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 April 11, 2010 Pastor's Perspective“ Easter ~ A 50 Day Celebration! ”When we celebrate in Church we really celebrate! Easter is the perfect example. We celebrate the Easter Feast for 50 days. This Sunday, the octave day (eighth day) of Easter, concludes the church’s eight-day solemn celebration of this great feast, but it hardly “concludes” Easter. The liturgical season of Easter lasts for fifty days and sometimes these fifty days are referred to as the “great octave” or “great Sunday.” This observance has a longer history than any other season of the Christian year. Even more importantly, however, Easter is really a daily reality in every Christian’s life because it is one of the two prongs of the paschal mystery dying/rising that defines Christian living. The great feasting during this holy season of joy only brings to front and center the “little” feasting that is the Christian’s everyday privilege. It is only right that since the “paschal mystery” is at the core of our Christian life ~ so Easter should be the richest and most joyful part of the year. Note too that the Easter candle burns at all of our Masses from now until Pentecost, the end of the Easter Season. The great joy of this Easter Season is expressed beautifully in the special Sequence which is sometimes sung at the Easter Sunday liturgy: Easter Sequence
Christians,
to the Paschal Victim offer your thankful praises! A Lamb the sheep
redeems; Christ, who is sinless, reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous: The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal. Speak, Mary, declaring what you say, wayfaring. “The tomb of Christ, who is living, the glory of Jesus’ resurrection; Bright angels attesting, the shroud and napkin resting. Yes, Christ my hope is arisen; to Galilee he goes before you.” Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining. Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning! Amen. Alleluia. Easter Peace, Fr. Chuck
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