Processional
The Easter Candle
As the procession slowly progresses, one sees the high altar in all its plastic splendor.
As soon as the ministers arrive at the foot of the altar, they begin the "Vidi Aquam".
"Hear us, holy Lord, almighty Father, eternal God, and vouchsafe to send Thy holy Angel from heaven, to guard, cherish, protect, visit, and defend all that are assembled in this place. Through Christ our Lord, Amen."
"Exaudi nos, Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus, et mittere digneris sanctum Angelum tuum de coelis, qui custodiat, foveat, protegat, visitet atque defendat omnes habitantes in hoc habitaculo. Per Christum Dominum nostrum, Amen."
The priest exchanges the Cope for his Chasuble, and all the ministers don their Maniples.
Prayers at the Foot of the Altar
I will go in to the altar of God, to God who giveth joy to my youth. Judge me O God and distinguish my cause from the nation that is not holy: deliver me from the unjust and deceitful man. For Thou art God, my strength: why hast Thou cast me off? And why do I go sorrowful whilst the enemy afflicteth me? Send forth Thy light and Thy truth: they have conducted me and brought me unto Thy holy hill, and into Thy tabernacles.
Introibo ad altare Dei, ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam. Judica me Deus et discerne causam mean de gente non sancta: ab homine iniquo et doloso erue me. Quia tu es Deus fortitudo mea: quare me repulisti, et quare tristis incedo dum affligit me inimicus? Emitte lucem tuam, et veritatem tuam: ipsa me deduxerunt, et adduxerunt in montem sanctum tuum et in tabernacula tua.
First Incensation
Prayer over the incense:
Be blessed by Him in whose honour thou art burnt. Amen.
Ab illo benedicaris, in cujus honore cremaberis. Amen.
The Introit
Introit of Easter Sunday:
"I arose, and am still with thee, alleluia; Thou hast laid Thy hand upon Me, alleluia; Thy knowledge is become wonderful, alleluia, alleluia. 'Lord, Thou hast searched Me, and known Me; Thou knowest My sitting down and My rising up'. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, and now, and ever shall be; world without end, amen."
The ministers sit while the schola sings the Kyrie: Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
The priest intones the Gloria: Gloria in excelsis Deo! Glory to God in the Highest!
The Collect
Oremus...
O God, who liveth and , on this day, through Thine only-begotten Son, hast conquered death, and thrown open to us the gate of everlasting life, give effect by Thine aid to our desires, which Thou dost anticipate and inspire. Through the same Christ our Lord, Amen.
While the Priest sings the Collect, a server hands the Subdeacon a Missal to read the Epistle
The Epistle
During a Solemn High Mass, the Epistle (or reading) is sung by the Subdeacon out in the sanctuary as shown.
Epistle of Easter Sunday 1 Corinthians 5: 7-8
Brethren, purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new paste, as you are unleavened: for Christ our Pasch is sacrificed. Therefore let us feast, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Deo Gratias Thanks be to God
When the Subdeacon is finished reading the Epistle, he brings the book to the priest and the priest blesses him.
Gospel
The word Gospel means "good news": it is the word of Our Lord
The Deacon receives the blessed Missal from the Priest, and the Altar Boys line up for the Gospel.
The Priest stays at the Epistle side of the Altar
The Deacon, Subdeacon, and Altar Boys arrange themselves in the Sanctuary on the Gospel side.
Gospel for Easter Sunday Mark 16: 1-7
At that time, Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought sweet spices, that coming they might anoint Jesus. And early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came to the sepulchre, the sun being now risen. And they said to one another: Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And looking, they saw the stone rolled back. For it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed with a robe, and they were astonished. Who saith to them: Be not afrighted; ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: He is risen, He is not here; behold the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples, and Peter, that He goeth before you into Galilee; there you shall see Him, as He told you.
Laus Tibi Christe. Praise to thee Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon
The Credo (or Creed)
The priest kisses the altar
"Credo in unum Deum, Patrem Omnipotentem..."
