“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me.” Matthew 26:21–23
Christ is risen! Truly He is risen! The stone is rolled away. The tomb where Christ once laid is empty. Death did not hold Him. He conquered death and restored life. Jesus, Our Redeemer, brings us life, love, and hope won for us all through His passion, death, and resurrection.
This year, in these unprecedented times, our celebration of the Holy Triduum and Easter has certainly been far different than usual. The Coronavirus Pandemic and its effects have forced us all to adapt, sacrifice, and persevere in all things. We can all agree we’ve never experienced anything like this in our lifetimes. However, the same truths of our faith in the Paschal Mystery that we joyfully celebrate each year reign true today in the time of pandemic as “causes for joy.”
What I find special (and encouraging!) is how all the Easter Sunday Gospels begin with disciples seeking. In each of the Gospel accounts of the empty tomb, the women, Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” or, Mary, the mother of James and John, go to the empty tomb. “On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb” (John 20:1).
What are they seeking? Perhaps the Resurrected Christ, but they didn’t all understand how the Scriptures would be fulfilled yet. Maybe they were seeking to mourn the Lord’s death more or to pray for Him. Maybe they were hoping to find some comfort in praying where His body laid at rest. No matter what, they were seeking. They didn’t immediately encounter the Lord either, they had to let the story continue to unfold and find Him. When they found Him, inexpressible joy was certainly the reaction!
Easter Joy, an encounter with our Risen Lord doesn’t just come to us. We must seek it. All of us approximately 2,000 years later are truly blessed to know how the story unfolds. We can seek to meet the Risen Lord knowing that He comes to us and calls us to Himself. Easter Joy, the joy of the Risen Lord is indeed ours when we seek Him!
How can we seek the Lord in such difficult times? In such depressing, scary, difficult times?
In faith, in hope, and in charity!
Seek Him! Believe in the power of God to transform our mourning into laughter and our fear into confidence. Live the truths and commandments of our faith. Long for the coming of God’s Kingdom, fulfillment only in Jesus Christ, and eternal life with Him. Long for the glory of God to be revealed through these difficult times.
Love, serve, and be charitable! Be kind, patient, and forgiving. Reach out to those who are lonely whether they be family, friends, or strangers. Share what you have with those in need. Recognize that praying for and supporting others are the greatest gifts of all through these times!
In these “uncharted lands,” we can hold true to our faith and the glory of the Resurrection. We can seek Jesus in opportunities that we never have before. We can find Easter Joy – the joy that “dispels wickedness, washes faults away, restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners” (Exsultet: The Proclamation of Easter).
Once Mary saw, what did she do? “She ran and went” (John 20:2). Once you’ve found a glimmer of the Easter Joy, like Mary, bring it to others.
Andrew Rubinich currently is a Seminarian for the Archdiocese of Newark at Immaculate Conception Seminary in South Orange, New Jersey. He attended the College Seminary at Saint Andrew’s Hall at Seton Hall University and graduated in May 2020 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Catholic Philosophical Theology. In his free time from prayer, studies, and Seminary life, he enjoys time around the parish, time spent with family and friends, music, and writing.
The Easter Vigil is the most extraordinary liturgy of the entire year in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church. The Roman Missal guides the celebration of this great night and even refers to the Easter Vigil as the “mother of all vigils,” which is quoting St. Augustine from the 5th Century. So, the Easter Vigil has real history.
Throughout the years, this celebration did get lost for a time, lacking the full vigor it once had. However, Pope Pius XII in the 1950s, restored the prominent celebration of the mother of all vigils on the Saturday evening before Easter Sunday.
The Easter Vigil is packed with breathtaking symbolism and meaning. And it is packed with a celebration of everything we hold dear as Catholics. Christ is seen throughout in amazing grandeur.
First, it must be mentioned, the Easter Vigil begins with a bonfire outside. This holy fire is called the Lucernarium and the liturgy begins with the celebrant blessing the Easter fire. This fire symbolizes Christ who is not dead, but very much alive, burning brightly. From this fire, coals are taken out to light the incense and the fire is also used to light the new Paschal candle.
Throughout the entire liturgical year, the Paschal candle stands in or near the sanctuary of the church or near the baptistry as a sign of Christ. This candle is triumphantly marched into the church which is completely dark at this point. The single burning flame enters the back of the church carried by a priest or deacon who then raises it above his head and sings, “Lumen Christi” (the Light of Christ) to which the people respond, “Deo Gratias” (Thanks be to God). This is repeated a total of three times as the priest nears the sanctuary of the church.
While the Paschal candle makes its way to the altar area, little candles held by the congregation are lit from the Paschal candle and the light of Christ truly begins to spread throughout the church which is now lit by candlelight.
