend the knee.)
Sub-Deacon: Levate.
(Arise.)
O God, the exaltation of the humble, and the strength of the righteous, who, by thy holy servant Moses, wast pleased so to instruct thy people by the singing of thy sacred canticle, that the renewal of the law should be also our guidance: show forth thy power to all the multitude of Gentiles justified by thee, and by mitigating thy terror grant them joy: that, all sins being blotted out by thy remission, the threatened vengeance may give way to salvation. Through. R. Amen.
Blessing of the Baptismal Font
¶ The Sacred Ministers, still vested in purple, process to the place of the baptismal font while a suitable tract or hymn may be sung. Then the Celebrant begins:
V. Dominus vobiscum.
(The Lord be with you.)
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
(And with thy spirit.)
Oremus.
(Let us pray.)
Almighty and everlasting God, be present at these Mysteries of thy great kindness, be present at these Sacraments: and send forth thy Spirit of adoption to regenerate the new people, whom the font of baptism brings forth; that what is to be done by our humble ministry may be accomplished by the effect of thy power. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God:
¶ And then continuing singing in the tone of the Preface, with hands joined as usual:
World without end.
R. Amen.
Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
R. Amen.
Dominus vobiscum.
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
V. Sursum corda.
R. Habemus ad Dominum.
V. Gratias agamus, Domino Deo nostro.
R. Dignum et justum est.
VEre dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere : Domine, sancte Pater, omnipotens aeterne Deus : Qui invisibili potentia sacramentorum tuorum mirabiliter operaris effectum : et licis non tantis mysteriis exsequendis simus indigni : tu tamen gratiae tuae dona non deserens, etiam ad nostras preces aures tuae pietatis inclinas. Deus, cujus Spiritus super aquas inter ipsa mundi primordia ferebatur : ut iam tunc virtutem sanctificationis aquarum natura conciperet. Deus, qui nocentis mundi crimina per aquas abluens, regenerationis speciem in ipsa diluvii effusione signasti : ut, unius ejusdemque elementi mysterio, et finis esset vitiis, et origo virtutibus. Respice, Domine, in faciem Ecclesiae tuae, et multiplica in ea regenerationes tuas, qui gratiae tuae affluentis impetu laetificas civitatem tuam : fontemque baptismastis aperis toto orbe terrarum gentibus innovandis : ut, tuae maiestatis imperio, sumat Unigeniti tui gratiam de Spiritu Sancto.
¶ Or...
IT is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should give thanks unto thee at all times and in all places : O holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God : Who, by thine ineffable power dost wonderfully produce the effect of thy Sacraments: and though we are unworthy to perform such great mysteries: yet, as thou dost not abandon the gifts of thy grace, so thou inclinest the ears of thy goodness, even unto our prayers. O God, whose Spirit in the very beginning of the world moved over the waters : that even then the nature of water might receive the virtue of sanctification. O God, who by water didst wash away the crimes of the guilty world, and by the pouring out of the deluge didst give a figure of regeneration: that one and the same element might in a mystery be the end of vice and the beginning of virtue. Look, O Lord, on the face of thy Church, and multiply in her thy regenerations, who by the streams of thine abundant grace fillest thy city with joy : and openest the font of Baptism all over the world for the renewal of the Gentiles : that by the command of thy Majesty she may receive the grace of thine only Son from the Holy Ghost.
¶ Here the priest divides with his open hand the water in the form of a cross, and then dries his hand on a towel.
¶ He continues...
Qui hanc aquam, regenerandis hominibus praeparatam, arcana sui numinis admixtione fecundet : ut, sanctificatione concepta, ab immaculato divini fontis utero, in novam renata creaturam, progenies caelestis emergat : et quos aut sexus in corpore aut aetas discernit in tempore, omnes in unam pariat gratia mater infantiam. Procul ergo hinc, iubente te, Domine, omnis spiritus immundus abscedat : procul tota nequitia diabolicae fraudis absistat. Nihil hic loci habeat contrariae virtutis admixtio : non insidiando circumvolet : non latendo subrepat: non inficiendo corrumpat.
