Easter - the Resurrection of the Lord
Christ is Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia! Kua ara te Karaiti, Areruia, Areruia!
“The love of the Son proves to be stronger than death because it unites people with God’s love, which is God’s very being. Thus the Resurrection of Christ is not just the destination of an individual that is called to mind. He is now perpetually present, because he lives, and he gathers us up, so that we may live: “[B]ecause I live, you will live also” (Jn 14:19). In the light of Easter, Christians see themselves as people who truly live. They have found their way out of an existence that is more death than life. They have discovered real life: “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (Jn 17:3). Deliverance from death is at the same time deliverance from the captivity of individualism, from the prison of self, from the incapacity to love and make a gift of oneself … Resurrection builds community. It creates the new People of God.”
From ‘Time and space in the Liturgy’ p.116 ‘The Spirit of the Liturgy’ by Cardinal J Ratzinger
Readings for Easter
You will find all the Scripture Readings for Easter on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website.
Holy Saturday at the Easter vigil in the Holy night of Easter. HERE
The Mass of Easter Day HERE
Homily Studio
Listen to a 30 minute conversation on the scriptures for Easter HERE
Six Prayers for Easter
Draw Us Forth
Draw us forth, God of all creation.
Draw us forward and away from limited certainty
into the immense world of your love.
Give us the capacity to even for a moment
taste the richness of the feast you give us.
Give us the peace to live with uncertainty,
with questions,
with doubts.
Help us to experience the resurrection anew
with open wonder and an increasing ability
to see you in the people of Easter.
- Author Unknown
Source: https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/prayer-index/easter-prayers
Easter Table Prayer
Creator God and Lord of Life,
You who call forth from the darkness of death
all those who love You,
we rejoice, on this Easter Sunday,
in the resurrection from the dead
of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Visit our home and this table
with Your bright blessing of peace and life.
We pause in the midst of this prayer
to remember all the holy dead of our family
who live now in You and who await
the final and glorious resurrection of the dead.
Pause for silent reflection to remember those who have died.
May they and we,
because of our faith in You, our God,
taste in the victory of life over death.
May the Risen Christ, our Lord and Saviour,
be our guest as we celebrate His resurrection
with this Easter Sunday dinner.
Bless those whose work to prepare this meal
has truly been a work of prayer,
and bless all of us who shall share it
with Easter love and joy.
May You, then, bless this table and this food,
and each of us in Your holy name.
Amen.
Edward Hays, "Prayers for the Domestic Church: A Handbook for Worship in the Home"
Forgive us
When our faith
stands at the grave,
grieving
for a stone that's rolled away,
forgive us.
When our faith
is short of
understanding
though the truth is there to see,
forgive us.
When our faith,
beset by doubt, sees
no further
than an empty tomb today,
forgive us.
Bring to mind
the cry of Mary,
‘I have seen the Lord!'
and grant us faith to believe!
You have done marvellous things
We give thanks to you, Lord,
for you have done marvellous things!
When we were walking in darkness
you were there, you were there,
when we were kneeling in weakness
you were there, you were there,
when we drew near feeling worthless
you were there, you were there,
when we were needing forgiveness
you were there, you were there,
when we were searching for your grace
you were there, you were there.
We give thanks to you, Lord,
for you have done marvellous things!
Help us to live as new people
Lord,
the resurrection of Your Son
has given us new life and renewed hope.
Help us to live as new people
in pursuit of the Christian ideal.
Grant us wisdom to know what we must do,
the will to want to do it,
the courage to undertake it,
the perseverance to continue to do it,
and the strength to complete it.
New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book
Source: https://www.faithandworship.com/prayers_Easter.htm#gsc.tab=0
More Resources
Easter Sunday at home - Family Prayer HERE
Music for Easter
'Christ the Lord is risen today.' Kyiv Symphony orchestra and choir. HERE
Songs of Easter, Music for the Resurrection. Sunday 7pm choir. HERE
'Lord of the Dance' – Cambridge singers and John Rutter HERE
'Jubilate Deo' – Cambridge singers and John Rutter. HERE
'Alleluia! Sing to Jesus.' Pritchard. HERE