Lorenzo Emanuel "Jojo" Guillermo

The Easter Vigil starts with a ceremony called the “Lucernarium.” The ritual involves blessing the fire and preparing and lighting the Paschal Candle. The Lucernarium is a memorable experience that engages all the senses with vivid symbols and actions not commonly encountered in our daily liturgy. It immerses participants in a unique spiritual atmosphere.

As the church is shrouded in darkness, the Paschal Candle is brought into a grand procession. The flickering flame on the candle symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ and represents the light of hope that dispels the darkness of sin and death. The attendees, holding their candles, eagerly await when they can receive the light from the Paschal Candle, passed on from one person to another, illuminating the entire church with a warm and comforting glow.

As the Paschal Candle is carefully placed in its imposing stand at the altar, the entire church is in complete darkness. Suddenly, the lights are turned back on, illuminating the space with a warm glow. With the candle now lit, it is surrounded with fragrant incense, and a deacon (or a priest) begins to intone the Exsultet, also known as the Easter Proclamation. This hymn of praise is an actual work of art, filled with evocative and poetic language, that expresses heartfelt gratitude to God for the light, symbolizing God’s saving activity throughout human history. It culminates in the ultimate triumph of Christ over death and his glorious resurrection from the dead.

The Service of Light is a highly symbolic ritual in various religious traditions. It represents the transition from darkness to light, both literally and metaphorically. During the service, a Paschal Candle is lit, which becomes the sole source of light in an otherwise impenetrable darkness. The candle represents the light of Christ, and its flame is said to symbolize the resurrection and the triumph of life over death. As the candle is carried through the darkness, the light gradually spreads, illuminating the surroundings and filling the space with hope and renewed faith. The Service of Light is a powerful reminder of the enduring power of light and its ability to dispel darkness, both in the physical world and the human heart.

The Paschal Candle, illuminated with a flame, is a powerful symbol of the resurrected Christ as the light that guides and illuminates the world. It represents the triumph of light over darkness, life over death, and hope over despair. The Lucernarium, a solemn ceremony that involves the lighting of the Paschal Candle, marks the beginning of the Easter Vigil, considered the most significant vigil of the year in the Christian faith. During the Easter Vigil, the Paschal Candle is carried in procession, accompanied by the chanting of hymns, prayers, and readings, as a reminder of the resurrection of Christ and the hope it brings to all believers.

The Exsultet, despite being an ancient text, still resonates today as a beautiful expression of Easter joy and exuberant thanksgiving. Filled with references to the early Christian fathers, the Exsultet provides a glimpse into the scriptural and theological themes that serve as the foundation of the Easter Vigil liturgy. Throughout the text, we are reminded of God’s deliverance of His Chosen People from slavery and exile in Egypt, which serves as a powerful metaphor for the salvation history central to the Easter Vigil. The Paschal Candle, present before the assembly, is likened to the pillar of fire that guided the Israelites in their desert journey. At the same time, their miraculous passage through the Red Sea is both a sign of deliverance and a prefiguring of baptism – a central element of the Easter Vigil. As we recall the key moments of the Old Covenant, we are reminded of the New Covenant between God and humanity, lproclaimed eloquently as the brilliant Light of Christ dispels the darkness of sin and death for all time.