¶ Or...
May he by a secret mixture of his divine virtue render this water fruitful for the regeneration of men : to the end that a heavenly offspring, conceived by sanctification, may emerge from the immaculate womb of this divine font, reborn a new creature: and may all, however distinguished either by sex in body, or by age in time, be brought forth to the same infancy by grace, their mother. Therefore may all unclean spirits, by thy command, O Lord, depart far from hence: may the whole malice of diabolical deceit be entirely banished. May no power of the enemy prevail here : let him not fly about to lay his snares : may he not creep in by stealth: may he not corrupt with his poison.
¶ The priest then touches the water with his hand and then continues.
Sic haec sancta et innocens creatura, libera ab omni impugnatoris incursu, et totius nequitiae purgata discessu. Sit fons vivus, aqua regenerans, unda purificans: ut omnes hoc lavacro salutifero diluendi, operante in eis Spiritu Sancto, perfectae purgationis indulgentiam consequantur.
¶ Or...
May this holy and innocent creature be free from all the assaults of the enemy, and purified by the destruction of all his wickedness. May it be a living fountain, a regenerating water, a purifying stream: that all those that are to be washed in this saving bath may obtain, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, the grace of a perfect cleansing.
¶ The priest then makes three crosses over the Font, while singing...
Unde benedico te, creatura aquae, per Deum + vivum, per Deum + verum, per Deum + sanctum: per Deum qui, te in principio verbo separavit ab arida : cujus Spiritus super te ferebatur.
Therefore, I bless thee, O creature of water, by the living + God, by the true + God, by the holy + God: by that God who, in the beginning, separated thee by his word from the dry land: whose Spirit moved over thee.
¶ Here he divides the water with his hand and scatters it to the four corners of the earth, and then sings...
Qui te de paradisi fonte manare fecit, et in quatuor fluminibus totam terram rigare praecepit. Qui te in deserto amaram, suavitate indita, fecit esse potabilem, et sitienti populo de petra produxit. Bene+dico te et per Jesum Christum Filium ejus unicum, Dominum nostrum : qui te in Cana Galilaeae signo admirabili sua potentia convertit in vinum. Qui pedibus super te ambulavit : et a Joanne in Jordane in te baptizatus est. Qui te una cum sanguine de latere suo produxit: et discipulis suis jussit, ut credentes baptizarentur in te, dicens: Ite, docete omnes gentes, baptizantes eos in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.
¶ Or...
Who made thee flow from the fountain of paradise, and commanded thee to water the whole earth with thy four rivers. Who, changing thy bitterness in the desert in-to sweetness made thee fit to drink, and produced
thee out of a rock to quench the thirsty people. I bless + thee also by our Lord Jesus Christ, his only Son : Who in Cana of Galilee changed thee into wine by a wonderful miracle of his power. Who walked upon thee with dry foot : and was baptized in thee by John in the Jordan. Who made thee flow out of his side together with his Blood: and commanded his disciples, that such as believed should be baptised in thee, saying: Go, teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
¶ Continuing in recto tono...
Do thou, almighty God, mercifully assist us who observe this commandment: do thou graciously inspire us.
¶ He breathes three times on the water in the form of a cross and then sings in recto tono...
Do thou with thy mouth bless these clear waters: that besides their natural virtue of cleansing the body, they may also prove efficacious for the purifying of the soul.
¶ The priest then lowers the Paschal candle a little way into the water of the font, and going back to the tone of the Preface, continues...
Descendat in hanc plenitudinem fontis virtus Spiritus Sancti.
(May the virtue of the Holy Ghost descend into all the water of this font.)
¶ Then, taking the candle out of the water, he dips it again, this time more deeply, repeating in a higher tone Descendat or May the virtue... above.
¶ Then the candle is removed again and dipped to the bottom of the font, repeating again, Descendat or May the virtue...
¶ With the candle still in the water, he breathes thrice on the water in the form of a Greek letter Psi, and sings...
Totamque hujus aquae substantiam regenerandi fecundet effectu.
(And make the whole substance of this water fruitful for regeneration.)
