When did the lights come on at your Vigil?

[johnmann]

We compromised. Some of the lights came on according to the rubrics, the rest came on at the Gloria. So technically it was done according to the rubrics.

We have our Vigil early–at 7pm, so there is not really any darkness until we are about halfway through.

Technically a double violation. The rubrics say the vigil is to begin after dark and all the lights “throughout the church” come on before the Exsultet. However, the rubric about the lights is more often ignored than obeyed. Dare I say, the practice of keeping the lights off until the Gloria now has the force of custom.

 

[FrDavid96]

There is sound reason to leave the electric lights off until the Gloria.

According to PASCHALIS SOLLEMNITATIS, the electric lights are supposed to be OFF during the Exsultet (see #83).

I know that the rubric in the Missal says that the lights are lit during the “Lumen Christi” triple proclamation. I wonder if this isn’t the part that’s being misunderstood because that rubric might be more about saying that the candles on the altar are not lit until the Gloria.

The rubric to “turn on the lights” is #17 in the Missal.
After the 3rd “Lumen Christi”
“and lights are lit throughout the church except for the altar candles”
I ask myself “what lights?” I wonder if perhaps that rubric refers to the individual candles held by the congregation (and perhaps other candles) rather than to say that the electric lights are turned-on in full.

I can understand the Church having a rubric to say that the church must be in darkness, illumined only by the Pascal candle and the other candles (which is effectively what PS requires). However, what sounds frankly strange to me is a rubric that would require that electric lights be turned ON in church at any time.

When I have Mass during the day in my own parish church, there’s ample daylight from the windows that we don’t need (and sometimes don’t use) the electric lights—only the candles on the altar. I cannot imagine anyone saying that it is a violation of some rubric not-to-have electric lights in the “on” position. It doesn’t make much sense.

Since there’s no actual liturgical requirement to even have electric lights installed:

1. I can understand a rubric requiring electric lights to be OFF
2. I cannot understand a rubric requiring electric lights to be ON.

 

[johnmann]

According to PASCHALIS SOLLEMNITATIS, the electric lights are supposed to be OFF during the Exsultet (see #83).

It says, it is to be turned off during the procession, before the Exsultet. It’s then silent about the lights after that.

I wonder if perhaps that rubric refers to the individual candles held by the congregation (and perhaps other candles) rather than to say that the electric lights are turned-on in full.

Then it would’ve said “candles” instead of “lights… throughout the church.” Actually, it would’ve said nothing since #16 already said, “All light their candles.”

However, what sounds frankly strange to me is a rubric that would require that electric lights be turned ON in church at any time.

It’s not a rubric about electronic lights. It’s a rubric about lights, period. Whatever you light your church with at night is off until the Exsultet when it’s turned on.

When I have Mass during the day in my own parish church, there’s ample daylight from the windows that we don’t need (and sometimes don’t use) the electric lights—only the candles on the altar. I cannot imagine anyone saying that it is a violation of some rubric not-to-have electric lights in the “on” position. It doesn’t make much sense.

That doesn’t make sense only because it’s during the day. The Easter vigil takes place after dark.

The rubric makes more sense in context. The Service of Light starts in the darkness. The Paschal candle is lit followed by “The light of Christ.” Then individual candles are lit followed by “The light of Christ.” That is, those in attendance receive the light of Christ. Finally, all the lights are lit, followed by the final “The light of Christ,” through which the world is lit. The Exsultet which follows is about the light expelling the darkness.

One can argue that keeping the lights off makes the Paschal candle that much more prominent. I can see that. And certainly waiting until the Gloria makes it much more dramatic. But for better or worse, the rubrics are clear that the lights go on before the Exsultet.

 

[FrDavid96]

It says, it is to be turned off during the procession, before the Exsultet. It’s then silent about the lights after that.

Then it would’ve said “candles” instead of “lights… throughout the church.” Actually, it would’ve said nothing since #16 already said, “All light their candles.”

It’s not a rubric about electronic lights. It’s a rubric about lights, period. Whatever you light your church with at night is off until the Exsultet when it’s turned on.

That doesn’t make sense only because it’s during the day. The Easter vigil takes place after dark.

