After a reverence
has been made toward the altar, the thurifer stands near the credence; and
the subdeacon with the processional cross stands on the Gospel side in front
of the lectern, facing it for the singing of the Paschal proclamation. The
priest goes to his place in the sanctuary, on the epistle side; and the clerics
take their places on benches or stools. The deacon places the Paschal candle
in a small supporting base in the middle of the choir, and, after the priest
has placed incense in the thurible, receives the book and asks for the blessing,
saying: |
Iube, domne,
benedicere. |
|
Sir, give the
blessing. |
The priest
answers: |
Dominus sit in
corde tuo, et in labiis tuis, ut digne et competenter annunties suum paschale
praeconium: In nomine Patris, et Filii, + et Spiritus Sancti. R. Amen. |
|
May the Lord be
on thy heart and on thy lips, that thou mayest worthily and fittingly proclaim
His Paschal praise. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the
Holy Ghost. R. Amen. |
If there is no
deacon, the following simple rite may be used: the thurifer stands next to
the credence in the sanctuary, the crucifer stands on the Gospel side in
front of the lectern, facing it. The priest places the Paschal candle in
its supporting base in the middle of the sanctuary and goes to the sedilia;
the other servers go to their usual places. After placing incense into the
thurible, the celebrant receives the book from the master of ceremonies.
The priest genuflects on the bottom step of the footpace, on the epistle
side, and says in a low voice: |
[quietly] Iube,
Domine, benedicere. |
|
[quietly] O Lord,
give me Thy blessing. |
[quietly] Dominus
sit in corde meo, et in labiis meis, ut digne et competenter annuntiem suum
paschale praeconium. Amen. |
|
[quietly] May
the Lord be on my heart and on my lips, that I mayest worthily and fittingly
proclaim His Paschal praise. |
After this, the
deacon [or priest] goes to the lectern, which is completely covered with
a white drape. He places the book on the lecturn and incenses it; then he
circles the Paschal candle, incensing it. Then all rise and remain standing
while the deacon sings [or the priest sings] the Paschal proclamation, having
before him the Paschal candle and the processional cross, toward the north
side of the church. All hold lit candles in their hands until the end of
the Paschal proclamation. |
Exsultet iam Angelica
turba caelorum: exsultent divina mysteria: et pro tanti Regis victoria, tuba
insonet salutaris. |
|
Let the angelic
choirs of Heaven now rejoice; let the divine Mysteries rejoice; and let the
trumpet of salvation sound forth the victory of so great a King. |
Gaudeat et tellus
tantis irradiata fulgoribus: et aeterni Regis splendore illustrata, totius
orbis se sentiat amisisse caliginem. |
|
Let the earth also
rejoice, made radiant by such splendor; and, enlightened with the brightness
of the eternal King, let it know that the darkness of the whole world is
scattered. |
Laetetur et mater
Ecclesia, tanti luminis adornata fulgoribus: et magnis populorum vocibus
haec aula resultet. |
|
Let our mother
the Church also rejoice, adorned with the brightness of so great a light;
and let this temple resound with the loud acclamations of the people. |
Quapropter astantes
vos, fratres carissimi, ad tam miram huius sancti luminis claritatem, una
mecum, quaeso, Dei omnipotentis misericordiam invocate. Ut qui me non meis
meritis intra Levitarum numerum dignatus est aggregare: luminis sui claritatem
infundens, Cerei huius laudem implere perficiat. |
|
Wherefore I beseech
you, most beloved brethren, who are here present in the wondrous brightness
of this holy light, to invoke wtih me the mercy of almighty God. That He
who has vouchsafed to admit me among the Levites, without any merits of mine,
would pour forth the brightness of His light upon me, and enable me to perfect
the praise of this wax candle. |
Per Dominum nostrum
Iesum Christum Filium suum: qui cum eo vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus
Sancti Deus per omnia saecula saeculorum. |
|
Through our Lord
Jesus Christ His Son, Who with Him and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth
one God for ever and ever. |
| R. Amen. |
|
R. Amen. |
| V. Dominus
vobiscum. |
|
V. The Lord
be with you. |
| R. Et cum
spiritu tuo. |
|
R. And with
thy spirit. |
| V. Sursum
corda. |
|
V. Lift up
thy hearts. |
V. Gratias agamus
Domino Deo nostro. |
|
V. Let us give
thanks to the Lord our God.. |
| R. Dignum
et iustum est. |
|
R. It is meet
and just. |
Vere dignum et
iustum est, invisibilem Deum Patrem omnipotentem, Filiumque eius unigenium,
Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, toto cordis ac mentis affectu, et vocis
ministerio personare. Qui pro nobis aeterno Patri, Adae debitum solvit: et
veteris piaculi cautionem pio cruore detersit. |
|
It is truly meet
and right to proclaim with all our heart and all the affection of our mind,
and with the ministry of our voices, the invisible God, the Father almighty,
and His only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who repaid for us to His
eternal Father the debt of Adam, and by the merciful shedding of His Blood,
cancelled the debt incurred by original sin. |
Haec sunt enim
festa paschalia, in quibus verus ille Agnus occiditur, cuius sanguine postes
fidelium consecrantur. |
|
For this is the
Paschal Festival; in which that true Lamb is slain, with Whose Blood the
doorposts of the faithful are consecrated. |
Haec nox est, in
qua primum patres nostros filios Israel eductos de Aegypto, mare Rubrum sicco
vestigio transire fecisti. |
|
This is the night
in which Thou didst formerly cause our forefathers, the children of Israel,
when brought out of Egypt, to pass through the Red Sea with dry foot. |
Haec igitur nox
est, quae peccatorum tenebras, columnae illuminatione purgavit. |
|
This, therefore,
is the night which dissipated the darkness of sinners by the light of the
pillar. |
Haec nox est, quae
hodie per universum mundum, in Christo credentes, a vitiis saeculi, et caligine
peccatorum segregatos, reddit gratiae, sociat sanctitati. |
|
This is the night
which at this time throughout the world restores to grace and unites in sanctity
those that believe in Christ, and are separated from the vices of the world
and the darkness of sinners. |
Haec nox est, in
qua destructus vinculis mortis, Christus ab inferis victor ascendit. Nihil
enim nobis nasci profuit, nisi redimi profuisset. |
|
This is the night
in which, destroying the chains of death, Christ arose victorious from the
grave. For it would have profited us nothing to have been born, unless redemption
had also been bestowed upon us. |
O mira circa nos
tuae pietatis dignatio! |
|
O wondrous
condescension of Thy mercy towards us! |
O inaestimabilis
dilectio caritatis: ut servum redimeres, Filium tradidisti! |
|
O inestimable affection
of love: that Thou mightest redeem a slave, Thou didst deliver up Thy Son!
