Easter Vigil - 2 OT readings?!

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We had seven OT readings, long form, 3 Baptisms, 4 Confirmations, and 1 person returning to the Church who had been in RCIA and made a Profession of Faith. I never heard of someone making a Profession of Faith at the Easter Vigil (without receiving Confirmation). Does this happen often? Anyway, it was nice to see someone returning to the Church and acknowledge it publicly. The Vigil was 2 hours long, and nothing was shortened or left out, the music was gorgeous, very well-planned and executed. A beautiful Vigil.
 
We did all seven readings, but we had no baptisms, and only one confirmation.
 
Ours was very lovely last night. We had 7 readings. The whole thing lasted nearly 3 hours which isn’t bad considering we had about 10 baptisted and another 9 or 10 confirmed etc. 🙂 It didn’t seem like 3 hours though.
 
We had three readings, Creation, the Red Sea, and Isaiah. I wasn’t looking at the Missal so I’m not for sure, but I think it was the long form, that is what we usually use. We had 20 people baptized, another 10 or so received into the church, and a few more confirmations, as well as some marriages. In all, it was right at 3 hours. 😃 And amazing, every minute of it! :heaven: 😃
 
It has at usccb.org/liturgy/eastervigil.shtml about the 2002 Roman Missal and the Easter Vigil:

"… The Missale adds a sentence about the nine readings proposed, saying that “all of these must be read whenever it can be done, so that the character of a Vigil which takes place over some duration of time can be observed” (EV, no. 20).

The new Missale recognizes that “nevertheless, where grave pastoral circumstances demand it, the number of readings from the Old Testament may be reduced (EV, no 21). At least three readings from the Old Testament should be read always including Exodus 14 (EV, no. 21). The reference found previously in the Missale to the possibility of having only two Old Testament readings in extreme necessity is omitted. …"

Here is the Latin text: “21. … Legantur saltem tres lectionies e Vetere Testamento desumptae, et quidem ex Lege et Prophetis, et canantur repectivi Psalmi responsorii. Numquae autem omittatur lectio cap. 14 Exodi cum suo cantico.” (Missale Romanum, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2002, ISBN: 8820972719, page 356).
 
I have been at the Vigil with only 2 readings and there is nothing wrong with that. The parish (from what I saw) walked out more inspired as if you go 8 readings and 3.5hrs it drags and people are just itching to get out (remember, most Catholics are in the 1hr routine 😉 ).
 
To me there is something wrong with editing the most sacred liturgy of the year. I go to the Vigil with the idea that it will take as long as it takes. Of course in 15 years of Vigils I’ve only seen one baptism but still, I expect to hear all the readings, all the psalms sung, etc. I think it’s cheating the faithful to offer them less.
 
We had 7 readings, 11 people got baptised and 5 confirmed. In total 3.5 hours but felt much, much shorter.

Gearoidin
 
At the church I have been visiting the Easter Vigil involved 27 baptisms, and they had all nine readings (using the long versions whenever that was an option).

It was a long service, but one of the most beautiful things I have seen in my life. I am very glad I went, and I will continue to learn about the Catholic Church.
 
NewUlm1976_2000 said:
I have been at the Vigil with only 2 readings and there is nothing wrong with that. The parish (from what I saw) walked out more inspired as if you go 8 readings and 3.5hrs it drags and people are just itching to get out (remember, most Catholics are in the 1hr routine 😉 ).
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That is a serious abuse. Furthermore, is three hours really too much to ask for such a great celebration? Are you sure you didn’t take a wrong turn and wind up with the Episcopalians?

We read all nine readings (7 OT Readings, the Epistle and the Gospel). Furthermore, we only had one adult Baptism. The Mass began at 8:30PM and ended at about 11:30PM. No one complained. The only caveat was that the Exultet was not the Exultet and was proclaimed with drums, another brilliant fad courtesy of OCP. The words were too much of a paraphrase (angels dancing for joy, a severely paraphrased version of O happy fault and other strange things). I am going to pray that my pastor be rid of the tentacles of OCP. :eek:
 
NewUlm1976_2000 said:
I have been at the Vigil with only 2 readings and there is nothing wrong with that. The parish (from what I saw) walked out more inspired as if you go 8 readings and 3.5hrs it drags and people are just itching to get out (remember, most Catholics are in the 1hr routine 😉 ).
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Except that the wisdom of the Church provides for and recommends a more lavish reading of the Scriptures, and the Church mandates at least 3 OT readings. I think of all services, the desire to expedite any of the Holy Triduum services is unfortunate and quite out of order. If God hung on the cross for some 3 hours, and endured 12 hours of agony prior to that to save us, why couldn’t we give a little bit more time in worship on those days?
 
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