Once the candle makes it to the front, the Easter Proclamation or Exsultet is proclaimed by the priest, deacon, or cantor. This triumphant and beautiful chant is the prelude to the celebration of Easter. It speaks of night and light, of the place and time of the moment, of the priest and congregation, and it anticipates the glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
After the long subdued nature of the Lenten Season, the Easter Vigil breaks in with glory and anticipation. During the Gloria in Excelsis, for example, every bell available is rung all throughout the chanting or singing of the hymn. Each reading during the Liturgy of the Word has an accompanying responsorial psalm. There are many other musical additions to the liturgy called for in the Roman Missal, including the Litany of the Saints before the Blessing of the Baptismal Water. The music at the mother of all vigils is something truly magnificent.
The Liturgy of the Word is kicked into high gear. There are seven possible readings (minimum of three), each with a selected responsorial psalm sung in between the readings and prayers by the priest following each psalm.
Then the Gloria in Excelsis is sung. The Collect is said. A reading from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans is proclaimed. The Alleluia is proclaimed for the first time since before Lent. Yet another Psalm is sung. Then the Gospel is read and the Homily is given.
The remainder of the liturgy is a remarkable tour de force of the Sacraments of Initiation of the Church. The Baptismal water is blessed; those entering the Church make a profession of faith, renounce sin, and are baptized. Many of these adults have been preparing for this moment for a year or more.
Next, those who are not Catholic but who are previously baptized make a profession of faith in the Catholic Church are received into full communion with the Church. Then, the new Catholics, now all baptized and officially members of the Catholic Church are invited to the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmed.
The entire congregation is then invited to renew their own baptismal promises and receive a blessing from the priest with the newly blessed baptismal water. The Liturgy of the Eucharist then takes place in the normal way.
However, now baptized and confirmed, the new Catholics (neophytes) receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist for the very first time. What a splendid moment to behold. This is the pinnacle of our Faith. With so many people leaving the practice of the Faith, this holy night is one in which to take part. By being present and praying for these new Catholics, we show our support to these new members of the Body of Christ.
Will Wright lives in Phoenix with his wife and sons and is a History and Religion Teacher at St. John Paul II Catholic High School. He is an adjunct instructor and Institute Fellow with the Institute of Catholic Theology in Phoenix and an instructor at the Kino Catechetical Institute. He is also a regular author for the website Catholic-Link English, many of his articles have been featured on “The Best of Catholic Blogging” column on the National Catholic Register website, and has been published with Adoremus Bulletin and SpiritualDirection.com.
Will earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also holds a dual course of study Master’s Degree in Catechetics & Evangelization and Theology & Christian Ministry from Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is currently enrolled with Pontifex University and working towards a Doctorate in Theology (ThD).
On March 26 of 2026, I was invited to assist at a Chrism Mass at St. Jerome Cathedral on March 31st by Emilio Velo, Permanent Deacon.
The Chrism Mass is a major celebration of Holy Week, presided over by the bishop and attended by his priests (the presbyterium), during which he consecrates the Holy Chrism and blesses the oils for the sick and catechumens. Held in the diocesan cathedral, it manifests the unity of the local Church and allows priests to renew their priestly vows.
Key elements of the Chrism Mass:
The Holy Chrism, a mixture of olive oil and perfumes, is consecrated by the bishop. It is used for baptisms, confirmations, ordinations, and the dedication of churches.
The other oils: the oil of catechumens (for those preparing for baptism) and the oil of the sick (for the sacrament of the sick) are blessed.
Renewal of vows: The priests (and sometimes deacons) renew their commitment to the service of Christ and the Church before the bishop.
Moment of Communion: This is a diocesan gathering that brings together priests, deacons, consecrated persons, and the faithful from all sectors.
Calendar: Traditionally, Holy Thursday is often celebrated on Tuesday or Wednesday of Holy Week for practical reasons.
These holy oils are then distributed to the parishes for use throughout the liturgical year
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint-Jérôme (Latin: Dioecesis Sancti Hieronymi Terraebonae) is a Latin rite suffragan of the Archdiocese of Montréal. Its cathedral episcopal see is Cathédrale Saint-Jérôme, dedicated to Saint Jerome (Hieronumus), in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec. It was erected on 23 June 1951 as the Diocese of Saint-Jérôme (Latin: Sancti Hieronymi Terræbonæ), on territories split off from (its Metropolitan) the Archdiocese of Montréal, the Archdiocese of Ottawa and the Diocese of Mont-Laurier. On 1 June 2022, the Diocese of Saint-Jérôme and the Diocese of Mont-Laurier were united to become the Diocese of Saint-Jérôme–Mont-Laurier. As of 2014, it pastorally served 446,000 Catholics (97.2% of the 459,000 total) across 2,116 km2 in 35 parishes, with 67 priests (52 diocesan, 15 religious), 18 deacons, 118 lay religious (21 brothers, 97 sisters), and 3 seminarians. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocese_of_Saint-Jerome_Mont-Laurier
