THE EASTER VIGIL (A, B, C) Lectionary # 41A
As Ash Wednesday gave a penitential tone to all of Lent, so the Vigil gives an initiatory tone to the Easter celebration. Its readings and rituals are best understood in communities that are initiating new adult members. For music suggestions, see Easter Day and other suggestions for the Easter Season. For music for the initiation rites, see the suggestions for the sprinkling rite on Easter Day and the suggestions for the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord, Lectionary #21.
The readings of the Vigil tell the story of salvation especially as it relates to water. Thus the first reading (Genesis 1:1—2:2) tells of creation as it emerges from "the waters" and the psalm (Ps 104) sings of God's care for creation through water. The third reading (Exodus 14:15—15:1, a required reading) tells of salvation from slavery through the waters of the sea, and it is followed by the "Song of Moses and Miriam" (Exodus 15:1-18) which praises God as the victor who hurled Pharaoh’s chariots and army "into the sea." Rejoice in Isaiah's invitation to "come to the water" in the fifth reading (Isaiah 55:1-11) and its psalm (Isaiah 12) inviting us to "draw water at the fountain of salvation." Think about Israel's use of water in purification rituals as described in the seventh reading (Ezekiel 36:16-28) and the "deer longing for running streams” in its psalm (Ps 42). All of these readings, of course, come to bear on the Christian understanding of baptism (Romans 6:3-11).
Other Vigil readings speak about relationships that help us understand God's relationship to us: a father and son (Genesis 22:1-18), a husband and wife (Isaiah 54:5-14), the connection that wise people feel to Wisdom and Israel feels to the Torah as the incarnation of divine wisdom (Baruch 3:9-15, 32—4:4) and, in the Gospel, the relationship between the risen Christ and the women who are first witnesses of the resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10).
Psalm (117) 118
See the suggestions for Easter Day below.
EASTER DAY (A, B, C) Lectionary #42
A lot of parishes go all out for the Triduum, reaching a dramatic peak at the Vigil. Consequently, a lot of places have little energy left for the Masses on Easter Day. Yet for most parishioners, Mass during the day—not the Vigil—is “Easter,” and Holy Week consists of Passion Sunday, possibly Good Friday, and Easter Day Mass. We need to plan a rich celebration of all the Masses of Easter, so that all believers may share in the joy of the resurrection.
Acts 10:34, 37-43. Peter's sermon is a summary of the early preaching of the Gospel and a reminder that our faith depends solely on the witness of those “who ate and drank with [Jesus] after he rose from the dead.”
Psalm of the Day: Ps (117) 118
This individual song of thanksgiving becomes for us Jesus' own celebration of the resurrection and our assurance that the "rejected stone" of the crucified Christ has become the "cornerstone" of our faith.
Aleluya/Alleluia (Reza) FYC 258/JS 94
Alleluia (Balhoff, Ducote, Daigle) PCY6 36
Alleluia (Guimont) GC 986
Alleluia, Alleluia (Haas) GC 113/PCY3 20
Este Es el Día (Manzano) GP 262
Surrexit Christus (Berthier) GC 436/GC2 455/RS 577
This Is the Day PSL A-66/SS 442
This Is the Day (Alstott) BB
This Is the Day (Chepponis) SS
This Is the Day (Fisher) JS 444/MI‑BB
This Is the Day (Foley) PCY7 48
This Is the Day (Guimont) CBW 90/GC2 987/LPMG 42
This Is the Day (Haugen) GC 114/GC2 65/PCY1 45/RS 158
This Is the Day (Hommerding) WC 433/SO 28/WS/PMB 169, 617/PRM A47
This Is the Day (Isele) LMGM 520
This Is the Day (Joncas) MI‑BB/JS 97/CBW 89/RS 576/SP1 80/GP 261/GC 64
This Is the Day (Kreutz) PCS 15, 20
This Is the Day (Peloquin) SI 63
This Is the Day (Proulx/Gelineau) WOR 836/GC 115/RS 160/LPGG 841
This Is the Day (Reagan) GIA G‑2711
This Is the Day (Roberts) LMGM 521
This Is the Day (Schiavone) JS 922/LP 65
This Is the Day (Soper) MI‑BB/SP2 56/GP 263
This Is the Day (Stewart) PCY5 34
This Is the Day (Willcock) PFS 26/SS
Colossians 3:1-4. Paul's understanding of baptism is that it grants us a share in Christ's death as a promise that we will one day share in the resurrection.
