Easter Vigil & First Mass of Easter (from the Dominican Priory of St. Michael the Archangel (Blackfriars), Cambridge)

The Easter Vigil and First Mass of Easter is celebrated on Holy Saturday evening. The vigil is kept in anticipation of Christ’s resurrection and leads into the joyous celebration of that resurrection in the first Mass of Easter.

The nine readings of the Easter Vigil take us from the beginning of Creation, through the history of the people of Israel, to their and our redemption through the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The texts used at Mass (and for the Vigil) can be found on the Universalis website: prayers and readings for today.

On the Blackfriars website can be found the Order of Service that they would usually use for the Easter Vigil and First Mass of Easter.

When we cannot receive the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion sacramentally, we can make an act of spiritual communion, for example using the following words based on a prayer of St Alphonsus Liguori.

My Jesus,

I believe that you are present in this Holy Sacrament of the altar.

I love you above all things

and I passionately desire to receive you into my soul.

Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally,

come spiritually into my soul

so that I may unite myself wholly to you now and forever.

Amen.

More information about the Dominican Priory of St. Michael the Archangel (Blackfriars), Cambridge can be found on its website.

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