Copyright © 1995, 2003 by

Rick Swenton
106 Melinda Lane
Bristol, CT 06010-7199
All Rights Reserved

Permission is granted for use of this work in parish liturgy or music programs in a non-commercial setting provided that no fee is charged and that this copyright notice remains on all copies.

When I was a child, I experienced Catholic liturgies with wonder. As I "matured", the magic faded as I questioned the value in doing things the "old way." Throughout my teenage years and early adult life I saw my peers scoff at the Catholic tradition of liturgy. On the college scene, the fundamentalist Christian groups promoted a "back-to-basics" philosophy that encouraged the unity of all God’s people regardless of denomination. They fostered the inner values of people and taught them that they could establish a personal relationship with God, on their own, at any time. This is great. But it completely ignored organized religion’s beautiful cultures and traditions of communal worship handed down over the centuries. It’s a good thing that liturgy impacted me in a positive way when I was impressionable. The impression caused me to search for an understanding of these mysteries. As I studied, some understanding came while new questions arose. It wasn’t until I discovered symbols that the picture came together and everything made sense.

We all know that a symbol is simply something which stands for something else. The classic example is the American Flag. We all immediately recognize it. We fly it. We wear it. We put it on all kinds of things and all kinds of people. We pledge our loyalty to it. It stands for freedom. It is a place holder for the greater idea it represents.

The Catholic Church uses symbols extensively in the liturgies. Yet most of us were never offered a course in symbols by the church. To some of us, these symbols are just bizarre objects or ceremonies. To others the symbols became more important than the idea they represented. Catholics have been known in the past to exaggerate or improperly use them. Misguided people would pray to a statue instead of using the statue as a worldly device to inspire a heavenly thought. Remember those car crashes that happened even though the statue of St. Christopher was anchored to the dashboard?

Symbols are actually very simple, incredibly beautiful and extremely powerful. You can’t experience a symbol unless you drop your guard and open your heart. If you view a symbol with a cold heart, all you will see is a lifeless object or a meaningless action. But if you view a symbol with potential, the effect is unlimited.

Nowhere in the church are the symbols more powerful than during the Easter Vigil service on Holy Saturday. If you approach this service with an open heart, you are in for a very special treat!

The Liturgy Documents calls the Easter Vigil the "mother of all vigils." You can not fully experience the Easter Vigil unless you become one with the symbols. Relax. Calm yourself. Open your mind and become receptive to the power that the symbols will offer.

In the ancient church, the Easter Vigil used to be an all-night event. Over the years it was celebrated at an earlier time. Our ancestors were no more enthusiastic about staying up all night than we are now. The word "vigil" means watching or waiting.

The service begins at nightfall. We experience the first symbol: Darkness. Darkness is a symbol of the absence of Christ. Christ was killed on the cross and was placed in the tomb. When you open your mind to the darkness experience, you can imagine what the absence of Christ might be like.  (It's important to understand that we never "pretend" that Christ is not alive.  Even during Good Friday and Holy Saturday, we simply remember salvation history.  It's not a re-enactment.) What would life be without Jesus? You are alone in the dark. You can’t see anything in front of you, behind you, around you. It’s cold and lifeless. There is danger in the darkness. You are afraid. Your life is aimless. You don’t know where you’ve been. You don’t know where you’re going. You are constantly aware that you have no protection from the unknown dangers about you. You have no friends for comfort. They are experiencing the same thing.

The presider has prepared a fireplace, a large candle, and some small nails. The fireplace contains strips of kindling wood that will create a robust fire. The presider strikes a match in the darkness. The cool spring air sizzles as the match is ignited and a surge of light bursts forth. The light is a symbol of Jesus’ body bursting forth with life again. Suddenly you are freed from the prison of darkness. You can see a light, a very small light. Now you have hope. You are no longer afraid.  The light is a symbol of humankind's awareness of the resurrection.

The presdier lights the kindling wood in the fireplace with the match. The fireplace is a symbol of the tomb. The burning wood is a symbol of the fire of the resurrection. The fire gives light so we can see. It gives warmth for comfort. It gives protection from danger. The fire is "alive" as it dances about.

The fire in the kindling wood starts as a gentle flicker and soon becomes a roaring fire. The fire of the resurrection is now raging out of control as it begins to completely illuminate the darkness. The community of believers gathers around the tomb of the resurrection and rejoices in the common knowledge they are sharing. Christ is risen! The fire in the kindling wood acts very much like the fire of Christ working in us. It starts as a gentile flicker as it lovingly nudges our lives and guides our decisions. If we submit to the fire, it will eventually grow to completely consume our lives. We will be alive with the fire of Christ. We will possess the light to see, the heat for warmth and the protection from danger. Others will recognize our special gift and want to be a part of it.