"Dominus Vobiscum." "Et cum spiritu tuo."
Offertory
The Offertory Verse
"The earth trembled and was still when God arose in judgement, alleluia."
"Terra tremuit, et quievit, dum resurgeret in judicio Deus, alleluia."
Meanwhile, the subdeacon dons the Humeral Veil. He will keep it on until the "Pater Noster", or "Our Father". He takes the paten and hides it in the Veil`s folds. He then holds the hidden paten up before his eyes, so that he cannot see the Mass until the Our Father. This contains a rich panoply of symbolism. The most obvious symbolism is that Christ, Who is symbolized by the paten, is hidden from the world in the folds of the humeral veil. The people who were most blatantly ignorant of Christ's Messiahship were the Jews, who are symbolized by the subdeacon who cannot see the Mass. However, Christ wishes to make Himself known to all, so He gave us the Our Father prayer. Once it is said, He is unveiled.
The Subdeacon brings the Chalice Stack up to the altar.
At Solemn High Mass, the Subdeacon pours wine and a drop of water into the Chalice which the Deacon is holding. Meanwhile, the Priest prays the prayer below:
Deus, qui humanae substantiae dignatem mirabiliter condidisti, et mirabilius reformasti: da nobis per hujus aquae et vini mysterium, ejus divinitatis esse consortes, qui humanitatis nostrae fieri dignatus est particeps, Jesus Christus Filius tuus Dominus noster: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus: per omnia saecula saeculorum, amen.
O God, who, in creating human nature, didst wonderfully dignify it, and hast still more wonderfully restored it, grant that, by the Mystery of this water and wine, we may become partakers of His divine nature, who deigned to become partaker of our human nature, even Jesus Christ our Lord, Thy Son, who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God: world without end, amen.
Offeremus tibi, Domine, calicem salutaris, tuam deprecantes clementiam: ut in conspectu divinae majestatis tuae, pro nostra et totius mundi salute cum odore suavitatis ascendat. Amen.
We offer to Thee, O Lord, the chalice of salvation, beseeching Thy clemency, that it may ascend before Thy divine Majesty as a sweet savour, for our salvation and that of the whole world. Amen.
Second Incensation
Lavabo (the washing of the hands)
I will wash my hands among the innocent: and I will compass Thine altar, O Lord. That I may hear the voice of Thy praise: and tell of all Thy wondrous works. I have loved, O Lord, the beauty of Thy house and the place where Thy glory dwelleth. Take not away my soul, O God, with the wicked: nor my life with bloody men. In whose hands are iniquities: their right hand is filled with gifts. But as for me I have walked in mine innocence: redeem me, and have mercy on me. My foot hath stood in the direct way; in the churches I will bless thee. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, and now, and ever shall be; world without end, amen."
Lavabo inter innocentes manus meas: et circomdabo altare tuum, Domine. Ut audiam vocem laudis: et enarrem universa mirabilia tua. Domine, dilexi decorem domus tuae: et locum habitationis gloriae tuae. Ne perdas cum impiis, Deus, animam meam: et cum viris sanguinum vitam meam. In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt: dextera eorum repleta est muneribus. Ego autem in innocentia mea ingressus sum: redime me, et miserere mei. Pes meus stetit in directo: in ecclesiis benedicam te, Domine. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto, Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper: et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Meanwhile, the Deacon goes around to incense the Subdeacon. After that, he gives the thurible back to the thurifer, who proceeds to incense everyone else including the congregation in order of rank.
Sanctus
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli, et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts! Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory! Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
Orate, fratres
Orate, fratres, ut meum ac vestrum sacrificium acceptabile fiat apud Deum Patrem omnipotentem.
Suscipiat Dominus sacrificium de manibus tuis ad laudam, et gloriam sui, ad utilitatem quoque nostram, totiusque Ecclesiae suae sanctae.
