Happy Easter

[markomalley]

An ancient song of praise and welcoming the resurrection. It dates from before 350 AD:

quote:

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Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angles!

Exult, all creation around God's throne!

Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!

Sound the trumpet of salvation!

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,

radiant in brightness of your King!

Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!

Darkness vanishes for ever!

Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory!

The risen Saviour shines upon you!

Let this place resound with joy,

echoing the mighty song of all God's people!

My dearest friends, standing with me in this holy light,

join me in asking God for mercy,

that he may give his unworthy minister

grace to sing his Easter praises.

It is truly right

that with full hearts and minds and voices

we should praise the unseen God, the all-powerful Father,

and his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

For Christ has ransomed us with his blood,

and paid for us the price of Adam's sin

to our eternal Father!

This is our passover feast,

when Christ, the true Lamb, is slain,

whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers.

This is the night when first you saved our fathers:

you freed the people of Israel from their slavery

and led them dry-shod through the sea.

This is the night when the pillar of fire

destroyed the darkness of sin.

This is the night when Christians everywhere,

washed clean of sin

and freed from all defilement,

are restored to grace and grow together in holiness.

This is the night when Jesus Christ

broke the chains of death

and rose triumphant from the grave.

What good would life have been to us,

had Christ not come as our Redeemer?

Father, how wonderful your care for us!

How boundless your merciful love!

To ransom a slave

you gave away your Son.

O Happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam,

which gained for us so great a Redeemer!

Most blessed of all nights, chosen by God

to see Christ rising from the dead!

Of this night scripture says:

"The night will be as clear as day:

it will become my light, 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.

Night truly blessed when heaven is wedded to earth

and man is reconciled with God!

Therefore, heavenly Father, in the joy of this night,

receive our evening sacrifice of praise,

your Church's solemn offering.

Accept this Easter candle,

a flame divided but undimmed,

a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God.

Let it mingle with the lights of heaven

and continue bravely burning

to dispel the darkness of this night!

May the Morning Star which never sets find this flame still

burning:

Christ, that Morning Star, who came back from the dead,

and shed his peaceful light on all mankind,

your Son who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.

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A scroll containing the Exultet circa 7th C

Happy Easter everybody!

[def59]

Have a blessed Resurrection day!

[CircleGame]

Happy Easter everyone!

Beautiful song Mark.

I like the song - Jesus Christ has risen today - allelulia - great tune.

[templelady]

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.

He arose a victor from the dark

domain.

And he lives for ever with His saints

to reign.

He arose ! He arose! Hallelujah!

Christ arose!

[vickles]

Gosh, templelady, I love that song!!!! Thanks!!!

I wish you all a very Happy Easter!!!!

Do you realize that more people that usually don't ever enter church except for easter? Even more so than christmas...I find this strange.

[dmiller]

Mark -- great song!

Did they have a "companion" scroll that shows the music for it? -->

Got my banjo in tune, and am ready to pick it if I had some music. :D-->

Hoppy Ishtar ---- woops! ---- I meant Happy Easter all! ;)--> ;)-->

[markomalley]

I normally have heard it chanted, although I imagine that there is some modern music composed to it (probably ruins it). Here is a link to an MP3 of the chant.

Although beautiful in of itself, seeing it done as part of the opening rite in the Easter Vigil never stops chills from running down my spine.

[dmiller]

quote:

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I normally have heard it chanted, although I imagine that there is some modern music composed to it (probably ruins it).

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Yep -- most likely true. And if the modern music did not ruin it, my banjo picking certainly would.

I'll leave it be, and enjoy the lyrics. Thanks. :)-->