The first part of the Vigil is the blessing of the New Fire, and the blessing of the Paschal Candle. Fire gives off light. That it is symbolic of Christ, the Light of the World, is indicated by the three-fold chanting of Lumen Christi during the entrance into the church.
This Light of Christ is kept burning throughout the year in the sanctuary lamp. Ancient custom took care to make sure that the flame never went out. The lamp was never permitted to run out of oil. If candles were used, a new one was lit from the flame of the old candle. Therefore, when the sanctuary lamp is extinguished at the stripping of the altar on Maundy Thursday, it is symbolic of Christ's death and burial.
New Fire in then kindled, using flint and steel. It is blessed, used to light the Paschal Candle, and finally kindles all the lights in the church, including the sanctuary lamp where it is again preserved for another year.
After the blessing of the Paschal Candle, the Vigil continues with the reading of the twelve prophacies which show God's dealing with mankind from the creation to the exodus.
The second part of the Vigil is the blessing of the Font, and the administration of Holy Baptism to the Easter candidates.
The third part of the Vigil is the celebration of the Easter Mass.
The celebration of Easter means that fasting, kneeling, and all signs of sorrow are banished. We rejoice in the triumph of our future life in heaven, knowing that we shall reign with Christ as kings and priests forever.
The Paschal Privilege is the custom that suspends kneeling during prayer in the Office and at Mass; because this is a time of great rejoicing.
The Rogation Days, the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday after the Fifth Sunday after Easter (Vocem jucunditatis), are traditionally days of special prayers and supplications for God's blessing on the fruits of the earth. It is customary to chant the Litany in procession, ending with Psalm 70 and appropriate prayers.
When weather permits, this procession is often led around the church grounds. Hence the English call this procession "the beating of the bounds."
The feast of the Ascension of Our Lord is one of the oldest and highest feasts of the church year.Many special ceremonies were once associated with this celebration, but about the only one that has been retained in many Lutheran churches is the extinguishing and removing of the Paschal Candle after the reading of the words of the Holy gospel: "He was received up into heaven."
The Feast of Pentecost marke the fiftieth day after Easter and the conclusion of Eastertide. The ancient Sequence hymn, Veni Sancte Spiritus, is sung after the Alleluia chant at Mass.
One of the customs of Pentecost is to read the Gospel in both Latin and in Greek, and then to in the various languages that members of the congregation may speak or understand. This is done to recall that the visitors to Jerusalem heard the Gospel proclaimed, each in his own language.
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