Brethren, pray that my Sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Father almighty.
May the Lord receive the Sacrifice from thy hands, to the praise and glory of His Name, to our benefit, and that of all His holy Church.
The Consecration
For this is the Chalice of my Blood, of the new and eternal Testament, the Mystery of Faith; which shall be shed for you and for many unto the remission of sins.
Hic est enim Calix Sanguinis mei, novi et aeterni Testamenti: Mysterium fidei: qui pro multis effundetur in remissionem peccatorum.
Hoc est enim Corpus meum
For this is my Body
The Pater Noster
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Pater noster, qui es in caelis; sanctificetur nomen tuum; adveniat regnum tuum; fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem. Sed libera nos a malo. Amen.
At this moment, the thurifer removes the Subdeacon`s Humeral Veil
The Priest`s Communion & Ecce Agnus Dei
Receiving the Host
As the Priest receives the Precious Blood, the Deacon leads the Subdeacon and the Altar boys in the Second Confiteor
Ecce Agnus Dei! Behold the Lamb of God!
The Communion of the Faithful
The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve thy soul unto life everlasting. Amen.
Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternam. Amen.
Here we observe a parishioner in his pew giving thanks to God after his communion.
The Ablutions (washings)
Prayers after Communion during the cleaning of the Chalice
1) Quod ore sumpsimus, Domine, pura mente capiamus: et de munere temporali fiat nobis remedium sempiternum.
Grant, O Lord, that what we have taken with our mouth, we may receive with a pure mind; and from a temporal gift may it become to us an eternal remedy.
2) Corpus tuum, Domine, quod sumpsi, et Sanguis, quem potavi, adhaereat, visceribus meis: et preasta; ut in me non remaneat scelerum macula, quem pura et sancta refecerunt sacramenta: Qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
May Thy Body, O Lord, which I have received, and Thy Blood which I have drunk, cleave to mine innermost being; and grant, that no stain of sin may remain in me, who have been fed with this pure and holy Sacrament: Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.
Communion and Postcommunion Antiphon
Communion:
Christ our Pasch is sacrificed alleluia: therefore let us feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Postcommunion:
Pour forth upon us, O Lord, the spirit of Thy love, that those whose hunger Thou hast satisfied with the Sacraments of Easter may in Thy kindness be one in heart.
Dismissal
The Priest turns around and says,
"Dominus Vobiscum" (that is, "The Lord be with you".)
The people/schola responds:
"Et cum spiritu tuo." (that is, "And with your spirit ")
Then, the Deacon turns around and says,
"Ite Missa est" (that is, "the Mass is ended".)
The people/schola responds:
"Deo Gratias" (that is, "Thanks be to God".)
Final Blessing
The Priest bows down before the Altar and prays:
"Placeat tibi, sancta Trinitas, obsequium servitutis meae: et praesta: ut sacrificium, quod oculis tuae majestatis indignus obtuli, tibi sit acceptabile, mihique, et omnibus, pro quibus illud obtuli, sit, te miserante, propitiabile. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen."
"May the performance of my homage be pleasing to Thee, O holy Trinity: and grant that the Sacrifice which I, though unworthy, have offered up in the sight of Thy Majesty, may be acceptable to Thee, and through Thy mercy, be a propitiation for me and for all those for whom I have offered it. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. "
Benedicat vos
omnipotens Deus,
Pater,
et Filius,
et Spiritus Sanctus.
Amen.
May almighty God
the Father,
the Son,
and Holy Ghost,
bless you.
Amen.
Last Gospel
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without him was made nothing that was made: in Him was life, in the life was the light of men; and the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
There was a man sent from God, his name was John. This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the Light, that all men might believe through him. He was not the Light, but was to give testimony of the Light. That was the true Light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world.
He was in the world and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, he gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in His name, who are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us: and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the Only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Recessional
After the Last Gospel, the Priest returns to the center and kisses the Altar while the other ministers and the Altar boys line up
