SECOND PART OF THE LITURGICAL YEAR: THE EASTER CYCLE (MYSTERY OF THE REDEMPTION).[1]
II. EASTERTIDE
"Eastertide begins with the Mass of the Easter Vigil and ends on the Saturday after Pentecost. It is a time of uninterrupted joy and Feasts, during which we celebrate the Mysteries of the Resurrection, the Ascension, and the Descent of the Holy Ghost on the Apostles and His Church. The date of Easter, from which the date of all movable feasts is determined, is fixed according to the Jewish method and may vary between March 22 and April 25.
In the Liturgy of Eastertide, we commemorate the various appearances of Our Lord, during which He instructed His Apostles and prepared them for the Descent of the Holy Ghost and His own Ascension.
The triumph and joy of Eastertide is reflected in the decoration of the sanctuary and the priest's use of white vestments, symbolizing joy and purity. The 'Asperges me' is supplanted by the 'Vidi aquam,' which refers to the waters of Baptism. Every year at Easter the Church rejoices for a double reason: Christ is risen, and many of her children are redeemed.
Until Ascension Day, the paschal candle shines in the sanctuary as a symbol of the visible presence of Our Lord upon earth, and white vestments are used. The joyful repetition of 'Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,' which was omitted since Septuagesima, follows every Introit, Antiphon, Verse, and Response as a sign of joy and peace."
Sunday, 8 April, 2007
Easter Sunday (I)
"In many modern languages the name given to this Feast comes from a Hebraic word Pasch or Passover, which means Passage through the Red Sea: Pascha in Latin, Paques in French, Pasg in Welsh, Pasen in Dutch or Flemish. The English word Easter is derived from Eostre, the name of a pagan Saxon goddess, and a spring festival in her honour was Christianized so that the word became the English equivalent of the Pasch. The Mass is full of allusions to the Resurrection of our Lord and to Baptism, which is a spiritual resurrection. The Sequence or Prose is a survival of a rich literature. It is one of the most beautiful of all and contains in a few simple lines all the elements of the Mystery: it gives the details of Jesus' immolation; Jesus triumphs on the cross and He comes forth triumphant from the sepulchre. Alleluia!
'This is the day which the Lord had made; let us celebrate it with transports of joy.' (Office of the Church)
Jesus confounded all His enemies by clothing in glory and splendour that body which had been the Victim of the cruelty of man. Christ's triumph over Death is the most conclusive proof of His Divinity and the foundation of our faith, 'If Christ be not risen again your faith is in vain.' (1 Cor 15)
And 'God hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. He hath raised us up together with Christ and hath made us sit together in the heavenly places.' (St. Paul)."
Epistle: I Cor 5:7-8.
Gospel: Mark 16:1-7.
Monday, 9 April, 2007
Easter Monday (I)
"This Octave is entirely consecrated to the neophytes. The week was for them a continual feast; and they kept their white baptismal garments, which were not laid aside until the following Sunday (in albis deponendis). The Masses of this Octave allude, like that of Pentecost, sometimes to the Resurrection, sometimes to Baptism. Let us follow the example of the neophytes, let us all be one in mind and heart, in proclaiming together our faith in the risen Christ Jesus our Lord."
Lesson: Acts 10:37-43.
Gospel: Luke 24:13-35.
Tuesday, 10 April, 2007
Easter Tuesday (I)
Lesson: Acts 13:16,26-33.
Gospel: Luke 24:36-47.
Wednesday, 11 April, 2007
Easter Wednesday (I)
Lesson: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19.
Gospel: John 21:1-14.
II. EASTERTIDE
"Eastertide begins with the Mass of the Easter Vigil and ends on the Saturday after Pentecost. It is a time of uninterrupted joy and Feasts, during which we celebrate the Mysteries of the Resurrection, the Ascension, and the Descent of the Holy Ghost on the Apostles and His Church. The date of Easter, from which the date of all movable feasts is determined, is fixed according to the Jewish method and may vary between March 22 and April 25.
In the Liturgy of Eastertide, we commemorate the various appearances of Our Lord, during which He instructed His Apostles and prepared them for the Descent of the Holy Ghost and His own Ascension.
The triumph and joy of Eastertide is reflected in the decoration of the sanctuary and the priest's use of white vestments, symbolizing joy and purity. The 'Asperges me' is supplanted by the 'Vidi aquam,' which refers to the waters of Baptism. Every year at Easter the Church rejoices for a double reason: Christ is risen, and many of her children are redeemed.
Until Ascension Day, the paschal candle shines in the sanctuary as a symbol of the visible presence of Our Lord upon earth, and white vestments are used. The joyful repetition of 'Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,' which was omitted since Septuagesima, follows every Introit, Antiphon, Verse, and Response as a sign of joy and peace."
