Easter Vigil: Fire And Candles

[brianthephysicist]

At the Easter Vigil Mass, we light a big fire, bless the fire and the candles and then light the Baptismal candle from the fire and then all of the other candles from that one.  Where does this tradition come from and what does it symbolize?

[cappie]

The Great Vigil of Easter is the brightest jewel of Christian liturgy traced to early Christian times. It proclaims the universal significance of God’s saving acts in history.

 

 A vigil is an evening service of Scripture readings and prayers in which believers vigilantly and eagerly wait and watch for the celebration of the Savior’s deliverance.  Old Testament believers waited through the night of the Passover for God to deliver them from the Egyptians.  The midnight worship reported in Acts 20:7-12 is another example of late-night waiting and watching.  One might say that our Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve services are vigils of sorts.

 

The Easter Vigil is the most well known and historic of the Church’s vigils.  In fact, in its general structure, it is one of the most ancient rites of the Christian Church.  Early records indicate that it may have been celebrated in Jerusalem already by the second century, and it soon spread to the rest of the church.

 

From its beginnings, the Easter Vigil was closely connected to Holy Baptism.  In the pagan world, a conversion to Christianity meant making a clean break from one’s former life style.  It also meant facing difficult times, perhaps even death.  The instruction of adults was, therefore, intensive and thorough, practical as well as intellectual.  The instruction intensified during the season of Lent, as catechumens pondered not only the Savior’s battle with evil, but also their own battle with Satan and his forces.  The instruction culminated with baptism at the Easter Vigil.

 

The meaning of the service

 

In many ways, the Easter Vigil is the partner of the Good Friday Tenebrae Service. Just as darkness signals Jesus’ death, so also the light signals Jesus’ resurrection. During the service, the initial darkness in the sanctuary is overcome by light, reminding us of the fact that death was unable to conquer Christ.

 

In kindling new fire and lighting the paschal candle, we are reminded that Christ came as a light shining in darkness (John 1:5). Through the use of fire, candles, words, movement, and music, the worshiping community becomes the pilgrim people of God following the “pillar of fire” given to us in Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. The paschal candle is used throughout the service as a symbol for Jesus Christ. This candle is carried, leading every procession during the vigil, our candles are lit from this paschal candle, Christ, the Light of the World, thus provides the unifying thread to the service.

 

 

The Easter Vigil stresses the Christian’s participation in Christ’s resurrection, focusing on the means by which the blessings of Christ’s resurrection become our own. Through the reading of the Word worshipers are reminded of God’s great acts of deliverance, the culmination of which was his resurrection from the dead. By remembering and witnessing the Sacrament of Baptism, worshipers are reminded that through baptism we are joined to Christ in his death and resurrection (Romans 6:1-4). Through Holy Communion, worshipers share in the body and blood of the risen Christ and celebrate their reconciliation to God.

 

The service was designed in such a way to allow New Testament Christians to participate in God’s deliverance from the slavery to sin through Word and Sacrament the way Old Testament Christians would have participated in God’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt through Passover and Exodus.

 

Service of Light. The service begins in the darkness of night.