"He said to them, 'Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified, He has been raised!'"

Intermountain Catholic

+ Enlarge

Msgr. Joseph M. Mayo says the eucharistic prayer in preparation for the distribution of Holy Communion during the Easter Vigil Mass April 11, 2009, in the Cathedral of the Madeleine. Deacon Lynn Johnson assists at the altar. The Easter Vigil Mass began at 8:30 p.m., with the lighting of the great fire and the lighting of the Paschal Candle outside in the cathedral plaza. The procession of the congregation followed the Paschal Candle into the church. IC photo by Barbara S. Lee

SALT LAKE CITY — "Dear friends in Christ, on this most holy night, when our Lord Jesus Christ passed from death to light, the Church invites her children throughout the world to come together in vigil and prayer," said Msgr. Joseph M. Mayo, pastor of the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City, to the faithful gathered at the cathedral’s plaza for the service of light giving start to the Paschal Vigil on the evening of Holy Saturday April 11.

"This is the Passover of the Lord. We honor the memory of his death and resurrection by hearing his word and celebrating his mysteries. Then, we may be confident that we shall share his victory over death and live with him for ever and ever."

Then, Msgr. Mayo blessed the fire that would light the Paschal Candle.

"Father, we share the light of your glory through the light of our Lord. Make this fire holy and inflame us with new hope. Purify our minds by this Easter celebration and bring us one day to the feast of eternal life."

A short procession into the cathedral followed and the celebration started with the Easter proclamation: "Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of Angels! 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 the brightness of your King! Christ has conquered! Glory fills you! Darkness vanishes forever! Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory! The risen Saviour shines upon you. Let this place sound with joy, echoing the mighty song of all God’s people!

The Liturgy of the Word included seven readings from the Old Testament that accounted the creation of the universe and humankind and God’s covenant with his people.

In the first reading, God creates the heaven and the earth, separated the light from darkness, created all sorts of creatures and humankind. "So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them," said the scriptures.

The second reading from Genesis recounted the story of Abraham and his son Isaac. God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham obeys and when he is about to sacrifice his son, an angel of the Lord says to him, "I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

The third reading narrated the parting of the Red Sea. The fourth and fifth readings are from the book of Isaiah. In them, God proclaims his love and mercy for humankind. "Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked man his thoughts; Let him turn to the Lord for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving," said the scriptures.

In the sixth reading from Baruch, God warns his people that if they "had walked in the way of God, you would be living in peace for ever."

In the seventh reading God promises his people a better future even though they have not followed his ways. "I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God."

Each reading was followed by a psalm and prayer.

The Epistle was Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans and the Gospel narrated Jesus’ meeting with Mary Magdalene and the other Mary after death. "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me," said Jesus to them.

"As we gather this evening, we are inspired to ask, ‘What is it that we celebrate?’ ‘What is it that stands behind the symbols and imagery of Easter?’" said Msgr. Mayo during the homily.

"To understand the celebration of Easter, we should reflect on the meaning of the cross, which Christ transformed from a symbol of death and defeat to a symbol of life and glory," he said.

"Christianity did not invent the cross. The cross preexisted the Christian era and had a well-established reputation as an instrument of death," said Msgr. Mayo.

Msgr. Mayo said Saint Paul preached in the city of Athens that the cross was the way to life and an instrument of triumph. "This sounded ridiculous to St. Paul’s listeners… They simply walked away."

Today, the cross is present in processions in the city of Athens and stands as a powerful symbol of our salvation, said Msgr. Mayo.

"There’s never been in history a more revolutionary transformation of a human symbol. That transformation is why we’re here tonight.

"The cross does not tell us life is safe and painless but the contrary… But, it also proclaims that the secure hand of God…rescues humankind from the annihilation of death." And it reminds us there are two orders: the order of the world and the order of God’s Kingdom.

"It states that the order of this world will never overpower the order of God’s Kingdom." The values of eternity are given "to us as sons and daughters of God since the first moment of our existence. We are invited to…look at Christ crucified…to say the cross is in our own hearts…and to see Christ risen… Christ is risen and will come again."

The incorporation of new members to the Church added joy to the Easter celebration. Elect Michele Rendon Doubt, Timothy Doubt, Nissa Elkington, Tracy Heaps, Elizabeth Hoopiiaina, Hollie Keith, and Alan Truong received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Candidates Michael Ausderan, Sharon Palm, Suzanne Marie Rodriguez, and Hines Vaughan, Jr., were confirmed and received Holy Communion for the first time.

After the elect were baptized in the Cathedral’s baptismal font, the congregation renewed their baptismal promises.

The elect and the candidates were confirmed and as part of the faithful, remembered the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City in their prayers. They asked for his speedy recovery from a surgery he underwent to remove his prostate gland, which had a small malignancy.

The celebration finished with a proclamation of Alleluia in the final hymn.