Et ídeo novi testaménti mediátor est: ut, morte intercedénte, in redemptiónem eárum prævaricatiónum, quæ erant sub prióri testaménto, repromissiónem accípiant, qui vocáti sunt ætérnæ hereditátis...

R. Sepúlto Dómino, signátum est monuméntum, volvéntes lápidem ad óstium monuménti: * Ponéntes mílites, qui custodírent illum.

V. Accedéntes príncipes sacerdótum ad Pilátum, petiérunt illum.

R. Ponéntes mílites, qui custodírent illum.

R. Sepúlto Dómino, signátum est monuméntum, volvéntes lápidem ad óstium monuménti: * Ponéntes mílites, qui custodírent illum.

Today is Holy Saturday, when Holy Church remembers the Descent of Our Blessed Lord, dead upon the Cross and buried in the new tomb, into the depths of the Underworld, releasing the just faithful from their bonds into the glory of Heaven. 

The Paschal Vigil at Saint-Eugène is begun at 0600 here. It is perhaps good to recall that in the traditional understanding, the Vigil is not 'the first Mass' of Easter: it is the Vigil of the Pasch celebrated on Holy Saturday. The Solemn Mass of Easter morning is the 'first Mass' of Easter. This notwithstanding, the Paschal Vigil welcomes the return of the Alleluia-- after the new fire is kindled, the Paschal Candle blessed, the Exsultet sung, the twelve Prophecies sung (four last year, at Saint-Eugène), the font blessed, the baptisms celebrated, and the Litanies and the Gloria sung. At last, before the Gospel Véspere autem sábbati, quæ lucéscit in prima sábbati is chanted, the triple Alleluia is sung.

There is no Credo, nor antiphona ad Offertorium, nor Agnus Dei, nor antiphona ad Communionem. Immediately after Communion, the proper, Paschal Vespers are sung (one Psalm, the Magnificat, and triple Alleluias as antiphon of both Psalm and Canticle), the oration of which serves as the Postcommunio: then the Ite missa est alleluia alleluia is sung. I will note the composers whose music is sung but I think (it is Good Friday still) I will rely, for this page, on the livret provided by Saint-Eugène, here. The Liturgia page is here. 

I meant to count the number of neophytes (they were given Holy Communion within the gates of the sanctuary, a communion cloth being used) but forgot to do so. 

The hymn Tibi laus perennis Auctor of Saint Venantius Fortunatus is so lovely! It was intended for the 'return' of the clerics and newly- baptised 'from the baptismal font'; it was begun this morning whilst the Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated, before the antiphon Confirma hoc Deus.

Tibi laus perennis Auctor

Baptismatis Sacrator

Qui sort passionis

Das praemium salutis.

Nox clara plus et alma
Quam luna, sol et astra,
Quæ luminum coronæ
Reddis diem per umbram.

Dulcis, sacrata, Blanda,
Electa, pura, pulchra,
Sudans honore mella,
Rigans odore chrisma.

In qua Redémptor orbis
De morte vivus exit:
Et quos catena vinxit
Sepultus ille solvit.

Quam apéruit Christus
Ad géntium salútem:
Cujus salubri cura
Redit novata plasma.

Accedite ergo digni
Ad grátiam lavacri:
Quo fonte recreati,
Refúlgeatis, agni.

Hic gurges est, fideles,
Purgans liquore mentes:
Dum rore corpus sudat
Peccáta tergit unda.

Gaudete candidati,
Electa vasa regni:
In morte consepulti,
Christi fide renáti. Amen.

 

 

The Paschal Canon of Saint John Damascene was sung during the Communion of the people.

R. Surrexit Christus ex mortuis, Alleluia. 

Resurrectionis dies:
splendescamus, populi,
Pascha Domini, Pascha.
E morte enim ad vitam,
et de terra ad cœlum,
Christus Deus nos traduxit, victoriam canentes.

Agite potionem bibamus novam,
Non ex saxo sterili prodigiose eductam,
Sed incorruptionis fontem
e sepulchro pluente Christo,
In quo solidata est.

Nunc omnia repleta sunt lumine,
Cœlumque et terra et terrestria:
Ferietur autem omnis creatura
suscitationem Christi,
In quo solidata est.

Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto,
Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper,
Et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

Surrexit Christus ex mortuis,
per mortem mortem vicit,
his qui in tumulis erant
vitam donavit. Alleluia.

 

 

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R. Angelus Dómini descéndit de cælo, et accédens revólvit lápidem, et super eum sedit, et dixit muliéribus: * Nolíte timére: scio enim quia crucifíxum quǽritis: jam surréxit: veníte, et vidéte locum, ubi pósitus erat Dóminus, allelúja.

V. Et introëúntes in monuméntum, vidérunt júvenem sedéntem in dextris, coopértum stola cándida, et obstupuérunt: qui dixit illis.

R. Nolíte timére: scio enim quia crucifíxum quǽritis: jam surréxit: veníte, et vidéte locum, ubi pósitus erat Dóminus, allelúja.

V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

R. Angelus Dómini descéndit de cælo, et accédens revólvit lápidem, et super eum sedit, et dixit muliéribus: * Nolíte timére: scio enim quia crucifíxum quǽritis: jam surréxit: veníte, et vidéte locum, ubi pósitus erat Dóminus, allelúja.

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Surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia

Laus Deo Virginique Matri 

Nicolas-Antoine Lebègue, Maxime Kovalevsky, Charles de Courbes, Jehan Tisserant, Dr Henri Adam de Villiers