Easter Vigil in Roman Catholicism

Roman Catholic deacon chanting the Exsultet beside the Paschal candle during the Easter Vigil.

In the Roman Catholic tradition the service normally consists of four parts:

1. The Service of Light
2. The Liturgy of the Word
3. Christian Initiation, or the Renewal of Baptismal Vows
4. The Holy Eucharist

Most parishes do not begin the service until after sundown on Holy Saturday. The service begins in the darkness, often in a place other the nave, such as a side chapel, or perhaps outdoors. A new fire is lit and blessed, and the Paschal candle, symbolizing the Light of Christ, is lit from the fire. All baptised Christians (those who have received the "Light of Christ") receive candles, the congregation processes to the nave and their candles are lit from the new fire which is passed from one member of the congregation to another forward through the church. The deacon, or the priest if there is no deacon, carries the Paschal Candle at the head of the procession and at three points stops and chants either "Light of Christ" or "Christ our Light," to which the people respond "Thanks be to God."

Once the procession concludes, the deacon chants the Exultet, and, the church remaining lit only by the people's candles and the Paschal candle, the people take their seats for the Liturgy of the Word, which consists of between two and ten readings from the Hebrew Scriptures, detailing the history of the People of God and in particular the story of the Exodus from bondage in Egypt into the Holy Land, which is the Old Testament antetype of the Easter story. After these readings conclude, a fanfare may sound on the organ and additional musical instruments and the Gloria in Excelsis Deo is sung for the first time since the beginning of Lent. During this outburst of musical jubilation the congregation's candles are extinguished, the church lights are turned on, and bells rung while the church's decorative furnishings — altar frontals, the reredos, lectern hangings, processional banners, statues and paintings — which had been stripped or covered during Holy Week, are ceremonially replaced and unveiled and flowers are placed on altars and elsewhere. Members of the congregation may have been encouraged to bring flowers which are also brought forward and placed about the sanctuary and side altars. A reading from the Epistle to the Romans is proclaimed. The Alleluia is sung, the Gospel follows, along with a homily.

After the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word, any catechumens or candidates for full communion are initated into the church, by baptism, confirmation, respectively. After the baptisms, while the newly baptised are being clothed in white baptismal garments, the congregation renews their baptismal vows. Then all adults baptised at the Easter Vigil, and all adult candidates for full communion are confirmed by the priest celebrant (rather than by the Diocesan Bishop, as in the case of children). The general intercessions follow.

Following the confirmations, the Liturgy of the Eucharist continues as usual.

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