The rubric makes more sense in context. The Service of Light starts in the darkness. The Paschal candle is lit followed by “The light of Christ.” Then individual candles are lit followed by “The light of Christ.” That is, those in attendance receive the light of Christ. Finally, all the lights are lit, followed by the final “The light of Christ,” through which the world is lit. The Exsultet which follows is about the light expelling the darkness.

One can argue that keeping the lights off makes the Paschal candle that much more prominent. I can see that. And certainly waiting until the Gloria makes it much more dramatic. But for better or worse, the rubrics are clear that the lights go on before the Exsultet.

No. The rubrics are not clear. In this situation, there is ambiguity between Paschalis Solemnitatis (which has force of law) and the Missal.

And you’re missing the point entirely. There is no requirement that any church building even have electric lights—therefore it’s not possible to have a rubric which would strictly require that non-existent lights must be turned on. We can (and do) have a rubric that says that the electric lights are off for the Exsultet (in P.S.)—because that easily means “if you have them, they’re off, and if you don’t have them, do nothing.”

 

[CathConvert2013]

This year, before the exsultet (forgive me if it’s misspelled). I thought they came on too early and too bright. Last year (when I came into the Church) it seemed like it was later, maybe during the creation story in Genesis. This year I was so excited to show my family the vigil as they were sick last year, but it just wasn’t the same. Good, but not the same.

 

[pnewton]

We light up the Church by candles after the procession, through the Exultet. We extinguish them and read by ambo light then until the Gloria.

 

[johnmann]

No. The rubrics are not clear. In this situation, there is ambiguity between Paschalis Solemnitatis (which has force of law) and the Missal.

And you’re missing the point entirely. There is no requirement that any church building even have electric lights—therefore it’s not possible to have a rubric which would strictly require that non-existent lights must be turned on. We can (and do) have a rubric that says that the electric lights are off for the Exsultet (in P.S.)—because that easily means “if you have them, they’re off, and if you don’t have them, do nothing.”

You are misreading the rubrics. There is nothing anywhere about electric lights. It’s lights, period. Every church in the world has lights of one kind or another.

Paschalis Solemnitatis states that the lights are off for the procession. It then never mentions lights again. According to your reading, they should never be turned on, ever. According to my reading, they’re off for the procession then other rubrics or customs dictate when they’re turned back on. The missal is as clear as daylight that they come on before the Exsultet. Turn the lights on means turn the lights on. It literally cannot be interpreted any other way.

FYI, how the pope does it:
2014: youtube.com/watch?v=3g3Ywzy7EsM&t=1025
2013: youtube.com/watch?v=deNd9h2sOSw&t=910
2012: youtube.com/watch?v=ZBmxw36QzGM&t=757

That last video even explains that the lights come on before the Exsultet.

 

[FrDavid96]

You are misreading the rubrics. There is nothing anywhere about electric lights. It’s lights, period. Every church in the world has lights of one kind or another.

Paschalis Solemnitatis states that the lights are off for the procession. It then never mentions lights again. According to your reading, they should never be turned on, ever. According to my reading, they’re off for the procession then other rubrics or customs dictate when they’re turned back on. The missal is as clear as daylight that they come on before the Exsultet. Turn the lights on means turn the lights on. It literally cannot be interpreted any other way.

FYI, how the pope does it:

That last video even explains that the lights come on before the Exsultet.

PASCHALIS SOLLEMNITATIS
The Preparation And Celebration Of The Easter Feasts
Congregation for Divine Worship

1. The procession, by which the people enter the church, should be led by the light of the paschal candle alone. Just as the children of Israel were guided at night by a pillar of fire, so similarly, Christians follow the risen Christ. There is no reason why to each response “Thanks be to God” there should not be added some acclamation in honor of Christ.

The light from the paschal candle should be gradually passed to the candles which it is fitting that all present should hold in their hands, the electric lighting being switched off.

1. The deacon makes the Easter Proclamation which tells, by means of a great poetic text, the whole Easter mystery placed in the context of the economy of salvation. In case of necessity, where there is no deacon, and the celebrating priest is unable to sing it, a cantor may do so. The Bishops’ Conferences may adapt this proclamation by inserting into it acclamations from the people.[89]
2. The readings from Sacred Scripture constitute the second part of the Vigil. They give an account of the outstanding deeds of the history of salvation, which the faithful are helped to meditate calmly upon by the singing of the responsorial psalm, by a silent pause and by the celebrant’s prayer.

