|
The Right Reverend Séamus Cunningham, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle,
and the priests of the Cathedral, celebrated the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday.
Only after this solemn vigil during the night, held in anticipation of the
resurrection, does the Easter celebration begin, with a spirit of joy that
overflows into the following period of fifty days.
During this sacred liturgy there is a service of light, with the lighting
of the Easter fire and the Easter candle which is a symbol of Christ. Bible
readings are heard which tell of the long preparation for Christ's coming,
and these end with the story of the Resurrection.
At this Easter Vigil, several candidates received the sacraments of Baptism
and Confirmation. A sacrament is an 'outward sign of an inward grace', it
is a sign of something holy and hidden, which can help to make us more Christ-like.
When people are Baptised their sins are forgiven and they become children
of God, joined to Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit who dwells in them;
and they become members of the Church.
Others were received into full communion with the Catholic Church. Those
already baptised renewed their baptismal vows.
The liturgy of the Eucharist followed, in which the newly baptised received
Holy Communion for the first time.
The whole Easter season is a time of feasting and celebration, which balances
the time of fasting during Lent.
|
