NIGHT PRAYER: Saturday 4/4

The Easter Vigil opens with a Service of Light which features the Exsultet, a 1200 year old hymn of praise in honor of the Paschal Candle (the Light of Christ in our midst). Back in 1984 I combined the text of the Exsultet (a lengthy chant sung by a solo voice) with the music of Marty Haugen's The Light of Christ to give the assembly of worshipers a sung role in this Easter proclamation. I hope this will give your Easter celebration a joyful beginning!  Following the video and the text, you'll find this day's Night Prayer.   (If a video doesn't appear below, click here!) 

 

 

 

            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.

 

            The light of Christ surrounds us…

 

            Let us fill every space

            with the sound of our joy,

            praising Christ who is living now among us.

 

            The light of Christ surrounds us…

 

            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.

 

            The light of Christ surrounds us…

 

            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!

 

            The light of Christ surrounds us…

 

            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.

 

            The light of Christ surrounds us…

           

            As this candle shines out

            through the darkness of night,

            may the love of Christ

            burn ever in our hearts.

 

            The light of Christ surrounds us…

 

            In the East, the Morning Star

            rises bright upon us,

            in its peaceful light

            shines the glory of the Lord.

 

            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.

           

            AMEN!

 

Night Prayer 

 

When I go to bed tonight, Lord,
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.

 

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