The Easter Vigil (2016)

Saturday, 26 March 2016

 
The Service of LightLumen Christi (chant)
ExsultetPlainchant
After 1st reading (Genesis 1)Send forth your Spirit (Stephen Dean)
After 2nd reading (Genesis 22)Preserve me (mcb)
After 3rd reading (Exodus 14-15)I will sing to the Lord (Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
After 4th reading (Isaiah 55)I will praise you, Lord (Psallite)
After 5th reading (Ezekiel 36)We shall draw water joyfully (Paul Inwood)
GloriaPsallite
Easter Alleluia + Psalm 117Plainchant, verses by Paul Inwood
Litany of the SaintsMissal Chant
Blessing of WaterSprings of Water (Marty Haugen)
SprinklingVidi Aquam (T.L. de Victoria, c.1548-1611)
Preparation of the GiftsChristus Resurgens (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, AmenMissa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Agnus DeiMissa Ubi Caritas
CommunionJesus, Lamb of God
DismissalGo in peace, Alleluia (chanted)
Final HymnThine be the Glory
 

Confusion reigns supreme regarding the order of Psalms when a Baptism takes place at the Easter Vigil, as it did tonight. The Lectionary says:

The psalm to be used after the Seventh Reading (i.e. the fifth for us, from Ezekiel) varies from place to place and it depends on whether a baptism is being celebrated at the Easter Vigil. In the USA: If there is no baptism, either Isaiah 12 or Psalm 50(51) is used. If there is a baptism, Psalm 41(42) is used. In the English-speaking world: If there is no baptism, Psalm 41(42) is used. If there is a baptism, either Isaiah 12 or Psalm 50(51) MUST be used instead. In the rest of the world: If there is no baptism, Psalm 41(42) is used. If there is a baptism, either Isaiah 12 or Psalm 50(51) MAY be used instead.

(though in my hand Missal, The CTS New Sunday Missal (People’s Edition), a typo leads not to the Isaiah 12 Canticle, but to Psalm 29 (I will praise you Lord), which would normally occur after the reading from Isaiah 54, which we usually omit.) The Lectionary is silent on what to have after the Isaiah 55 reading, where the Isaiah 12 canticle would normally come, if you choose to have the latter after the Ezekiel reading instead. So I took a liberty, and put in Ps 29 after the Isaiah 55 reading. This to my mind was a better option than having the more subdued and penitential Ps 50(51) after the Ezekiel reading, since it concluded our exploration of the Hebrew scriptures on an uplifting note, and led us on, via the resurrection narrative, to a joyful celebration of the sacrament of Baptism (accompanied by two receptions, and therefore three celebrations of the sacrament of Confirmation) later in our feast.

I told you it was confusing. But not many people seemed to mind, judging from the relatively few puzzled scowls from the pews as we tried to find our way through the Parish Mass Book, and the Psalms were just right, I reckon, where they ended up. Happy Easter!

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