Light of Christ, catechumens shine on Holy Saturday
At sundown on Holy Saturday, April 8, hundreds of parishioners and catechumens joined Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, around a blazing fire for the beginning of the Easter Vigil outside the darkened Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark.
The Easter Vigil marks the banishment of the darkness of sin at the end of the Paschal Triduum, consisting of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Over the three days the Last Supper was held, Jesus died on the cross and descended into Hell before rising on Easter Sunday.
Outside the Cathedral Basilica, the flames dispelled the darkness and lit up the night. The large Paschal Candle was brought forward and lit from the flames, conveying that Christ is the light of the world. The candle is the symbol of the “light of Christ, rising in glory,” scattering the “darkness of our hearts and minds,” according to the Missale Romanum, the Rubrics for the Easter Vigil.
The faithful then lit their own candles and entered the dark church as the priest sang out “The light of Christ,” responding with “Blessed be to God.” The lights were slowly turned on, and the Paschal Candle was placed in the sanctuary.
After that, the deeds of the history of salvation were recounted through seven readings from the Old Testament and two readings from the New Testament.
“On this most sacred night, we enter into the Easter season, the time when we remember the resurrection of the Lord,” Cardinal Tobin said during his homily. “Not something that was simply given but the greatest surprise the human race has ever faced.”
Over the Lenten season, the faithful, and especially catechumens, have grown closer in relationship to Christ, he said.
“Let us save our family with the light of the Gospel,” Cardinal Tobin said. “Let us ask the Father to tear out of our chests the hearts that are made of stone and give us a heart of flesh, a human heart that is capable of love so that we can live in unity and fraternity.”
Also during the Easter Vigil, 10 catechumens received the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church — baptism, confirmation, and the first Communion – after spending a year in Catechumenate.
During the Liturgy of Baptism, the 10 catechumens were called to the baptismal font, where they bowed their heads and had blessed water poured over them by Cardinal Tobin. They were then given white garments to wear, anointed with the oil of catechumens, and confirmed by Cardinal Tobin.
Cardinal Tobin commemorated the baptism with sprinkling the people with the blessed water.
At the end of Mass, Cardinal Tobin gave special thanks to the Church’s 10 new sisters and brothers. Speaking directly to them, he said, “You opened yourselves to God’s grace. And God loves each one of you as if there was only one of you to love… So welcome, welcome, and welcome.”
Afterward, the newly initiated Catholics expressed excitement over being welcomed into the Church.
“It has been a night that I will not forget,” said Diego Junior Ellio. “I feel very happy for me and my family.” Reinalis Ayala was never baptized before Saturday night but started to pray more last year and attend Mass.
“I decided to fully give my life to Christ,” Ayala said.
Eleven-year-old Leonel Sebastian said he feels “great happiness to be a new member of the Catholic Church.”
In February, 380 catechumens throughout the Archdiocese of Newark signed the book of Elect at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
The Elect then experienced The Scrutinies during Mass at their local parishes during the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent. It was a period of purification and enlightenment in preparation for baptism.
The other 370 catechumens that were not confirmed during the Cathedral Basilica’s Easter Vigil became full Catholics at their parishes on April 8.
Photos and video by Julio Eduardo Herrera