The Paschal Candle is lit from the fire. This candle is a symbol of the risen Christ. The flame on this candle will burn at Mass from this night through the Easter season to the Feast of Pentecost. The candle is also lighted for all Baptisms and Funerals. Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) The presence of the burning Paschal Candle is a symbol of Christ’s presence with us. The Paschal Candle is very tall and thick. When the light of Christ is set on this candle, it seems to take forever for the candle to burn down. This symbolizes the eternal life of Christ as well as the eternal presence of Christ in our lives. It is a daily reminder that Christ is here, with us, right now. Inscribed on the front of the candle is a cross, the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, and the numerals of the current calendar year. The letters Alpha and Omega when placed together are a symbol of eternal life. They are the beginning and the end of the Greek alphabet. In the book of Revelation (Rev 21:6) we read, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life." The presider takes five small nails and inserts them into the candle in the form of a cross. The nails mark Jesus’ wounds at his head, feet, hands and heart. They are reminders of the deep suffering Jesus endured on our behalf. They are a testament of his great love for us.

The Paschal Candle is the focus of the procession into the church. The candle is truly representative of the body of Christ newly restored to life. The priest or deacon bearing the candle pauses at the entrance of the darkened church. He proudly elevates the candle and sings, "Light of Christ." The community responds "Thanks be to God." The flame from the candle is now passed to the candles in the congregation. This action is symbolic of the good news of the resurrection being passed from person to person. As each person becomes aware of the miracle, they receive the "Light of Christ." As each person accepts the flame from the Paschal Candle, the brightness increases in the church until the entire space is illuminated with the "Light of Christ."

The candle is positioned in its place of prominence in the sanctuary. Now, a special song called the Exsultet will hail the Easter mystery. The Exsultet is an ancient text used each Easter Vigil to give thanks and praise to God for everything we are remembering this night. The celebrant, deacon or cantor will sing this song from the sanctuary as the illumination increases from the candles. This is the Easter Proclamation. We rejoice that our king is risen and has conquered death. We rejoice in Jesus’ shining splendor and radiant light. Darkness vanishes forever! We give thanks for the church where we can freely sing of our new-found miracle and where our Savior "shines" upon us! We sing the story of history as we recount how our God led us, protected us and cared for us. We sing of the majesty of this night when "heaven is wedded to earth and man is reconciled with God." This is the night that triumphs over evil and washes away our guilt. Finally, we commission our sacred Paschal Candle as "a pillar of fire which glows to the honor of God."

During the ceremony, water is used extensively. Water is a symbol of life and a symbol of death - the perfect symbol to represent the resurrection. Water gives nourishing life and has cleansing powers. Water can also claim life through drowning. The presence of water reminds us of Christ’s death and new life. Water’s cleansing powers make it an ideal symbol for the sacrament of Baptism.

"You shall draw water joyfully from the wellsprings of salvation." (Isaiah 12:3) As you experience the water symbol, think of a cool running spring on a hot summer day. Think of how the cold water refreshes and invigorates you. Think about how it ultimately satisfies your thirst.

We all thirst for the truth. Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) The "Water of Life" will quench our thirst, our desire for the Father. "And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift." (Rev 22:17)

The special readings of this night remind us that throughout the history of humanity, God has loved the people. The stories tell of the creation, the liberation of the Jews from Egypt, and of God’s promises to be with us. The important thing to remember is that although the readings reflect on the past, God is still actively working in our lives today just as God promised long ago. The final reading is the Gospel of the Resurrection. The story of the risen Christ is not just history. It is an event which continues today.

The Easter Vigil is a special time to celebrate the Sacrament of Christian Initiation. This is another name for the sacrament of Baptism. It is a time to welcome new members into the church as we celebrate the new life of the resurrection. We celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death. It is the perfect time to celebrate our own personal victory over sin.

If there are any adults who have been preparing for Baptism, they will receive the sacrament during this special Easter Vigil liturgy. There is no better time to initiate new members into the church than during the celebration of Christ’s conquering of sin.

It is also a special time for each of us as we renew our own baptismal promises.

Giving thanks for the bread and wine is the climax of the celebration. When we share the Eucharist, we become one with Christ. When we all come together to share the Eucharist, we become one with Christ and with each other. The ultimate sharing experience involves welcoming our newly baptized brothers and sisters to share the Eucharist with the rest of the community.

What a truly special night! Within a couple of hours we have experienced the lifetime of humanity. We have experienced our loving God who has always been faithful to us. We have experienced the historical record of the life, death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We can’t do this effectively without using symbols to bridge the gap between heaven and earth. The symbols are  physical reminders to help our limited human minds deal with unfathomable things such as eternity or the abundant love of God.