Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! In honor of this joyous occasion, I am taking a break this week from blogging. I am posting a few selections from the Easter Vigil. We went to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in DC and enjoyed a beautiful liturgy.

"Come, then, all you races of humankind who sin has saturated and receive the forgiveness of sin.
For it is I who am your forgiveness,
I, the saving Pasch,
I, the Lamb sacrificed for you,
I, your purification, I, your life,
I, your resurrection, I, your light,
I, your salvation, I, your King!
It is I who bring you to the heights of heaven:
It is I who shall raise you up here on earth."
Excerpt from Procession

"This is the night when Christians everywhere, washed clean of sin and freed from all defilement,are restored to grace and grow together in holiness.
This is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave.
What good would life have been to us, had Christ not come as our Redeemer?
Father, how wonderful your care for us! How boundless your merciful love!
To ranson a slave you gave away your Son.
O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer!
Most blessed of all nights, chosen by God to see Christ rising from the dead!"
Excerpt from Easter Proclamation

"O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;
it is you yourself who are my prize.
I keep the Lord ever in my sight;
since He is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.

And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;
even my body shall rest in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead,
nor let your beloved know decay.

You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand, happiness forever."
Psalm 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11