Or:
1 Corinthians 5:6-8. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed! Let us keep the feast. This alternative second reading reminds us that the Eucharist is an Easter sacrament.
Sequence
The "Victimae Paschali" is sung before the Gospel Alleluia. During the singing, if your liturgical space permits it, you might want to process the Gospel Book through the congregation and use incense (if you can get away with it).
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today (victimae paschali) WOR 452,461/RS 594/PMB 268/GP 387/JS 422/LMGM 57/CBW 385/WC 558/WS/BB/SS
Christian People Sing Your Praises (Paraphrase) WC 566
Christians, Praise the Paschal Victim (Chant) WOR 837/WC 561/CBW 690/RS 980/GC2 444
Christians, to the Paschal Victim JS 421/BB/PRM A48/LPGG 842/SS
Eastertide Carol GP 380
Let Christians All Their Voices Raise WC 559/WS/PMB 270
Secuencia Pascual FYC 401
John 20:1-9. In the Eastern Churches, Mary Magdalene is honored as the "witness to the resurrection and co-equal of the Apostles." To her witness the fourth Gospel adds the testimony of Peter and the beloved disciple.
Sprinkling Rite/Renewal of Baptismal Promises
I Saw Water Flowing WC 339/JS 543/BB/WS/PMB 112
If We Have Died to Ourselves GC 154/GC2 135/RS 315
Lord Jesus, from Your Wounded Side WOR 271/GC 244/RS 380
May This Water Keep Us Aware CBW 236
Send Us Flowing Water, Lord WC 343/WS
Springs of Water CBW 88/GC 242, 243/GC2 155, 189/BB/RS 377/WC 342/WS/SS
Streams of Living Water JS 254/MI-BB
Sweet Refreshment GC2 802/SS
There Is One Lord WOR 657/WC 598/MI‑BB/GC 809/GC2 796/GP 453/CBW 530/RS 835/PMB 287/JS 699/WS
Vidi Aquam SS
Water of Life B Dean JS 255/BB/MI-BB
Water of Life/Agua de Vida B Cortez JS 252/MI-BB
Waters of Life WC 341/WS
We Shall Draw Water JS 117/MI-BB
With Joy You Shall Draw Water GC 148/CBW 237/GP 288
You Will Draw Water Joyfully WC 344/PMB 113/SS
Other Songs for the Liturgy
All Shall Be Well GP 396
All Things New GC 427/GC2 450
All You Nations PMB 266/WC 409/WS
All You on Earth PMB 266/WC 571/WS
Alleluia! Alleluia! (2,C) PMB 264/WC 567/JS 437/BB/WS
Alleluia, Alleluia! Let the Holy Anthem Rise (G) PMB 273/WC 573/JS 434/BB/GC 425/GP 399/WS/SS
*Alleluia! Christ Is Risen (E) IH 22
Alleluia No. 1 WOR 441/CBW 383/MI‑BB/PMB 353/WC 700/GC 443/GC2 462/JS 439/RS 581/GP 389/WS
At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing (2,C) WOR 459, 460/CBW 375/BB/PMB 271/WC 569/JS 424/GC 433/GC2 463/RS 578/GP 394/WS/SS
Baptized in Living Waters (1) PMB 386/WC 741/WS
Behold the Glory of God GP 385
Bread of Life from Heaven/Pan de Vida Eterna (2,G) GC2 803/SS
Christ Has Arisen LMGM 61
Christ Has Risen (G) GC 451/GC2 465/LMGM 65
Christ Is Alive! WOR 466/CBW 384/PMB 258/JS 441/WC 550/RS 601/SS
Christ Is Risen WC 555
Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna! GC2 449/PMB 263/WC 570/WS/SS
*Christ Our Pasch Is Sacrificed (C) PSL A-67/SS
Christ the Lord Is Risen! GC 439/RS 600
*Christ the Lord Is Risen Again (E) PSL A-65/SS
Christ the Lord Is Risen Again BB 176/WC 577/JS 442
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today (E,1,2,G) WOR 452, 461, 462, 463/CBW 385/BB/LMGM 57/PMB 268/WC 552, 558/JS 427/GC 437/GC2 439/RS 594, 602/GP 381, 387/WS/SS
*Christus Resurrexit (Ps) WOR 465
Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain WOR 456/BB/JS 426/GC 441/GC2 448/RS 575/WC 576/SS
Darkness Is Gone GC 448/RS 596
Do Not Be Afraid (G) JS 731/GP 630
Earth, Earth, Awake! GC2 441/SS
Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing! CBW 386/RS 586/PMB 262/WC 564/SS
Goodness Is Stronger than Evil GC2 451
Hail Thee, Festival Day (Ps) WOR 444/CBW 388/BB/WC 565/GC 450/RS 588/JS 450
He Arose LMGM 59
He Is Lord LMGM 56
Holy, Holy, Holy Cry (2) BB
Jesus Christ Is Risen Today WOR 442/LMGM 58/CBW 389/GP 378/BB/PMB 259/WC 551/JS 425/GC 422/GC2 457/RS 593/WS/SS
Jesus Has Conquered Death LMGM 62
Jesus Is Risen JS 447/BB
Join in the Dance JS 438/GP 393/MI‑BB
Keep in Mind PMB 36/MI‑BB/WC 802/JS 589/GC 674/GC2 658/RS 940/GP 492/WS/SS
Lift Up Your Hearts GP 676/GC 558/GC2 543/MI‑BB/JS 711/RS 691
May We Be One (1,2) RS 477/GC 316/GC2 322
Now the Green Blade Rises WOR 453/GC 444/GC2 456/CBW 403/GC2 260/WC 562/JS 443/BB/GP 382
Now We Remain GC 694/GC2 696/MI‑BB/WC 640/RS 813/WS/SS
*O Sons and Daughters, vss 1‑4 (G) WOR 447/PMB 274/WC 568/JS 420/BB/CBW 404/LMGM 60/GC 423/GC2 446/RS 579/GP 379/WS/SS
Praise the Lord, My Soul GC 554/RS 688
Praise the Risen Lord PMB 256/WC 553/WS
Rejoice! LMGM 55
Resucitó GC 432/GC2 443/JS 309/RS 580/BB/GP 391
*Sing to the Mountains (Ps) GP 673/GC 435/GC2 452/MI‑BB/JS 601/RS 590
Singers, Sing PMB 261/WC 563/SS
*Take and Eat, v 4 (Ps) GC 831/GC2 812/WC 648/CBW 611/RS 910/WS/SS
*That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright (G) WOR 457/GC 445/CBW 392/RS 599/SS
The Day of Resurrection (2) PMB 272/WC 572/BB/SS
The Strife Is O'er WOR 451/LMGM 64/CBW 395/MI‑BB/PMB 257/WC 549/JS 431/GC 446/GC2 459/RS 587/GP 384/WS/SS
The Sun Arose in Clouds of Fire (G) JS 433
The Sun Was Bright That Easter Dawn HG 14
The Tomb Is Empty (G) GC2 464/SS
Thine Be the Glory (G) WC 556
*This Is the Day (Ref based on today's psalm refrain, but verses are not from Ps 118) JS 311, 588/GC 449/CBW 592/GP 397/PMB 269/WC 574/SS
This Is the Feast of Victory WOR 458/PMB 489/WC 897/MI‑BB/JS 428/GC 429/GC2 458/CBW 396/RS 583/WS/SS
This Joyful Eastertide JS 305/WC 575/GC 434/CBW 397/RS 598
Three Days JS 423/BB
Through the Mystery of Death (2) GP 451
Up from the Earth GC 452/RS 589/GP 386
We Know That Christ Is Raised (.2) WOR 721/CBW 398/WC 554/RS 906/SS