April 1, 2018 - "Easter 2018"

Christ is risen!  Alleluia!  Christ is risen indeed!  Alleluia!  A very happy Easter to everyone who is here for Mass this Easter Sunday.  All are welcome as we celebrate Easter and the feast of Christ rising from the dead.  Often people have questions about what Catholics do at this time of year.  I thought that I would take three questions that people have been asking and try to give a good answer to these questions.  I am basing these on material provided by the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions.
 
Normally we have a 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass on Saturday evenings.  We didn’t have one yesterday.  What is the reason for that?
 
Last evening we celebrated the Easter Vigil.  Our Archdiocesan guidelines state that the Easter Vigil should take place at night after sundown (approximately 7:30 p.m. EDT) and before sunrise (approximately 6:30 a.m. EDT).  According to Paschale Solemnitatis, a Circular Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts, no. 77, issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship, January 16, 1988, we read the following:
 
According to a most ancient tradition, this night is one of vigil for the Lord, and the Vigil celebrated during it, to commemorate that holy night when the Lord rose from the dead, is regarded as the mother of all vigils.  For in that night, the Church keeps vigil, waiting for the resurrection of the Lord, and celebrates the sacraments of Christian initiation.
 
In addition Paschale Solemnitatis, no. 78, makes it quite clear that the Mass schedule needs to change on Holy Saturday:
 
The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil takes place at night.  It should not begin before nightfall; it should end before daybreak on Sunday.  This rule is to be taken according to its strictest sense.  Reprehensible are those abuses and practices that have crept into many places in violation of this ruling, whereby the Easter Vigil is celebrated at the same time of day that is customary to celebrate anticipated Sunday Masses.
 
That is why we did not have a 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass yesterday.
 
Where does the word “Paschal” come from?  Where does the word “Easter” come from?
 
“Pascha” is a Greek word that translates the Hebrew word for “Passover.”  Many Eastern Christians use this term to refer to Easter.  It may have two meanings.  First, it may refer to “passage”—the passage of the Hebrews fleeing Egypt and the passage of Christ from death to life.  Secondly, it has been interpreted as “passion” in the sense of Christ suffering.  Both meanings are alluded to in the liturgical texts (Smolarski, Dennis, Liturgical Literacy, 162).
 
The word “Easter” may have originally been derived from a mythological goddess of fertility.  Early Christians often Christianized pagan observances.  In the third edition of the Roman Missal, you will see titles that reflect the European custom of calling the day “Resurrection Sunday,” though Easter is still used.
Why is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord not celebrated on March 25 this year?
 
March 25 is associated with the angel Gabriel’s announcement to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The Church assigned that date since it falls nine months before the assigned date for the Nativity of the Lord.
 
This year, Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord fell on Sunday, March 25.  It has a rank of “2” on the “Table of Liturgical Days According to Their Order of Precedence.”  The solemnity of the Annunciation has a rank of “3.”  When this happens, the Annunciation is moved to the next available liturgical day which does not “outrank” it.  We find this after Holy Week, the Sacred Paschal Triduum, and the Octave of Easter.  Therefore, the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord will be celebrated on Monday, April 9.
 
Until next week,
Fr. John Dillon