 

[johnmann]

I was speaking of the missal. So we have a situation in which the Paschalis Solemnitatis is silence on when to turn the lights back on and we have the missal which says to turn them back on before the Exsultet. There is absolutely no ambiguity.

 

[Chatter163]

Well, that is when it begins. It is nonetheless a beautiful liturgy. I don’t know why, and I really don’t care, because the time is fine with the parish, as there are a lot of elderly and small children who attend who would otherwise probably not because of the late hours. It’s not a deal breaker for me.

Those who cannot attend the Easter Vigil at its proper time have the option of attending Mass on Sunday morning. The Holy See has been unusually strong in its condemnation of this practice:

From the Circular Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts – Congregation for Divine Worship
Quote:

1. The meaning of the nocturnal character of the Easter Vigil
2. “The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil takes place at night. It should not begin before nightfall; it should end before daybreak on Sunday”. (82) This rule is to be taken according to its strictest sense. Reprehensible are those abuses and practices which have crept in in many places in violation of this ruling, whereby the Easter Vigil is celebrated at the time of day that it is customary to celebrate anticipated Sunday Masses. (83)

Those reasons which have been advanced in some quarters for the anticipation of the Easter Vigil, such as lack of public order, are not put forward in connection with Christmas night, nor other gatherings of various kinds.

1. The Passover Vigil, in which the Hebrews kept watch for the Lord’s passover which was to free them from slavery to Pharaoh, was an annual commemoration. It prefigured the true Pasch of Christ that was to come, the night that is of true liberation, in which “destroying the bonds of death, Christ rose as victor from the depths”. (84)
2. From the very outset the Church has celebrated that annual Pasch, which is the solemnity of solemnities, above all by means of a night vigil. For the resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our faith and hope, and through Baptism and Confirmation we are inserted into the paschal mystery of Christ, dying, buried, and raised with him, and with him we shall also reign. (85)
   The full meaning of this Vigil is a waiting for the coming of the Lord. (86)

The US bishop conference maintains the same.
usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-resources/triduum/roman-missal-and-the-easter-vigil.cfm

 

[FrDavid96]

Those who cannot attend the Easter Vigil at its proper time have the option of attending Mass on Sunday morning. The Holy See has been unusually strong in its condemnation of this practice:

From the Circular Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts – Congregation for Divine Worship
Quote:

1. The meaning of the nocturnal character of the Easter Vigil
2. “The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil takes place at night. It should not begin before nightfall; it should end before daybreak on Sunday”. (82) This rule is to be taken according to its strictest sense. Reprehensible are those abuses and practices which have crept in in many places in violation of this ruling, whereby the Easter Vigil is celebrated at the time of day that it is customary to celebrate anticipated Sunday Masses. (83)

Those reasons which have been advanced in some quarters for the anticipation of the Easter Vigil, such as lack of public order, are not put forward in connection with Christmas night, nor other gatherings of various kinds.

1. The Passover Vigil, in which the Hebrews kept watch for the Lord’s passover which was to free them from slavery to Pharaoh, was an annual commemoration. It prefigured the true Pasch of Christ that was to come, the night that is of true liberation, in which “destroying the bonds of death, Christ rose as victor from the depths”. (84)
2. From the very outset the Church has celebrated that annual Pasch, which is the solemnity of solemnities, above all by means of a night vigil. For the resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our faith and hope, and through Baptism and Confirmation we are inserted into the paschal mystery of Christ, dying, buried, and raised with him, and with him we shall also reign. (85)
   The full meaning of this Vigil is a waiting for the coming of the Lord. (86)

The US bishop conference maintains the same.
usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-resources/triduum/roman-missal-and-the-easter-vigil.cfm

Every single year, at the beginning of Lent, my diocese sends a circular letter to all the priests reminding us that the Easter Vigil must begin in true night. Every year, there are a few parishes which schedule the Vigil too early, in spite of this. The real problem is one of attitude. We live in an atmosphere of “rubrics and laws are just suggestions” so we should not be surprised that this specific norm is not being obeyed. It’s a symptom of a larger problem.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Every single year, at the beginning of Lent, my diocese sends a circular letter to all the priests reminding us that the Easter Vigil must begin in true night. Every year, there are a few parishes which schedule the Vigil too early, in spite of this. The real problem is one of attitude. We live in an atmosphere of “rubrics and laws are just suggestions” so we should not be surprised that this specific norm is not being obeyed. It’s a symptom of a larger problem.

