Pope Gets Tired?

I read this paragraph in an Associated Press article on the Pope's Easter Vigil Mass.

Benedict, who turns 80 later this month, appeared to tire by the end of Mass, which lasted more than two hours and capped a busy Holy Week. On Good Friday, Benedict presided over long back-to-back public ceremonies _ an afternoon service and a late-night Way of the Cross procession at the Colosseum to mark Jesus' suffering and death.

Once again the media is looking for a sensational article. They can't focus on what is done at the Easter Vigil or all of Holy Week. They can't even write an article based on the facts without trying to turn it into a sensational article. I imagine the writer's desired headline read, "Elderly Pope Showing His Age" or something similar. I am sure the bland title "Pope Presides Over Easter Vigil Mass" dissapointed her.

Now that I have said that, what is missing? Well, of course Pope Benedict was tired and age doesn't have anything to do with it. By the end of my Easter Vigil Mass, I was tired. It didn't have anything to do with my age, it had to do with working very hard and getting little sleep. Add to that the fact that the Easter Vigil in St. Peter's Square ended after midnight. The lights in the Papal Apartment go off at 10 p.m. Midnight is well after our dear Holy Father's bedtime.

A Note for Next Year

At the Easter Vigil Mass, the candles of the congregation should be lit from the Paschal candle, NOT from cigarette lighters.

There will be more on that once I get some sleep and can form coherent sentences.

Happy Easter everyone!

Happy Easter

Rejoice, heavenly powers!
Sing choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God's throne!
Jesus Christ, our King is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!
Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor, radiant in the brightness of your King!

Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes for ever!
Rejoice, O Mother Church!
Exult in glory!

The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God's people!

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is truly right that with full hearts and minds and voices
we should praise the unseen God, the all-powerful Father,
and his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

For Christ has ransomed us with his blood,
and paid for us the price of Adam's sin to our eternal Father!

This is our passover feast,
When Christ, the true Lamb, is slain,
whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers.

This is the night,
when first you saved our fathers:
you freed the people of Israel from their slav'ry,
and led them dry-shod through the sea.

This is the night,
when the pillar of fire destroyed the darkness of sin.

This is night,
when Christians ev'rywhere,
washed clean of sin and freed from all defilement,
are restored to grace and grow together in holiness.

This is the night,
when Jesus broke the chains of death
and rose triumphant from the grave.

What good would life have been to us,
had Christ not come as our Redeemer?
Father, how wonderful your care for us!
How boundless your merciful love!
To ransom a slave you gave away your Son.

O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam,
which gained for us so great a Redeemer!
Most blessed of all nights,
chosen by God to see Christ rising from the dead!

Of this night scripture says: "The night will be as clear as day:
it will become my light, my joy."

The power of this holy night dispels all evil,
washes guilt away, restores lost innocence,
brings mourners joy;
it casts out hatred, brings us peace,
and humbles earthly pride.

Night truly blessed,
when heaven is wedded to earth
and we are reconciled to God!

Therefore, heavenly Father, in the joy of this night,
receive our evening sacrifice of praise, your Church's solemn offering.

Accept this Easter candle,
a flame divided but undimmed,
a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God.
Let it mingle with the lights of heaven
and continue bravely burning
to dispel the darkness of this night!

May the Morning Star which never sets
find this flame still burning:
Christ, that Morning Star,
who came back from the dead,
and shed his peaceful light on all mankind,
your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

The exsultet of the Easter Vigil Mass