|
O certe necessarium
Adae peccatum, quod Christi morte deletum est! |
|
O truly needful
sin of Adam, which was blotted out by the death of Christ! |
O felix culpa,
quae talem ac tantum meruit habere Redemptorem! |
|
O happy fault,
that merited to possess such and so great a Redeemer! |
O vere beata nox,
quae sola meruit scire tempus et horam, in qua Christus ab inferis resurrexit!
Haec nox est, de qua scriptum est: Et nox sicut dies illuminabitur: et nox
illuminatio mea in deliciis meis. |
|
O truly blessed
night, which alone deserved to know the time and hour when Christ rose again
from hell! This is the night of which it is written: And the night shall
be as clear as the day; and the night is my light in my delights. |
Huius igitur
sanctificatio noctis fugat scelera, culpas lavat: et reddit innocentiam lapsis,
et moestis laetitiam. Fugat odia, concordiam parat, et curvat imperia. |
|
Therefore the hallowing
of this night puts to flight all wickedness, cleanses sins, and restores
innocence to the fallen, and gladness to the sorrowful. It drives forth hatreds,
it prepares concord, and brings down haughtiness. |
In huius igitur
noctis gratia, suscipe, sancte Pater, incensi huius sacrificium vespertinum:
quod tibi in hac Cerei oblatione solemni, per ministrorum manus de operibus
apum, sacrosancta reddit Ecclesia. |
|
Wherefore, in this
sacred night, receive, O holy Father, the evening sacrifice of this incense,
which holy Church renders to Thee by the hands of Thy ministers in the solemn
offering of this wax candle, made out the work of bees. |
Sed iam columnae
huius praeconia novimus, quam in honorem Dei rutilans ignis accendit. Qui
licet sit divisus in partes, mutuati tamen luminis detrimenta non novit.
Alitur enim liquantibus ceris, quas in substantiam pretiosae huius lampadis,
apis mater eduxit. |
|
 Now also we know the praises
of this pillar, which the shining fire enkindles to the honor of God. Which
fire, although divided into parts, suffers no loss from its light being borrowed.
For it is nourished by the melting wax, which the mother bee produced for
the substance of this precious light. |
O vere beata nox,
quae exspoiliavit Aegyptos, ditavit Hebraeos! Nox, in qua terrenis caelestia,
humanis divina iunguntur. |
|
O truly blessed
night, which plundered the Egyptians and enriched the Hebrews! A night in
which heavenly things are united to those of earth, and things divine to
those which are of man. |
Oramus ergo te,
Domine: ut Cereus iste in honorem tui nominis consecratus, ad noctis huius
caliginem destruendam, indeficiens perseveret. Et in odorem suavitatis acceptus,
supernis luminaribus misceatur. Flammas eius lucifer matutinus inveniat.
Ille, qui regressus ab inferis, humano generi serenus illuxit. |
|
We beseech Thee,
therefore, O Lord, that this wax candle hallowed in honor of Thy Name, may
continue to burn to dissipate the darkness of this night. And being accepted
as a sweet savor, may be united with the heavenly lights. Let the morning
star find its flame alight. That star, I mean, which knows no setting. He
Who returning from hell, serenely shone forth upon mankind. |
Precamur ergo te,
Domine: ut nos famulos tuos, omnemque clerum, et devotissimum populum: una
cum beatissimo Papa nostro N. et Antistite nostro N. quiete temporum concessa,
in his paschalibus gaudiis, assidua protectione regere, gubernare, et conservare
digneris. |
|
We beseech Thee
therefore, O Lord, that Thou wouldst grant peaceful times during this Paschal
Festival, and vouchsafe to rule, govern, and keep with Thy constant protection
us Thy servants, and all the clergy, and the devout people, together with
our most holy Father, Pope N...., and our Bishop N.... |
Respice etiam ad
eos, qui nos in potestate regunt, et, ineffabili pietatis et misericordiae
tuae munere, dirige cogitationes eorum ad iustitiam et pacem, ut de terrena
operositate ad caelestem patriam perveniant cum omni populo tuo. |
|
Have regard, also,
for those who reign over us, and, grant them Thine ineffable kindness and
mercy, direct their thoughts in justice and peace, that from their earthy
toil, they may come to their heavenly reward with all Thy people. |
Per Christum Filium
tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus: |
|
Through the same
Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, God: |
Per omnia saecula
saeculorum. |
|
World without end.
|
| R. Amen. |
|
R. Amen. |