You know. Father, that is just a rash judgment on your part as far as my parish is concerned. Our Masses are done according to the rubrics, and our priests do NOT have this attitude. Why he made this decision, I don’t know, but I suspect it was because the elderly parishoners (and we have a lot) of those) did not wish to be out so late. He may also have received permission from the Bishop. I don’t know, and neither do you or anyone else on these forums. I do not question my Pastor over things like this–he has been a priest for 40 years or better and I assume he knows what he is doing. I do not consider this a deal-breaker. There are a lot more serious things that go on in some Masses in some places than starting the Easter Vigil before dark, and I am not going to accept your opinion that my Pastor may have a “larger problem” when you don’t even know him.

God bless you.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Those who cannot attend the Easter Vigil at its proper time have the option of attending Mass on Sunday morning. The Holy See has been unusually strong in its condemnation of this practice:

From the Circular Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts – Congregation for Divine Worship
Quote:

1. The meaning of the nocturnal character of the Easter Vigil
2. “The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil takes place at night. It should not begin before nightfall; it should end before daybreak on Sunday”. (82) This rule is to be taken according to its strictest sense. Reprehensible are those abuses and practices which have crept in in many places in violation of this ruling, whereby the Easter Vigil is celebrated at the time of day that it is customary to celebrate anticipated Sunday Masses. (83)

Those reasons which have been advanced in some quarters for the anticipation of the Easter Vigil, such as lack of public order, are not put forward in connection with Christmas night, nor other gatherings of various kinds.

1. The Passover Vigil, in which the Hebrews kept watch for the Lord’s passover which was to free them from slavery to Pharaoh, was an annual commemoration. It prefigured the true Pasch of Christ that was to come, the night that is of true liberation, in which “destroying the bonds of death, Christ rose as victor from the depths”. (84)
2. From the very outset the Church has celebrated that annual Pasch, which is the solemnity of solemnities, above all by means of a night vigil. For the resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our faith and hope, and through Baptism and Confirmation we are inserted into the paschal mystery of Christ, dying, buried, and raised with him, and with him we shall also reign. (85)
   The full meaning of this Vigil is a waiting for the coming of the Lord. (86)

The US bishop conference maintains the same.
usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-resources/triduum/roman-missal-and-the-easter-vigil.cfm

Chatter, I do not appreciate what amounts as a lecture from you over something neither you nor I have any control over. It is not affecting you one bit. I am not going to throw articles in my Pastor’s face-- he is a fine priest, is not stupid or ignorant of these things, and this absolutely is not the worst thing that could happen. I do not know why he made this decision, I can only guess, and for all I know, he might have discussed it with the Bishop.

I merely stated what time our Easter Vigil began, period. Don’t assume I am stupid about what time the rules say–they are posted every year over and over by people who don’t approve of what someone else’s parish does–for what reason this is done, I don’t know, and I am not one that has to question every decision my pastor makes–he is quite competent and has been a priest over 40 years and does not have an “I don’t care about the rubrics” attitude. Things are done quite by the books at our parish. But I don’t need to defend my Pastor’s decisions to you or anyone else–He makes them, not me.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Every single year, at the beginning of Lent, my diocese sends a circular letter to all the priests reminding us that the Easter Vigil must begin in true night. Every year, there are a few parishes which schedule the Vigil too early, in spite of this. The real problem is one of attitude. We live in an atmosphere of “rubrics and laws are just suggestions” so we should not be surprised that this specific norm is not being obeyed. It’s a symptom of a larger problem.

You know. Father, that is just a rash judgment on your part as far as my parish is concerned. Our Masses are done according to the rubrics, and our priests do NOT have this attitude. Why he made this decision, I don’t know, but I suspect it was because the elderly parishoners (and we have a lot) of those) did not wish to be out so late. He may also have received permission from the Bishop. I don’t know, and neither do you or anyone else on these forums. I do not question my Pastor over things like this–he has been a priest for 40 years or better and I assume he knows what he is doing. I do not consider this a deal-breaker. There are a lot more serious things that go on in some Masses in some places than starting the Easter Vigil before dark, and I am not going to accept your opinion that my Pastor may have a “larger problem” when you don’t even know him.

God bless you.