NIGHT PRAYER: Holy Saturday

Lord,
when I go to bed tonight
I'll pray for deep and restful sleep
on this night of all nights when,
at a time known only to heaven,
you rose from the dead...

This is the night, Lord,

which restores to grace 

and unites in holiness

all who believe in you....

This is the night

whose light pierces the darkness

and rescues us from sin...

This is the night

when you broke the chains of death

and rose in victory from the grave!

The power of this holy night 

dispels all evil, 

washes guilt away, 

restores lost innocence, 

brings mourners joy; 

casts out hatred,

brings us peace, 

and humbles earthly pride. 

This is the night truly blessed

when heaven is wedded to earth 

and creation is reconciled with God! *

So I shall sleep in peace, Lord,

trusting that even in the dead of night

your risen life beats within me

and that I, too, shall rise:

    when morning dawns tomorrow;

    and at the end of all my days;

    and when at last you come again,

    and death shall be no more!

Amen.

* The italicized imagery in this Night Prayer comes from an older translation of the Exsultet, the opening song of the Easter Vigil, in praise of the paschal candle.

The Light of Christ

- music composed by Marty Haugen

- Vigil text arranged by AF

 

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The light of Christ surrounds us;

the love of Christ enfolds us;

the pow'r of Christ protects us;

the presence of Christ watches over us.

 

All the earth is ablaze

with the glory of God,

for the light has come

to burn away the darkness.

Refrain

 

Let us fill every space

with the sound of our joy,

praising Christ who is living now among us.

Refrain

           

Rejoice, all you heavenly choirs of angels!

Rejoice, all creation around God's throne -

for our mighty God is victorious!

Rejoice, O earth -                

you are made radiant by such splendor!

Darkness everywhere has been overcome

by the brightness of our everlasting God!

Rejoice, O Holy Mother Church -

you are made radiant by so great a light!

Let this place ring out with rejoicing,

with the song of all the people

gathered here.

Refrain

 

My brothers and sisters:

Christ has ransomed us with his blood

and paid for us the debt of Adam's sin,

and with his precious blood

washed away the penalty of original sin.

This is the Paschal feast

in which the true lamb is slain;

whose blood hallowed the doorposts

of the faithful!

This is the night

when first you saved our ancestors,

you freed the people of Israel

from their slavery

and led them dry-shod through the Red Sea!

This is the night

when the pillar of fire

destroyed the darkness of sin!

This is the night

which at this hour everywhere

restores to grace and unites in holiness

those who believe in Christ,

separating them from worldly vice

and the darkness of sin.

This is the night

when Jesus Christ

broke the chains of death

and rose in victory from the grave!

Refrain

           

Father, how wonderful your care for us!

How boundless your merciful love!

To ransom us, your servants,

you gave away your only Son.

O happy fault!   O necessary sin of Adam

which gained for us so great a Redeemer!

O truly blessed night

which alone deserved to know

the time and the hour

when Christ arose from the grave.

It is of this night that Scripture says:

"And the night shall be as bright as day,

and the night shall light up my joy!"

The power of this holy night

dispels all evil, washes guilt away,

restores lost innocence,

brings mourners joy;

it casts out hatred,

brings us peace,

and humbles earthly pride.

This is the night truly blessed  

when heaven is wedded to earth

and creation is reconciled with God.

Refrain

           

As this candle shines out

through the darkness of night,

may the love of Christ

burn ever in our hearts.

Refrain

           

In the East, the Morning Star

rises bright upon us,

in its peaceful light

shines the glory of the Lord.

Refrain

           

AMEN!

 

 

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