Sunday, 8 April, 2007
Easter Sunday (I)
"In many modern languages the name given to this Feast comes from a Hebraic word Pasch or Passover, which means Passage through the Red Sea: Pascha in Latin, Paques in French, Pasg in Welsh, Pasen in Dutch or Flemish. The English word Easter is derived from Eostre, the name of a pagan Saxon goddess, and a spring festival in her honour was Christianized so that the word became the English equivalent of the Pasch. The Mass is full of allusions to the Resurrection of our Lord and to Baptism, which is a spiritual resurrection. The Sequence or Prose is a survival of a rich literature. It is one of the most beautiful of all and contains in a few simple lines all the elements of the Mystery: it gives the details of Jesus' immolation; Jesus triumphs on the cross and He comes forth triumphant from the sepulchre. Alleluia!
'This is the day which the Lord had made; let us celebrate it with transports of joy.' (Office of the Church)
Jesus confounded all His enemies by clothing in glory and splendour that body which had been the Victim of the cruelty of man. Christ's triumph over Death is the most conclusive proof of His Divinity and the foundation of our faith, 'If Christ be not risen again your faith is in vain.' (1 Cor 15)
And 'God hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. He hath raised us up together with Christ and hath made us sit together in the heavenly places.' (St. Paul)."
Epistle: I Cor 5:7-8.
Gospel: Mark 16:1-7.
Monday, 9 April, 2007
Easter Monday (I)
"This Octave is entirely consecrated to the neophytes. The week was for them a continual feast; and they kept their white baptismal garments, which were not laid aside until the following Sunday (in albis deponendis). The Masses of this Octave allude, like that of Pentecost, sometimes to the Resurrection, sometimes to Baptism. Let us follow the example of the neophytes, let us all be one in mind and heart, in proclaiming together our faith in the risen Christ Jesus our Lord."
Lesson: Acts 10:37-43.
Gospel: Luke 24:13-35.
Tuesday, 10 April, 2007
Easter Tuesday (I)
Lesson: Acts 13:16,26-33.
Gospel: Luke 24:36-47.
Wednesday, 11 April, 2007
Easter Wednesday (I)
Lesson: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19.
Gospel: John 21:1-14.
St. Leo I, Pope, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church (III)
"St. Leo the Great saved Rome from the invasion of Attila. He defended the rights of the Holy See, condemned Nestorianism at the Council of Ephesus, and the Monophysites at the Council of Chalcedon. He died A.D. 461."
Epistle: I Peter 5:1-4, 10-11.
Gospel: Matt 16:13-19.
"St. Leo the Great saved Rome from the invasion of Attila. He defended the rights of the Holy See, condemned Nestorianism at the Council of Ephesus, and the Monophysites at the Council of Chalcedon. He died A.D. 461."
Epistle: I Peter 5:1-4, 10-11.
Gospel: Matt 16:13-19.
Thursday, 12 April, 2007
Easter Thursday (I)
Lesson: Acts 8:26-40.
Gospel: John 20:11-18.
Friday, 13 April, 2007
Easter Friday (I)
Epistle: I Peter 3:18-22.
Gospel: Matt 28:16-20.
St. Hermenegild, Martyr (III)
"Son of the King of the Visigoths in Spain, he was put to death by the Arians out of hatred for his faith in the consubstantiality of the Word of God with the Eternal Father. A.D. 586."
Lesson: Wisdom 5:1-5.
Gospel: Luke 14:26-33.
"Son of the King of the Visigoths in Spain, he was put to death by the Arians out of hatred for his faith in the consubstantiality of the Word of God with the Eternal Father. A.D. 586."
Lesson: Wisdom 5:1-5.
Gospel: Luke 14:26-33.
Saturday, 14 April 2007
Easter Saturday (I)
Epistle: I Peter 2:1-10.
Gospel: John 20:1-9.
Easter Saturday (I)
Epistle: I Peter 2:1-10.
Gospel: John 20:1-9.
St. Justin, Martyr (III)
"St. Justin was converted from pagan philosophy to Christianity. He became the most illustrious opponent of pagan philosophers. He addressed two Apologies to the persecuting emperors. He died A.D. 165."
Epistle: I Cor 1:18-25, 30.
Gospel: Luke 12:2-8.
"St. Justin was converted from pagan philosophy to Christianity. He became the most illustrious opponent of pagan philosophers. He addressed two Apologies to the persecuting emperors. He died A.D. 165."
Epistle: I Cor 1:18-25, 30.
Gospel: Luke 12:2-8.
[1] Remarks are abstracted from The Daily Missal and Liturgical Manual, from Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962
(Baronius Press Limited, London, 2004, in conjunction with the Fraternal Society of St. Peter, www.baroniuspress.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment