The Easter Vigil

in the Holy Night:

A Servers Guide















Introduction:
The Easter Vigil is the most solemn event of the liturgical year. It represents, in a few
short hours, the entirety of salvation history. We hear seven readings from the Old
Testament; these may seem excessive, but each has been chosen to show, in a
particular way, the preparation of mankind to receive the salvation offered to us in
Christ. The coming of the paschal candle into a darkened church represents the light
of the risen Christ coming into the world as victor over the sin and death that has
gone before.

The Vigil has four parts:

The Solemn Beginning of the Vigil
This part of the Vigil involves the blessing of a fire, the procession of the
faithful into church behind the paschal candle and the Easter Proclamation.
The Liturgy of the Word
This part of the Vigil allows us to hear some key parts of the history of Gods
interaction with mankind before the birth of Christ, followed by the beginning
of the mass proper and two New Testament readings proclaiming the risen
Christ.
The Baptismal Liturgy
In this part of the vigil those who have been preparing to become Catholics do
so through the reception of the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. Even
if none are to be received into the church we are still reminded of our own
baptisms through the baptismal promises and sprinkling with holy water.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
This part of the vigil is the most recognisable, as it is much the same as any
mass; but this should not detract from the fact that it is the single most
important prayer and sacrifice that the Church can make truly the source
and summit of our faith.




Contents:

Part One: The Solemn Beginning of the Vigil

Part Two: The Liturgy of the Word

Part Three: The Baptismal Liturgy

Part Four: The Liturgy of the Eucharist

Glossary









Notes:
This booklet has been prepared for those of all ages serving at the Easter Vigil.
It is hoped that it will be of particular use to the server acting as MC during the Vigil,
but all servers will be able to find their respective roles.
The booklet assumes that those reading it have some experience serving at regular
masses, but also includes a glossary of terms a server should be familiar with.


Part One: The Solemn Beginning of the Vigil
The congregation gather outside of the dark church, where a fire has been prepared.
After their preparatory prayers in the sacristy, the clergy and servers join them at the
fire.
There must be servers carrying the following:
Missal
Paschal candle
Stylus
Incense Grains
Thurible
Boat
Once outside, the missal-bearer holds the missal for the priest whilst he blesses the
fire.
The priest then takes the paschal candle and the stylus and carves into the candle
with the stylus, whilst reading aloud the prescribed words from the missal.
The priest then takes the five incense grains and presses them into the candle whilst
again reading aloud from the missal.
The priest then lights the paschal candle from the fire.
When the candle has been lit the thurible is lit from the fire (it is wise to have
charcoal already heating in the fire before it is blessed).
The priest then puts incense from the boat into the thurible.
A deacon (or, if there is no deacon, the priest himself) then carries the lit paschal
candle into the dark church, preceded by the thurifer and followed by the other
servers, any other clergy and the congregation.
The thurifer and deacon stop three times, once at the entrance to the church, once
halfway to the sanctuary, and once at the sanctuary.
Each time the procession stops the deacon says or sings The Light of Christ, to
which the response is Thanks be to God; or, Lumen Christi, to which the
response is Deo Gratias.
The deacon then places the paschal candle into its holder.
Whilst the deacon is doing this the rest of the procession has followed, with everyone
receiving their own lighted candle and proceeding to their place in the church. Each
parish will have its own way of doing this, but often some servers are asked to stay
by the entrance to the church to pass on the light of the paschal candle (and so the
blessed fire) to each person as they enter the church.
Once at the sanctuary the servers take their normal places, but the thurifer and boat-
bearer go to the priest (whether he be at the Chair or placing the paschal candle in
its holder) where he places incense into the thurible.
The deacon, if there is one, having placed the paschal candle in its holder asks for
the priests blessing.
The deacon (or if there is no deacon, the priest) then incenses the paschal candle
and the book.
The deacon (or if there is no deacon, the priest, or in exceptional circumstances, a
cantor) then sings the Easter Proclamation, or Exsultet. During this all remain
standing with their lighted candles.
At the end of the Exsultet the candles are usually extinguished and the lights of the
church turned on, if they have not been already. The priest will usually direct the
congregation (and the servers) in when to do this.

















Part Two: The Liturgy of the Word
The priest introduces the next part of the Vigil; in which we will hear of some of
Gods interactions with mankind before the birth of Christ.
Lectors read seven readings from the Old Testament, each followed by a
responsorial psalm (lead by a cantor) and a prayer.
For each prayer the missal-bearer will need to take the opened missal to the priest,
just as they would for the Collect of a normal mass.
After the last Old Testament reading, psalm and prayer the altar candles are lit by a
server, as this is the point at which we move from prayerful vigil to the celebration of
mass.
The Gloria is sung immediately. The altar bells are rung throughout the Gloria, just
as they were at mass on Maundy Thursday. The priest may or may not ask for the
missal-bearer to remain at the Chair during the Gloria.
After the Gloria the priest says the Collect of the mass from the missal.
There is then a single New Testament reading followed by a responsorial psalm.
This psalm takes the place of the Gospel Acclamation, so the thurifer and boat-
bearer need to be ready immediately at the end of the psalm.
The gospel is proclaimed by the deacon (or if there is no deacon, the priest), who
incenses the book as normal. The gospel is not accompanied by acolytes with
candles, as the paschal candle is usually close to the ambo.
The priest or deacon will give a homily as normal.











Part Three: The Baptismal Liturgy
This liturgy changes subtly depending on whether there are to be baptisms and the layout of
individual churches. For the purpose of this booklet we will assume that there are to be
baptisms and that the baptismal font is near to the sanctuary, in plain view of the congregation.
The priest begins with an introduction to the liturgy, for which he may or may not
need the missal.
Everyone stands for the Litany of Saints, which will usually be led by a cantor.
The priest then proceeds to the baptismal font (if he has not already done so), with
those to be baptised and their godparents.
At the font there needs to be servers with the following:
Missal
Book containing the Rite of Baptism
Oil of Catechumens
Oil of Chrism (if any of those to be baptised are children)
Jug or other implement for pouring water
Towel(s)
The priest blesses the water using the prayer given in the missal. He may or may not
dip the paschal candle into the water as part of the blessing.
The priest then questions those to be baptised (or their parents). Part-way through
these questions he anoints each with the Oil of Catechumens.
Each person is then baptised using the newly blessed water. The priest will require
something to pour the water and a towel to dry the head of each person.
Following the baptism any children are anointed with the Oil of Chrism.
Each of the newly baptised is then given a white garment and a lit candle.
Everyone returns to their places in the sanctuary except the priest, the server with
the missal (or book containing the Rite of Confirmation), the server with the Oil of
Chrism and any adults who are to be confirmed, with their sponsors; these people go
to the front of the sanctuary, where the priest confirms each adult in turn.
Then, if it has not already taken place in the Rite of Baptism, everyone stands and
renews their baptismal promises. This takes the place of the creed.
Next the priest will go around the church with an aspergillum, sprinkling the
congregation with holy water. He may require a server with an aspersorium to
accompany him.
Finally in this part of the mass the priest directs the Universal Prayer as during a
normal mass.
Part Four: The Liturgy of the Eucharist
The altar is prepared as normal. The amount servers do in preparing the altar varies
from parish to parish.
The Offertory and Preparation of the Gifts take place as normal. Servers are
therefore required to receive the gifts, present them to the priest or deacon at the
appropriate time, provide the thurible and boat when needed and be ready with the
water and lavabo towel for the priest to wash his hands.
The Preface and Eucharistic Prayer take place as normal. This means the altar bells
are rung at the Epiclesis and both Elevations and the thurible is used at both
Elevations.
The Communion Rite takes place as normal. This means that the altar bells are
typically rung as the priest celebrant drinks the Precious Blood.
Communion itself is generally as normal, but it is customary to allow those making
their First Holy Communion to approach the sanctuary first. This may or may not be
before the servers, as the situation in each church warrants.
The Prayer after Communion is as normal, with the priest reading from the missal.
There is a Solemn Blessing, so the missal-bearer should know to wait, even if the
priest gives out any announcements before the blessing.
The dismissal uses a normal form, but adds alleluia, alleluia; as does the response.
For example:
Go in peace, alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia.
The procession back to the sacristy is as normal, taking place without a thurifer but
with a crucifer and acolytes.








Glossary:
Term Meaning
Acolyte(s)
Originally one of the minor orders of the Church, and still an instituted
ministry. However this booklet uses the common usage of the word to
describe a server who carries a candle.
Ambo
The place(s) in the church at which readings (including the gospel) are
read and homilies preached.
Altar Bell(s) The small bell(s) rung by a server at different parts of the mass.
Altar Candles The candles placed onto or immediately beside the altar.
Aspergillum The device used by a member of the clergy to sprinkle holy water.
Aspersorium The small bucket-like object sometimes used with an aspergillum.
Baptismal Font The large container for holy water at which people are baptised.
Boat
The small container for incense to be used with the thurible. It should
always contain a small spoon.
Boat-bearer The server who carries the boat.
Book
In this booklet this term is used to describe any book containing a text
which is reverenced with incense before using.
Cantor(s)
A lay person who sings or leads the singing of different parts of the mass
(such as the psalms and the Litany of the Saints).
[The] Chair The seat used by the priest celebrant.
Clergy Any ordained men - bishops, priests and deacons.
Collect
Commonly known as the 'opening prayer'. Comes immediately after the
Gloria, or the Kyrie if there is no Gloria.
Communion
In this booklet this term is used to describe the part of mass during which
the congregation come to the sanctuary to receive the Body (and Blood)
of Christ.
Congregation
In this booklet this term is used to describe everyone except the clergy
and servers.
Crucifer The server who carries the processional cross.
Deacon Any man ordained to the diaconate.
Easter Proclamation The solemn hymn of praise recounting the mysteries of Easter.
Elevation(s)
The points in the mass at which the priest celebrant raises the
consecrated Body and Blood of Christ above his head for all to see. The
altar bell(s) are rung at both points.
Epiclesis
The point in the mass at which the priest invokes the holy spirit to come
upon the gifts. Notable by his outstretched hands over the gifts. The altar
bell(s) are rung at this point.
Exsultet
Another name for the Easter Proclamation, taken from the first word of the
hymn in Latin.
Gifts The bread and wine brought to the sanctuary at the offertory.
Gospel Acclamation
Comes immediately before the gospel. It is omitted at the Easter Vigil as
the psalm before the gospel fulfils the same role of acclamation.
Incense Grains
The five tiny pieces of incense, usually contained in metal pins, which are
placed into the paschal candle. Not to be confused with the incense in the
boat.
Lavabo Towel
The towel used by the priest to dry his hands after washing them during
the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Lector(s)
Originally one of the minor orders of the Church, and still an instituted
ministry. However this booklet uses the common usage of the word to
describe a lay reader.
Litany of the Saints
A responsorial prayer which asks God and all those in heaven to
intercede for us.
Missal
The large book containing the prayers to be used at each mass
throughout the year.
Missal-bearer The server who carries the missal.
Oil of Catechumens
An oil used to anoint a person about to be baptised, to strengthen them in
the struggle against sin.
Oil of Chrism
An oil used, among other things, to anoint a child who has just been
baptised or a person who is being confirmed. It is symbolic of our
covenants (agreements) with God.
Paschal Candle
A symbol of the eternal presence of Christ as light of the world. Prepared
for the year at the Easter Vigil.
Priest Any man ordained to the presbyterate.
Priest Celebrant The priest who is leading the mass.
Sacristy The rooms in which the priests and servers vest and prepare for mass.
Sanctuary
The holiest part of a church. It contains the altar and usually the
tabernacle.
Server(s) Any lay person who assists the clergy at mass.
Solemn Blessing A specified blessing from the missal to be given at certain masses.
Stylus A sharp implement used to carve into the wax of the paschal candle.
Thurible A container on a chain used to burn incense at various liturgies.
Thurifer The server who carries the thurible.
Universal Prayer
Commonly known as the 'bidding prayers'. Comes immediately before the
offertory.