As the sun rises
on the glorious morning of first celebrating the Son’s rising,
we sing out our joy over and over—on Easter, during the eight
solemn days of the Easter octave, and during the fifty days of
the great octave.
Easter is such
a sublime festival that we cannot do it justice in just one day.
So, first of all, we have the week of Easter—the octave—in
which to celebrate. All eight days from Easter Sunday to the
next Sunday are celebrated with great solemnity the Gloria is
sung, the Easter sequence may be sung, the triple alleluia at
the dismissal may be sung. Next, we have a week of
weeks to celebrate
( known as the great octave, the great Sunday, or the great fifty
days of Easter) lasting from Easter Sunday to Pentecost.
The “mathematics” of
the great octave is interesting: we have 7 weeks of 7 days =
49 days + 1 day (Pentecost) = 50 days. Eight is a very special symbolic
number.
We have seven days in our week and so the number seven symbolizes
fulfillment or completion. Eight is one beyond our week of days
and symbolizes “time
beyond time,” the time we call “eschatological” which
points us to the end times when the faithful will enjoy everlasting
bliss in heaven. To celebrate Easter as an octave (eight) and
a great octave
(fifty) indicates to us that Easter celebrates our share now
in what is yet to come. This is the mystery of resurrection for
us:
we already
share in the joy of Christ’s resurrection if we but remain
faithful disciples. Easter isn’t just Christ’s feast
of new life; it is also ours!
Easter is a fifty-day time for
us to shout unceasingly
our joy-filled Alleluias! It is a time when in the primitive
Church fasting and kneeling were forbidden: the Bridegroom is alive
and
present among
us. It surely is a time for uncontained delight and feasting.
Let us keep the festival with joy!
Alleluia!
The Season of Easter
Lesson
plan/activities/faith sharing
HISTORICAL
NOTES
Originally
there was no Easter Sunday morning liturgy; everyone attended
the all-night vigil, climaxing in the celebration of Eucharist
at dawn. Eventually
a change in an understanding of the Vigil, less participation
by the laity in liturgy, and a shift in emphasis to Sunday morning
all but eliminated
the celebration of the Easter Vigil in parishes. Today
the Easter Vigil has been restored to its original dignity and
the welcoming
of new members
has helped to make this liturgy more important, but all
too many people still don’t understand the beauty and importance
of this celebration.
Penance
and fasting are forbidden during the Easter season, a
time when we celebrate our Bridegroom’s presence. ?is means nothing
if we haven’t
kept Lent well or if we don’t regularly do penance
and fast at least on Fridays during the rest of the year.
ACTIVITY
Since
Easter is a season celebrating new life, plant some
seeds or plants and watch
new life germinate and grow.
REFLECTION
I can sustain
Easter joy during these fifty days if I were to ...
The
Easter Lectionary takes the Church from three Sundays
of resurrection appearances to the assurance
of Jesus’ continued love and care (Good Shepherd
Sunday) to preparing us for discipleship and celebrating
the presence
of the Spirit among
us on Pentecost. I am aware of this movement toward
discipleship when ...
PRAYER
God of life and goodness, you raised your
Son to share in
the new life of resurrection from the dead: give
us a share in that same
life; may our Easter joy spill over into good works;
let us embracewith warmth the new members of our Christian community,
and we ask all this is Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Season of EasterAlleluia!