¶ The Paschal candle is removed from the baptismal font, and the priest continues...
Hic omnium peccatorum maculae deleantur: hic natura ad imaginem tuam condita, et ad honorem sui reformata principii, cunctis vetustatis squaloribus emundetur : ut omnis homo, sacramentum hoc regenerationis ingressus, in verae innocentiae novam infantiam renascatur.
¶ Or...
Here may the stains of all sins be washed out : here may human nature, created in thine image, and reformed to the honor of its Author, be cleansed from all the filth of the old man : that all who receive the Sacrament of regeneration, may be born again new children of true innocence.
¶ Then the Celebrant recites (not sings):
Through, etc. or Per Dominum, etc., as usual.
Sprinkling of the People
¶ Here the priest takes some of the water and puts it into a container. With an aspergillum or the like, he sprinkles the people with some of the blessed water. Some of this water may also be kept aside for blessing homes during Paschaltide.
Mixing of the Oils
¶ Then the Celebrant pours the Oil of the Catechumens into the font in the form of a cross, saying...
Sanctificetur et fecundetur fons iste oleo salutis renascentibus ex eo, in vitam aeternam. R. Amen.
¶ Or...
May this font be sanctified and made fruitful by the Oil of salvation, for those who are born anew therein unto life everlasting. R. Amen.
¶ Next he pours in the Chrism in the form of a cross, saying...
Infusio chrismatis Domini nostri Iesu Christi, et Spiritus Sancti Paracliti, fiat in nomine sanctis Trinitatis. R. Amen.
¶ Or...
May the infusion of the Chrism of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Ghost the Comforter, be made in the Name of the Holy Trinity. R. Amen.
¶ Next he pours in at the same time both the Chrism and the Oil of the Sick, saying...
Commixtio chrismatis sancti-ficationis, et olei unctionis, et aquae baptismatis, pariter fiat in nomine Patris, + et Filii, + et Spiritus + Sancti. R. Amen.
¶ Or...
May this mixture of the Chrism of sanctification, and of the Oil of unction, and of the water of Baptism, be made to the Name of the + Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy + Ghost. R. Amen.
¶ Next he mixes the oil and water and scatters it over the font with his hand.
Baptism
¶ If Baptism is to be administered at this liturgy, then it is done so in the solemn form at this time. If the Celebrant is a Bishop, then he and the clergy return to the foot of the altar for the preparatory rites of the solemn pontifical form of baptism, and then continue as usual. Afterwards, the Ministers return to the Sanctuary. An appropriate hymn may be sung.
Litany of the Saints
¶ The Ministers lay aside their vestments and lie prostrate before the altar. Then, all kneeling, the litany is sung... (Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, and Kyrie Eleison are all chanted thrice.) During the second part of the Litany, the Ministers rise and retire to put on white vestments for the mass. Also during the second part of the Litany (with endings parce nobis Domine or spare us, O Lord), the altar candles are lit and the purple paraments exchanged for white ones. During this time and the Kyrie that follows (in the same manner as at the beginning of the Litany), the Ministers change from purple to white vestments in the sacristy, say the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, with Judica me and Gloria Patri, and then approach the altar and cense it in the usual manner.
The First Part of the Litany of the Saints
Kyrie, Eleison.
Christe, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have
mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the
world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy
on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have
mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, Pray.
Holy Virgin of virgins, Pray.
Saint Michael, Pray.
Saint Gabriel, Pray.
Saint Raphæl, Pray.
All ye holy angels and arch-
angels, Pray.
All ye holy orders of blessed spirits, Pray.
Saint John Baptist, Pray.
Saint Joseph, Pray.
All ye holy patriarchs and
prophets, Pray.
Saint Peter, Pray.
Saint Paul, Pray.
Saint Andrew, Pray.
Saint John, Pray.
All ye holy apostles and
evangelists, Pray.
All ye holy disciples of our Lord,
Pray.
Saint Stephen, Pray.
Saint Lawrence, Pray.
Saint Vincent, Pray.
All ye holy martyrs, Pray.
Saint Sylvester, Pray.
Saint Gregory, Pray.
