The Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday, 2013)

Saturday, 30 March 2013

 

The Service of Light	Lumen Christi (chanted)
Exsultet	Plainchant
After 1st reading (Genesis 1)	Send forth your Spirit (Stephen Dean)
After 2nd reading (Exodus 14-15)	I will sing to the Lord (Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
After 3rd reading (Isaiah 55: come to the water)	We shall draw water joyfully (Paul Inwood)
After 4th reading (Ezekiel 36: I shall give you a new heart)	Like the deer (mcb)
Gloria	Psallite
Easter Alleluia + Psalm 117	Plainchant, verses by Paul Inwood
Lighting of Baptismal Candles	Springs of Water (Marty Haugen)
Sprinkling	Vidi Aquam (Cristóbal de Morales, c.1500-1553)
Preparation of the Gifts	Dextera Domini (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei	from No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Communion	Now we remain (David Haas)
Dismissal	Go in peace, Alleluia (chanted)
Final Hymn	Thine be the Glory

 

Tonight’s Offertory antiphon from the Graduale, Dextera Domini, sets the words from a verse of Ps 117, which we heard in English before the Gospel:

The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
His right hand raised me up.
I shall not die, I shall live
and recount his deeds.

With Lassus’s setting, together with the Morales Vidi aquam, sundry chant items, a traditional hymn, and songs by Haas, Haugen, Inwood, Joncas and co., we had one of our trademark banquets of rich and diverse musical fare; rightly so for a celebration that more or less sums up Christian faith and liturgical life.

There was no blessing of the font this year, for the first time in many years. (The customary absence of baptismal candidates was, I think, for once judged a reason not to bless the font.) We omitted the litany of the saints, but retained Springs of water which usually serves not only as the acclamation after the blessing, but also as musical cover for the lighting of baptismal candles before the renewal of promises.