The Litany of the Saints at the Easter Vigil Mass

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I have a question. Now, to clear up the ground, before I ask my question, just for the record, I am a very curious persom, when it comes to Liturgy and Sacraments, and I am NOT questioning the Church’s stance itself on these matters. Now that I have established this, here is my question. What is the pertinence of the Litany of the Saints to the Easter Vigil Mass?

Pax Vobiscum,
Herbert Cruz
 
hcruz402 said:
I have a question. Now, to clear up the ground, before I ask my question, just for the record, I am a very curious persom, when it comes to Liturgy and Sacraments, and I am NOT questioning the Church’s stance itself on these matters. Now that I have established this, here is my question. What is the pertinence of the Litany of the Saints to the Easter Vigil Mass?

Pax Vobiscum,
Herbert Cruz
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Well, of course, the Litany of the Saints is ancient, but its main relevance is that, having just listened to the story of salvation from the beginning (one of the reasons why I love the Easter Vigil Mass), it is a reminder that it’s never “just Jesus and me” but that we are a body, and we pray for each other, and no one is alone.
 
The Litany is chanted before baptism, and only if there is baptism during the Vigil. We call on the Saints to pray for those about to come into the Church. The Rite of Baptism also has a Litany in it for other times when Baptism takes place.
 
Right. The Litany of the Saints is part of the baptismal rite, especially for the Easter Vigil. It’s also used during Ordination Masses (and IIRC, during Confirmation Masses, too). There are several saints that are always sung in the Litany, but, in addition, the baptismal/confirmation saints of those to be baptized/confirmed (especially if there are not many of them) and the patron saints of the parish, diocese, and pastor, and the founder of the religious order that runs the parish (if applicable) may also be added.
 
When we talk about this in RCIA, I remind folks that their view of the Church keeps growing as they go through the different rites.

At first they are welcomed both formally and informally by the pastor, the RCIA team, and the people of the parish. At the Rite of Election their view expands to include the bishop and the entire archdiocese. Finally at there Easter Vigil it expands further to include the Church as a whole, in all times and all places. They, too, are now included among the communion of saints. What a glorious thing that is.
 
Post #3 had: “The Litany is chanted before baptism, and only if there is baptism during the Vigil.”

This is incorrect.

The Easter Vigil can be done in three ways:
  1. Someone baptized, do the litany.
  2. No one baptized and font blessed, do the litany.
  3. No one baptized and font not blessed, do not do the litany.
Some rubrics that highlight that this is the case are:

“42. If no one is to be baptized and the font is not to be blessed, the Litany is omitted, and the Blessing of Water (no. 54) takes place at once.”

“43. … If there is no one to be baptized:
Make this font holy by your grace for the new birth of your children,
R. Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.”
 
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