The Solemnity of the Resurrection of the Lord

The meaning of the celebration:

+ On this day, the Church solemnly recalls the Resurrection of Jesus. Beginning with the Easter Vigil, the Season of Easter spans the 50 days from Easter Sunday through the Solemnity of Pentecost.

+ In these joy-filled days, the Church invites us to remember and renew our baptismal commitment and our call to live as disciples of Jesus.

+ The First Readings of the Mass for the Easter Season are taken from the Acts of the Apostles. These readings help us see how the Resurrection of Jesus inspired the life and mission of the first Christians and remind us of our call to proclaim the Good News of Jesus in every time and place.

+ The primary symbol of the Easter Season is the Paschal Candle. Blessed and lit from the Easter Fire during the Easter Vigil, it reminds us of the light of Christ which enlightens the world. It is used throughout the year at every baptism and funeral.

For prayer and reflection:

“Jesus is our Pasch. He is the One who brings us from darkness into light, who is bound to us forever, who rescues us from the abyss of sin and death, and draws us into the radiant realm of forgiveness and eternal life. Brothers and sisters, let us look up to him! Let us welcome Jesus, the God of life, into our lives, and today once again say “yes” to him. Then no stone will block the way to our hearts, no tomb will suppress the joy of life, no failure will doom us to despair.”—Pope Francis

Prayer

O God, who on this day,
through your Only Begotten Son,
have conquered death
and unlocked for us the path to eternity,
grant, we pray, that we who keep
the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection
may, through the renewal brought by your Spirit,
rise up in the light of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)

Saint profiles prepared by Father Silas Henderson, S.D.S.