At our Easter Vigil Mass, we have a tradition where the Church is kept dark to start. The new Paschal Candle is lit outside, and brought into the Church. The priest lights his candle from that, and then lights the deacon's. The deacon lights the alter servers' candles, and they in turn light the candles of the folks in the first pews. Those folks light the candles near them, and so forth and so on. One by one you can see the light being passed from one parishoner to the next. Within five minutes, the previously dark church is aglow in beautiful light.
It is a powerful symbol of the joy of Easter.
Much like the earliest disciples (Mary Magdalene included) learned of Jesus' resurrection and passed it on, we too are called to do the same.
In fact, it is an important reminder that Easter is just the beginning of our year-long calling to spread God's word.
I wish you and your families a very Blessed Easter! Please pray for the conversion of many today.
God Bless you.
2 comments:
Thank you Michael for describing how you light all candles in your church at Easter. This is exactly how we do it in our church too; from the Pascal candle lit outside the whole dark church is then lit with candles.
Which reminds me of a true story years ago. Our priest had just stepped into the church with the Pascal candle. The church was totally dark. The deacon took a light from the Pascal candle to do as you described. Suddenly, a man took out his lighter, lit his candle and that of others near him. The priest turned to me, shook his head, and said: "there's always one ... there's always one!"
I wish you and your family a Peaceful and Blessed Easter, Michael.
God bless.
Happy Easter Michael. May the light of Our Risen Christ be with you always!
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