Saint Augustine, Pray for us
All ye holy bishops and
confessors, Pray.
All ye holy doctors, Pray.
Saint Anthony, Pray for us
Saint Benedict, Pray.
Saint Dominic, Pray.
Saint Francis, Pray.
All ye holy priests and levites,
Pray.
All ye holy monks and hermits,
Pray.
Saint Mary Magdalen, Pray.
Saint Agnes, Pray.
Saint Cecilia, Pray.
Saint Agatha, Pray.
Saint Anastasia, Pray.
All ye holy virgins and widows,
Pray.
All ye holy men and women,
saints of God, Intercede for us. Be merciful to us, pray for us.
The Second Part of the Litany of Saints
Be merciful to us, Spare us,
O Lord.
Be merciful to us, Hear us,
O Lord.
From all evil, O Lord, deliver us.
From all sin, O Lord, deliver us.
From everlasting death, O Lord,
deliver us.
Through the mystery of thy holy
incarnation, O Lord, deliver us.
Through thy coming, O Lord,
deliver us.
Through thy nativity, O Lord,
deliver us.
Through thy baptism and holy
fasting, O Lord, deliver us.
Through thy cross and passion,
O Lord, deliver us.
Through thy death and burial,
O Lord, deliver us.
Through thy holy resurrection,
O Lord, deliver us.
Through thine admirable
ascension, O Lord, deliver us.
Through the coming of the Holy Ghost the Comforter, O Lord,
deliver us.
In the day of judgment, O Lord,
deliver us.
We sinners, We beseech thee,
hear us.
That thou spare us, We beseech
thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to rule and
preserve thy holy Church, We
beseech thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to preserve
our apostolic prelate and all
ecclesiastical orders in holy
religion. We beseech thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to humble
the enemies of thy holy Church, We beseech thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to grant
peace and true concord to
Christian kings and princes,
We beseech thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to confirm
and preserve us in thy holy ser-
vice. We beseech thee, hear us.
That thou render eternal good
things to all our benefactors,
We beseech thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to give and
preserve the fruits of the earth,
We beseech thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to give eter-
nal rest to all the faithful
departed. We beseech thee,
hear us.
That thou vouchsafe graciously
to hear us. We beseech thee,
hear us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away
the sins of the world, spare us,
O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away
the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away
the sins of the world, have
mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
¶ Repeat the Kyrie Eleison.
MASS OF THE EASTER VIGIL
¶ Note that those who participate in both the preceding liturgy of Holy Saturday and the following Easter Vigil, as this mass is the First Mass of Sunday of the Resurrection, fulfill their obligation to attend mass at Easter.
¶ Here the priest shall begin the Gloria in Excelsis Deo, and the bells shall immediately be set ringing.
¶ After the Gloria, the Celebrant shall begin as usual:
V. Dominus vobiscum. (The Lord be with you.)
R. Et cum spiritu tuo. (And with thy spirit.)
Oremus. (Let us pray.)
O God, who dost illuminate this most holy night by the glory of the Lord's Resurrection, preserve in the new children of thy family the spirit of adoption which thou hast given; that renewed in body and mind, they may render to thee a pure service. Through.
EPISTLE Col. 3. 1-4
Brethren, if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God: mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ should appear, who is your life, then you also shall appear with him in glory
ALLELUIA
¶ The Celebrant intones the Alleluia, and then the Choir sings it twice more with him. Then the choir continues with the Antiphon and Tract below.
Alleluia.
Antiphon: Give praise to the Lord, for he is good; « for his mercy endureth forever.
TRACT Ps. 116. 1, 2
O praise the Lord, all ye nations, and praise him all ye people. For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth forever.
+ The Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (28. 1-7)
And in the end of the Sabbath, when it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And behold there was a great earthquake. For an Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and coming, rolled back the stone and sat upon it: and his countenance was as lightening and his raiment as snow. And for fear of him the guards were struck with terror and became as dead men. And the Angel answering, said to the women: Fear not you: for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified: He is not here: for his is risen, as he said. Come and see the place where the Lord was laid. And going quickly, tell ye his disciples that he is risen: and behold he will go before you into Galilee: there you shall see him. Lo, I have foretold it to you.
