Light and Water

By Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ • Phoenix, AZ

The two main elements of the beautiful and elaborate Easter Vigil are light and water. The Light takes several forms: a blazing fire that is blessed at the very beginning from which the Paschal Candle and individual candles are lit outside the Church – accompanied by the prayer, “Sanctify the new fire, we pray, and grant that, by these paschal celebrations, we may be so inflamed with heavenly desires, that with minds made pure we may attain festivities of unending splendor”. Hence begins the procession with the Paschal Candle bearer chanting “lumen Christi” (Light of Christ) as he enters the dark chapel which is then illuminated brightly at the third chant and the congregation answering “Deo Gratias” (Thanks be to God). The chanting of the great Easter Proclamation brings the ceremony of light to its climax: “This is the night that with a pillar of fire banished the darkness of sin.” And “Christ your Son, Who, coming back from death’s domain, has shed His peaceful light on humanity…”

The element of water prevails in the Baptismal Rite starting with the extended Blessing of the Baptismal Water all the way to the blessing of water and aspersion of holy water on the faithful already baptized. Each blessing echoes the use of water in the history of Israel and the prophets: “You also made water the instrument of your mercy: for through water you freed your people from slavery and quenched their thirst in the desert; through water the Prophets proclaimed the new covenant you were to enter upon with the human race; and last of all, through water, which Christ made holy in the Jordan, you have renewed our corrupt nature in the bath of regeneration.”

The meaning of these elements is repeatedly explained in the seven readings from the Old Testament, with none more vivid than the third reading from Exodus 14. The fiery pillar of cloud is a clear symbol of the Lord’s presence and power to protect and guide His people to salvation. The wall of water to their right and to their left as they safely pass through the sea is their definitive redemption from Pharaoh’s slavery by the destruction of his forces when the Lord hurled them headlong into sea and the water washed over them, and symbolizes the power of Baptism which is at the heart of the celebration of the Easter Vigil!

The symbolism of Light and Water are to help us penetrate more deeply into the great mystery of the triumphant Resurrection of the Lord Jesus over death and its blessing for humanity. The richness of this symbolism in the third reading from Exodus goes just a few verses past the conclusion as it is in the lectionary: “Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: I will sing to the LORD, for He is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot He has cast into the sea. My strength and my refuge is the LORD, and He has become my savior. This is my God, I praise Him; the God of my father, I extol Him. The LORD is a warrior, LORD is His name!” (Ex 15:1-3f)

Happy Easter to all our Friends and Benefactors!