um, angularem scilicet lapidem, claritatis tuæ ignem fidelibus contulisti, productum e silice, nostris profuturum usibus, novum hunc ignem sanctifica; et concede nobis, ita per hæc festa Paschalia coelestibus desideriis inflammari; ut ad perpetuæ claritatís, puris mentibus, valeamus festa pertingere. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen. OREMUS. : Domine Deus, Pater omnipotens, lumen indeficiens, qui es conditor omnium luminum benedic hoc lumen, quod a te sanctificatum atque benedictum est, qui illuminasti omnem mundum : ut ab eo lumine accendamur, atque illuminemur igne claritatis tuæ; et sicut illuminasti Moysen exeuntem de Egypto, ita illumines corda et sensus nostros; ut ad vitam et lucem æternam pervenire mereamur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen. OREMUS. Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, æterne Deus, benedicentibus nobis hunc ignem in nomine tuo, et unigeniti Filii tui Dei ac Domini nostri Jesu Christi, et Spiritus Sancti, cooperare digneris, et adjuva nos of the enemy, and illumine us with thy heavenly grace. Who livest and reignest with the same only Son and Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. B. Amen. contra ignita tela inimici, The Bishop then blesses the Incense, thus addressing himself in prayer to God: Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, thy abundant blessing on this Incense : and kindle, O invisible regenerator, the brightness of this night that not only the sacrifice that is offered this night may shine by the secret mixture of thy light; but also into whatever place any thing of this mysterious sanctification shall be brought, there, by the power of thy majesty, all the malicious artifices of the devil may be defeated. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. Veniat, quæsumus, omnipotens Deus, super hoc incensum larga tuæ benedictionis infusio: et hunc nocturnum splendorem invisibilis regenerator accende: ut non solum sacrificium, quod hac nocte litatum est, arcana luminis tui admixtione refulgeat: sed in quocumque loco ex hujus sanctificationis mysterio aliquid fuerit deportatum, expulsa diabolicæ fraudis nequitia, virtus tuæ Majestatis assistat. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. B. Amen. After these prayers, an Acolyte puts some of the blessed Fire into the thurible. The Bishop then censes the Fire and the Incense, after having first sprinkled them with holy water. An other of the Acolytes lights a candle from the blessed Fire, that the new light may be brought into the Church. The Deacon then vests in a white Dalmatic. This festive colour, which contrasts so strongly with the purple cope worn by the Bishop, is worn on account of the joyful ministry which the Deacon is about to fulfil. He takes into his right hand a Reed, on the top of which is placed a triple-branched candle. The Reed is in memory of our Lord's Passion: it also expresses the weakness of the Human Nature, which he assumed to himself by the Incarnation. The three-branch candle signifies the blessed Trinity, of which the Incarnate Word is the Second Person. The Procession returns. Having entered the Church, the Deacon, after advancing a few steps, lowers the Reed, and the Acolyte, who carries the new light, lights one of the three branches of the candle. The Deacon then kneels, as do also all the clergy and people. Raising the light on high, he sings these words: Lumen Christi. All answer: Deo gratias. The Light of Christ ! Thanks be to God! This first showing of the Light expresses the revelation made to us, by Jesus, of the Divinity of the Father. No one, says he, knoweth the Father, but the Son, and he to whom it shall please the Son to reveal him.1 After this, all rise, and the Procession advances as far as mid-way up the Church. Here, the Deacon again lowers the Reed, and a second branch of the Candle is lighted by the Acolyte. The same ceremonies are observed as before, and the Deacon sings on a higher note: This second showing of the Light signifies the world's receiving the knowledge of the Divinity of the Son; he appeared and dwelt among us, and, with his own sacred lips, taught us that he was God, equal to the Father in all things. The procession continues as far as the Altar-steps. The third branch of the Candle on the Reed is lighted, and the Deacon once more sings, but on a still higher and gladder note: The Light of Christ! Again, the response is made: Lumen Christi. Thanks be to God! Deo gratias. This third showing of the Light signifies the revelation of the Divinity of the Holy Ghost, which was made to us by our Saviour when he commanded his Apostles to do what the Church is to do this very Night: Teach ye all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. It is, then, by Jesus, who is the Light of the world, that mankind has been taught to know the Blessed Trinity. The Bishop, before administering Baptism to the Catechumens, will ask them if they believe in this great Mystery. During the whole of this Night's Service, they will have before their eyes the expressive symbol of the Trinity, the threebranch Candle. This, then, is the first use to which the new Fire is put to proclaim the Holy Trinity. It is next to publish the glory of the Incarnate Word, by lighting up the glorious symbol which is now to be brought before us. The Bishop is seated on his throne. The Deacon kneels before him, and asks a 1 St. Matth. xxviii. 19. blessing, before beginning the great work intrusted to him. The Pontiff thus blesses him. Dominus sit in corde tuo, et in labiis tuis: ut digne et competenter annunties suum Paschale præconium. In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen. The Lord be in thy heart and lips, that thou mayest worthily and fitly proclaim his Paschal praise. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Thus prepared, the Deacon rises, and goes to the Ambo. The Acolytes, holding the triple Candle and the five grains of Incense, are standing at his side. Near the Ambo is a marble pillar, on which is fixed the Paschal Candle. THE PASCHAL CANDLE. The sun is setting, and our earth will soon be mantled in darkness. The Church has provided a torch, which is to spread its light upon us during the whole of this long Vigil. It is of an unusual size. It stands alone, and is of a pillar-like form. It is the symbol of Christ. Before being lighted, its scriptural type is the pillar of a cloud, which hid the Israelites when they went out from Egypt; under this form, it is the figure of our Lord, when lying lifeless in the tomb. When lighted, we must see in it both the pillar of fire, which guided the people of God, and the glory of our Jesus risen from his grave. Our holy mother the Church, would have us enthusiastically love this glorious symbol, and speaks its praises to us in all the magnificence of her inspired eloquence. As early as the beginning of the 5th century, Pope St. Zozimus extended to all the Churches of the City of Rome, the privilege of blessing the Paschal Candle, although Baptism was administered no where but in the Baptistery of St. John Lateran. The object of this grant was, that all 1 |