Easter Vigil: A Radiant Celebration of New Life

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As the sun set on Holy Saturday, April 19, 2025, a sense of anticipation and excitement filled the air. The Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Norwich was buzzing with activity as the Diocese of East Anglia prepared to celebrate the Easter Vigil, the most sacred and joyful liturgy of the Christian year. The evening was a time of great expectation, as the faithful gathered to mark the glorious beginning of Easter and the triumph of Christ over death. Bishop Peter Collins, the leader of the Diocese, stood at the helm of the celebration, guiding the congregation through the ancient and powerful rituals that would unfold.

The evening began with the Service of Light, a dramatic and symbolic ceremony that took place outside the cathedral. As the darkness fell, the faithful gathered around a blazing fire, their faces illuminated by the flickering flames. Bishop Peter, accompanied by his ministers, approached the fire with the Paschal Candle, a towering symbol of the light of Christ. With great reverence, he blessed the fire and prepared the candle, etching a cross into its wax with a stylus and marking it with the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, symbols of Christ as the beginning and the end. The numerals of the current year were also inscribed, serving as a reminder of the timeless and enduring power of the Gospel. As the bishop inserted five grains of incense in the form of a cross, representing the five glorious wounds of Christ, the air was filled with the sweet scent of incense, transporting the congregation to a realm of spiritual awe.

The Paschal Candle, now the flame of the Risen Christ, was carried in solemn procession into the darkened cathedral by Fr Peter, casting a warm and golden glow over the assembly. As he paused three times – at the door, halfway up the nave, and at the sanctuary steps – he proclaimed, “The Light of Christ, Thanks be to God,” and the congregation responded with gratitude and adoration. The light from the Paschal Candle spread throughout the cathedral, illuminating the faces of the faithful and symbolizing the conquering of darkness by the light of Christ. The soft glow of candles held by the congregation added to the ambiance, creating a sea of light that seemed to wash away the shadows of the world. As the cathedral was gradually filled with the warm and golden light, the atmosphere was transformed, and the faithful were reminded of the power of Christ to dispel the darkness and bring hope to a world in need.

The Liturgy of the Word followed, a rich and evocative retelling of salvation history. Four Old Testament readings, each accompanied by a Psalm, Canticle, or Gradual, traced God’s plan from creation to redemption, weaving a narrative of love, sacrifice, and ultimate triumph. An epistle from Romans prepared the hearts of the faithful to hear the Gospel of the Resurrection, and the Gospel itself, proclaimed from Luke 24:1–12, told the story of the women who visited the tomb at dawn, only to find it empty and the stone rolled away. The angels’ declaration, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen,” echoed through the cathedral, filling the hearts of the faithful with awe and joy. As the congregation listened to the Gospel, they were reminded of the central message of Christianity: that Christ, the Son of God, had conquered death and risen from the tomb, bringing light and life to a world in darkness.

In a moment of deep grace and spiritual renewal, Bishop Peter welcomed those who were to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church. The Sacraments of Initiation were celebrated with reverence and great joy, as the elect renounced sin and professed their faith before being baptized. Each newly baptized was presented with a candle lit from the Paschal Candle, a symbol of receiving the light of Christ and a reminder of their new status as children of God. Candidates for reception and confirmation then joined the newly baptized at the sanctuary, where all were anointed with sacred Chrism by the Bishop – a sign of the gift of the Holy Spirit and their full incorporation into the Body of Christ. The number of new members welcomed into the Church that Easter Vigil was truly heartwarming, offering a sign of hope for the future of the Diocese and a testament to the enduring power of the Gospel to transform lives.

The Easter Vigil concluded with the Liturgy of the Eucharist, where the newly initiated received Holy Communion for the first time, uniting them fully with Christ and the Church. As the congregation dispersed, they carried with them the memories of a sacred night, a night that had witnessed the triumph of light over darkness and the transformative power of faith. The warmth and unity of the faithful gathered, the beauty of the liturgy, and the joy of welcoming new members into the Church had offered a radiant testament to the light of Christ that shines in our world today. As the faithful left the cathedral, they were reminded that the Easter Vigil was not just a celebration of a past event, but a living witness to the power of Christ to transform lives and bring hope to a world in need. The photographs from the Easter Vigil, a lasting reminder of the joy and beauty of the evening, would be treasured by the faithful for years to come, a testament to the enduring power of the Gospel to inspire and uplift.