The Easter Vigil opens with a Service of Light which features the Exsultet, a 1200 year old hymn of praise in honor of the Paschal Candle (the Light of Christ in our midst). Back in 1984 I combined the text of the Exsultet (a lengthy chant sung by a solo voice) with the music of Marty Haugen’s The Light of Christ to give the assembly of worshipers a sung role in this Easter proclamation. I hope this will give your Easter celebration a joyful beginning! Following the video and the text, you’ll find this day’s Night Prayer. (If a video doesn’t appear below, click here!)
The
light of Christ surrounds us;
light of Christ surrounds us;
the
love of Christ enfolds us;
love of Christ enfolds us;
the
pow’r of Christ protects us;
pow’r of Christ protects us;
the
presence of Christ watches over us.
presence of Christ watches over us.
All
the earth is ablaze
the earth is ablaze
with
the glory of God,
the glory of God,
for
the light has come
the light has come
to
burn away the darkness.
burn away the darkness.
The light of Christ surrounds us…
Let
us fill every space
us fill every space
with
the sound of our joy,
the sound of our joy,
praising
Christ who is living now among us.
Christ who is living now among us.
The light of Christ surrounds us…
Rejoice, all you heavenly choirs of
angels!
angels!
Rejoice,
all creation around God’s throne –
all creation around God’s throne –
for
our mighty God is victorious!
our mighty God is victorious!
Rejoice,
O earth –
O earth –
you
are made radiant by such splendor!
are made radiant by such splendor!
Darkness
everywhere has been overcome
everywhere has been overcome
by
the brightness of our everlasting God!
the brightness of our everlasting God!
Rejoice,
O Holy Mother Church –
O Holy Mother Church –
you
are made radiant by so great a light!
are made radiant by so great a light!
Let
this place ring out with rejoicing,
this place ring out with rejoicing,
with
the song of all the people gathered here.
the song of all the people gathered here.
The light of Christ surrounds us…
My
brothers and sisters:
brothers and sisters:
Christ
has ransomed us with his blood
has ransomed us with his blood
and
paid for us the debt of Adam’s sin,
paid for us the debt of Adam’s sin,
and
with his precious blood
with his precious blood
washed
away the penalty of original sin.
away the penalty of original sin.
This
is the Paschal feast
is the Paschal feast
in
which the true lamb is slain;
which the true lamb is slain;
whose
blood hallowed the doorposts of the faithful!
blood hallowed the doorposts of the faithful!
This
is the night when first you saved our ancestors,
is the night when first you saved our ancestors,
you
freed the people of Israel from their slavery
freed the people of Israel from their slavery
and
led them dry-shod through the Red Sea!
led them dry-shod through the Red Sea!
This
is the night when the pillar of fire
is the night when the pillar of fire
destroyed
the darkness of sin!
the darkness of sin!
This
is the night which at this hour everywhere
is the night which at this hour everywhere
restores
to grace and unites in holiness
to grace and unites in holiness
those
who believe in Christ,
who believe in Christ,
separating
them from worldly vice
them from worldly vice
and
the darkness of sin.
the darkness of sin.
This
is the night when Jesus Christ
is the night when Jesus Christ
broke
the chains of death
the chains of death
and
rose in victory from the grave!
rose in victory from the grave!
The light of Christ surrounds us…
Father,
how wonderful your care for us!
how wonderful your care for us!
How
boundless your merciful love!
boundless your merciful love!
To
ransom us, your servants,
ransom us, your servants,
you gave away your only Son.
O
happy fault! O necessary sin of Adam
happy fault! O necessary sin of Adam
which
gained for us so great a Redeemer!
gained for us so great a Redeemer!
O
truly blessed night
truly blessed night
which
alone deserved to know the time and the hour
alone deserved to know the time and the hour
when
Christ arose from the grave.
Christ arose from the grave.
It
is of this night that Scripture says:
is of this night that Scripture says:
« And
the night shall be as bright as day,
the night shall be as bright as day,
and
the night shall light up my joy! »
the night shall light up my joy! »
The
power of this holy night dispels all evil,
power of this holy night dispels all evil,
washes guilt away,
restores
lost innocence, brings mourners joy;
lost innocence, brings mourners joy;
it
casts out hatred, brings us peace,
casts out hatred, brings us peace,
and humbles earthly pride.
This
is the night truly blessed
is the night truly blessed
when heaven
is wedded to earth
is wedded to earth
and
creation is reconciled with God.
creation is reconciled with God.
The light of Christ surrounds us…
As
this candle shines out
this candle shines out
through
the darkness of night,
the darkness of night,
may
the love of Christ
the love of Christ
burn
ever in our hearts.
ever in our hearts.
The light of Christ surrounds us…
In
the East, the Morning Star
the East, the Morning Star
rises
bright upon us,
bright upon us,
in
its peaceful light
its peaceful light
shines
the glory of the Lord.
the glory of the Lord.
The
light of Christ surrounds us;
light of Christ surrounds us;
the
love of Christ enfolds us;
love of Christ enfolds us;
the
pow’r of Christ protects us;
pow’r of Christ protects us;
the
presence of Christ watches over us.
presence of Christ watches over us.
AMEN!
Night Prayer
When I go to bed tonight, Lord,
I’ll pray for deep and restful sleep
on this night of all nights when,
at a time known only to heaven,
you rose from the dead…
This
is the night truly blessed
I’ll pray for deep and restful sleep
on this night of all nights when,
at a time known only to heaven,
you rose from the dead…
This is the night, Lord,
which restores
to grace
to grace
and unites in holiness
all who believe in you….
This is the night
whose light pierces the darkness
and rescues us from sin…
This is the night
when you broke the chains of death
and rose in victory from the grave!
The power of this holy night
The power of this holy night
dispels
all evil,
all evil,
washes
guilt away,
guilt away,
restores
lost innocence,
lost innocence,
brings
mourners joy;
mourners joy;
casts out hatred,
brings us peace,
and
humbles earthly pride.
humbles earthly pride.
This
is the night truly blessed
when
heaven is wedded to earth
heaven is wedded to earth
and
creation is reconciled with God! *
creation is reconciled with God! *
So I shall sleep in peace, Lord,
trusting that even in the dead of night
your risen life beats within me
and that I, too, shall rise:
when morning dawns tomorrow;
and at the end of all my days;
and when at last you come again,
and death shall be no more!
