10 Apr

2023

Easter Vigil at St. Mary’s Part 2: The Christenings and Confirmations

Posted by  

Continued from Part I

A procession is formed to the baptistery, led by the Paschal Candle.
Once inside the baptistery, the celebrant prays over the font, that the Lord will deign to remake those about to die to their old selves in its waters into His spiritual sons and daughters by the grace of His Spirit. The celebrant breathers on the water three times in the shape of a cross
The celebrant plunges the Paschal Candle into the water thrice.
The acolyte removes some of the baptismal water for the aspersory: the celebrant sparges himself and his ministers with the Easter Water. The celebrant circles the church to sprinkle the faithful with Easter Water.
The celebrant pours the Oil of Catechumens and the Oil of Sacred Chrism into the baptismal water. The consecrated baptismal water will be retained in the font for the baptisms throughout the year.
The celebrant changes into white vestments.
The catechumens are baptized.
Each newly baptized receives his white garment—a symbol of his baptismal innocence. Each receives his baptismal candle, lit from the Paschal candle. It symbolizes the new light of grace which he received.
The procession returns to the sanctuary. The Confirmation candidates kneel. The celebrant anoints each by name on the brow with the Chrism consecrated by the bishop on Spy Wednesday.
The sacred ministers divest and prostrate themselves at the foot of the altar. After a time, they retreat to the sacristy to change into festive vesture. The Litany of the Saints is chanted by cantors. On this night, the entire invocation is repeated after the cantors, not only the response.

Please continue to Part 3.

Published in Masses, St. Mary's Holy Week 2023