¶ The Creed is not said. The Offertory continues as usual with the salutation, but no Offertory verse is said. At the end of the Lavabo, the Gloria Patri is again said.
SECRET
Accept, we beseech thee, O Lord, the prayers of thy people together with the sacrifice they offer: that what has begun by the Paschal Mysteries, may by thine arrangement result in our eternal healing. Through.
¶ The Preface of Easter is used, with the proper variant for the night. In the Canon of the Mass, the Pax Domini is said, but the Peace is not given. The Agnus Dei is not sung, and there is no Post-Communion collect. The special Communicantes is given below. The form of the Hanc Igitur is given in the Canon.
COMMUNICANTES
Communicantes, et noctem sacratissimam celebrantes Resur-rectionis Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundum carnem: sed et memoriam venerantes, in primis gloriosae semper Virginis Mariae, Genitricis ejusdem Dei et Domini nostri Jesu Christi: sed et beatorum Aposto-lorum ac Martyrum tuorum, Petri et Pauli, Andreae, Jacobi, Joannis, Thomae, Jacobi, Philippi, Bartholomaei, Matthaei, Simonis et Thaddaei: Lini, Cleti, Clementis, Xysti, Cornelii, Cypriani, Laurentii, Chrysogoni, Joannis et Pauli, Cosmae et Damiani: et omnium Sanctorum tuorum ; quorum meritis precibusque concedas, ut in omnibus protectionis tuae muniamur auxilio. (Join the hands.) Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
Concluding Rites: Vespers of Holy Saturday
¶ After Communion and the Ablutions is chanted the Alleluia and Laudate Dominum.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
¶ And then following on a Psalm tone:
Laudate Dominum
Praise ye the Lord in his holy places: « praise ye him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise ye him for his mighty acts: « praise ye him according to the multitude of his greatness.
3 Praise him with sound of trumpets: « praise him with psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with timbrel and choir: « praise him with strings and organs.
5 Praise him on high sounding cymbals: praise him on cymbals of joy. « Let every spirit praise the Lord.
6 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, « and to the Holy Ghost.
7 As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, « world without end. Amen.
¶ Repeat the Antiphon: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
¶ Then follows the Vespere autem sabbati and the Magnificat.
Vespere autem sabbati & Magnificat
¶ The altar is censed during the Magnificat as usual. The Celebrant intones the Vespere autem sabbati as below, and then the choir continues.
Vespere autem sabbati :
(In the end of the sabbath :)
¶ And the choir continues:
« quae lucescit in prima sabbati, venit Maria Magdalene, et altera Maria, vedere sepulcrum, alleluia.
(« as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, « came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre, alleluia.)
MAGNIFICAT
Magnificat anima mea Dominum, et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salvatore meo.
Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae. Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.
Quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est, (here all make a profound reverence) et sanctum nomen eius.
Et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies timentibus eum.
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo, dispersit superbos mente cordis sui;
Deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles;
Esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes.
Suscepit Israel puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae, sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in saecula.
Gloria Patri, etc.
¶ Or...
My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me, (here all make a profound reverence) and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
Glory be, etc.
(Antiphon:) Vespere autem sabbati † quae lucescit in prima sabbati,« venit Maria Magdalene, et altera Maria, vedere sepulcrum, alleluia.
Or else: In the end of the sabbath † as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, « came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre, alleluia.
V. Dominus vobiscum.
(The Lord be with you.)
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
(And with thy spirit.)
Oremus.
(Let us pray.)
WE beseech thee, O Lord, pour into our hearts the love of thy Holy Spirit : that as thou hast now fulfilled us with this Paschal Sacrament, so thou wouldst make us to continue in all godly concord. Through...in the unity of the same.
Dismissal
Ite missa est alleluia, alleluia.
¶ And the response Thanks be to God or Deo gratias is given as usual, but according to the same tone as above for the dismissal (that is, with the Alleluias added). The priest, after saying the Placeat tibi, gives the blessing in the usual manner. The Last Gospel is not read.
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