Our Promised Land

March 30, 2024By

Easter Vigil 2024
Our time of training as catechumens and penitents is almost over.  We begin this ceremony in the darkness of the tomb where the light of Christ will be restored.  Without the Resurrection, our faith is in vain.  This light is carried by the clergy and the people and is meant to be spread throughout the whole world.  The deacon represents St. Mary Magdalene while he proclaims the joy of the Resurrection.  By God’s grace we may be restored to our baptismal innocence and be worthy to enter the true Promised Land of Heaven.
#20240330B

Listen Now

The True Passover

April 8, 2023By

Easter Vigil 2023
Everything is dark at the beginning of this ceremony, just as it was before the creation of the cosmos.  The darkness is representative of the Old Testament, while the Lumen Christi, or Light of Christ, is the New Testament.  The completion of the Passover takes place this evening.  Evidence has been found in recent years of the passage through the Red Sea, but tonight, in a real way, we celebrate the true Passover, which is renewed through the liturgy.  All of creation is made clear to us this night.  Our faith is made perfect in the Resurrection.
#20230408S

Listen Now

Catechumen To Neophyte

April 16, 2022By

Easter Vigil 2022
The Easter Vigil is the culmination of our Lenten retreat and especially for the catechumens who are baptized and who will receive their first Holy Communions at the Mass which follows.  The Liturgy brings light to the darkness of the world of sin and sings the praise of Our Lord’s Paschal candle.  Then we are reminded of the miracles around water in preparation for the blessing of the Easter and baptismal waters which lead to the baptism of our catechumens.  The Mass of Christ’s triumphant Resurrection will end with our Easter communion and our union with the Risen Savior.  The newest members of the Church now begin their lives as part of the faithful.
#20220416M

Listen Now

Guardians Of The Liturgy

April 4, 2021By

Easter Sunday 2021
We gather at the stational Church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary because she was the first to see her Risen Son Who truly died and rose again.  At this Mass we join with those from last night’s vigil in renewing our baptismal promises and the renouncing of Satan and all his works and pomps.  This Mass is mystic and the Introit expresses the eternal unity of the Blessed Trinity and much more.  The priests and those preparing for the priesthood must heed the last prophetic reading from the vigil last night which carries a warning for those commissioned to protect Our Lord in the Mass and sacred liturgy.  Happy Easter.
#20210404M

Listen Now

Easter Vigil Baptisms

April 3, 2021By

Easter Vigil 2021
During this Vigil in anticipation of Our Lord’s Resurrection at midnight we begin outside in the darkness by lighting the Paschal Fire.  Then we carry the Light of the World in through His Candle which is praised in the exquisite praeconium called the Exsultet.  Prophetic readings and the Litany of the Saints ready us for the making of the baptismal water and finally the solemn Baptism of our catechumens.  Mass begins and we join with the neophytes as they receive their first Holy Communions.  Happy Easter.
#20210403K

Listen Now

Faith And Gratitude At Easter

April 11, 2020By

Easter Vigil & Midnight Mass 2020
These are the last moments of Lent and culminate in the greatest vigil of the liturgical year.  This ceremony has many elements which we review before starting so we worship with the utmost awareness and devotion.  We have the Paschal fire and candle, the Praeconium, the lessons, the blessing of water and all leading to the Resurrection of Our Lord at the Midnight Mass and the reception of Him in the Holy Eucharist.  Our reaction should be an increase of Faith and a deeper sense of gratitude.  We do not want to abandon our penitential and prayerful spirit of the last forty days but incorporate this into our interior life during the Paschal season.
#20200411K

Listen Now

Saviors Of The World

April 20, 2019By

Easter Vigil 2019
God created on the first day of the week at midnight, He was born at midnight and we keep vigil now waiting for His rising at midnight.  All the infinite merits of Christ’s Passion and Death were won on the Cross but only applied to us when He rose from the dead and now distributes these treasures through the Liturgy.  This vigil has us renew our baptismal vows and witness a Baptism.  All this prepares us for the Easter Mass when we offer our sacrifice with Christ and unite with Him in Holy Communion, the foretaste of heavenly glory.
#20190420S

Listen Now

Celebrate The Victory Of Christ

April 15, 2017By

Easter Vigil 2017

The Easter Vigil begins with the Feast of Light in dispelling the darkness of sin.  The next part of the ceremony is about Baptism and renewal of vows and finally we have the Mass.  The central doctrine of Easter is the Resurrection of Our Lord and His overcoming of evil and death.  We renew our Faith and rejoice in Christ’s glorious Resurrection.

#20170415K

Listen Now

Christ Is Risen, Alive & Still With Us

March 27, 2016By

Easter Midnight Mass 2016
Christ truly rose from the dead as His appearances on Easter show.  He remains with us still and His Resurrection is our guarantee of freedom from sin and its consequences.
#20160327

Listen Now

Meditation On The Resurrection

March 26, 2016By

Easter Vigil 2016

What does it mean for us to say: Christ rose from the dead?  It means that He finally and once and for all overcame Death and gave us a hope for our own resurrection if we stay true to His words.  This awesome act of the Son of God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, is the most profound and stupendous act in all of human history and the symbols of the Fire, Paschal Candle, Holy Water that He left us are meant to give us a glimpse of the compassion Jesus has for us as we travel the road set for us when He said to His disciples: “I will not leave you orphans.”  It is important also that we remember the large number of people who give testimony to this Event – that it was not just a story or fable of some kind but that it really happened.
#20160326

Listen Now
  • 1
  • 2

Dec
21
St. Thomas
Dec
21
O Oriens
0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop
    To find out your shipping cost , Please proceed to checkout.
    Continue Shopping
    •‎  ‎ Sunday Mass: 9 AM  ‎ • ‎  719.985.4129 ‎  •