Category: E

Let me pause as I begin this new day to give it to You, 
Lord.
Before the tumult of activities breaks in;
before breakfast plates crash through my still sleepy mind;
for this last moment in my bed, thank you, Lord.

Let me hold Your promise of new life.
Keep me from slipping back 
for I know that what is forgiven is as if it never were.
Each new day,
Your grace gives me a fresh start to walk in Your light 
again.

May the Lord support us all the day long, 
till the shades lengten and the evening comes, 
and the busy world is hushed, 
and the fever of life is over, 
and our work is done. 
Then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging, 
and a holy rest, 
and peace at the last. 

Amen.

Father: Christ is risen, Alleluia. 
Family: He is truly risen, Alleluia.

Father: The Lord is risen from the grave, Alleluia.
Family: Who hung upon the Cross for us, Alleluia. 

Father: Let us pray. O God, 
through Thine only-begotten Son 
Thou hast overcome death on this day 
and hast opened unto us the gate of everlasting 
life; 
pursue with Thine aid the good resolves Thou hast 
inspired, 
and by Thy constant help make them lastingly 
effective. 
Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, 
who is living and reigning forever and ever. 
Family: Alleluia, Alleluia. 

Father: This is the day the Lord has made, Alleluia. 
Family: Let us be glad and rejoice in it, Alleluia. 

Father: To God the Father let us sing, to God the Son, our 
Risen King. 
Family: And let us equally adore the Spirit, God forever 
more, Alleluia. 

Father: Praise the Lord, for He is good, 
Family: Sing praise to our Lord, for He is 
gracious, 
it is fitting to praise Him. 
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; 
sing praise with the harp to our God, 
Who covers the heavens with clouds, 
who provides rain for the earth; 
Who makes grain sprout on the mountains 
and herbs for the service of men; 
Who gives food to the cattle, 
and to the young ravens when they cry to 
In the strength of the steed He delights not, 
nor is He pleased with the fleshness of men. 
The Lord is pleased with those who fear Him, 
and with those who hope for His kindness. 

Father: Now when the Sabbath was past, 
Mary Magdalen and Mary, the mother of Jesus, 
and Salome bought sweet spices that coming they 
might anoint Jesus. 
And very early in the morning, 
the first day of the week, 
they came to the sepulchre, 
the sun being now risen. 
And they said to one another: 
Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of 
the sepulchre? 
And looking they saw the stone rolled back, 
for it was very great. 
And entering into the sepulchre 
they saw a young man sitting on the right side, 
clothed with a white robe; 
and they were astonished. 
Who saith to them: Be not affrighted. 
You seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. 
He is risen! He is not here! 
Behold the place where they laid Him. 
But go tell His disciples, and Peter, 
that He goes before you into Galilee 
where you shall see him, as He told you. [Mark 
16:1-7]

The resurrection
[From The Story of the Redemption for Children, copyright 
by the Gregorian Institute of America, Toledo, Ohio.]

They placed Him in a tomb of stone,
Dead, all helpless, and alone. 
But Easter morn, before the light, 
He rose alive in glory bright! 

Father: Christ is risen, Alleluia. 
Family: He is truly risen, Alleluia. 

Father: Let us pray. O God, 
through this paschal solemnity Thou hast bestowed 
upon the world Thy healing grace; 
pursue Thy people, we beseech Thee, 
with heavenly gifts so that we may obtain 
perfect freedom and arrive at life eternal. 
Through Christ our Lord. 
Family: Alleluia, Alleluia. 

Father: And behold two of them went the same day 
to a town which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem 
named Emmaus and they talked together 
of all these things which had happened. 
And it came to pass 
that while they talked and reasoned with 
themselves, 
Jesus Himself also, drawing near, went with them. 
But their eyes were held that they should not know 
Him, 
and he said to them: What are these discourses 
that you hold with one another as you walk, 
and are sad? 

And one of them whose name was Cleophas 
answering said to Him: 
Art Thou only a stranger in Jerusalem 
And hast not known the things that have been done 
there 
in these days? 
To whom He said: What things? 
And they said: Concerning Jesus of Nazareth 
who was a prophet 
mighty in work and word 
before God and all the people; 
and how our chief priests and princes 
delivered Him to be condemned to death, 
and crucified Him. 
But we hoped that it was He that should have 
redeemed Israel. 

And now besides all this,
today is the third day since these things were 
done. 
Yea, and certain women also of our company 
affrighted us; 
who before it was light were at the sepulchre 
and not finding His body came 
saying that they had also seen a vision of angels 
who say He is alive. 
And some of our people went to the sepulchre 
and found it so as the women had said, 
but Him they found not. 
Then He said to them: 

O foolish and slow of heart to believe 
in all things which the prophets have spoken. 

Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things 
and so enter into His glory? 
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets 
He expounded to them in all the Scriptures 
the things that were concerning Him. [Luke 24:13-27]

As the world sings triumphant cries to heaven over death that You conquered, help us, Lord, tomorrow as well, when the dresses are put away and the candy is all eaten and on with life we go let us not forget.

The celebration of Your Resurrection over death is a celebration of life that should continue well beyond the sunrise service and the music, rehearshed for days prior; it is beyond the sign of spring beyond the lilly beyond new lambs grazing in open fields.

Resurrection is a daily celebration over fear; man’s greatest and most powerful enemy. Fear of tomorrow, fear of our yesterdays, fear of what shall become of our young our old our unborn. Resurrection is replacing fear with physical action.

This alone, the most touching and profound of Your signs that fear is dead and belief in You brings, not just hope but life.

What better living parable could You have brought? All fear death. All. Even in the garden, You took on our fear if for only moments, it was as real as our fears can be real and You knew then that this single enemy must be destroyed.

And, You sacrificed Your life, leaving those who had been comfort, and follower; You left them behind, to conquer fear.

I shall cling to this now, and the tomorrows given me.

Peace and Thanksgiving lifted unto You.

Amen.

Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels! 
Exult, all creation around God’s throne! 
Jesus Christ, our King, is risen! 
Sound the trumpet of salvation! 

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor, 
radiant in the brightness of your King! 
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you! 
Darkness vanishes for ever! 

Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory!
The risen Savior shines upon you! 
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God’s people! 

[My dearest friends, standing with me in this holy light, 
join me in asking God for mercy, 
that he may give his unworthy minister 
grace to sing his Easter praises.] 

[V. The Lord be with you.
R. And also with you.] 

V. Lift up your hearts.
R. We lift them up to the Lord.

V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
R. It is right to give him thanks and praise. 

It is truly right
that with full hearts and minds and voices
we should praise the unseen God, the all-powerful Father, 
and his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. 

For Christ has ransomed us with his blood, 
and paid for us the price of Adam’s sin 
to our eternal Father! 

This is our passover feast,
when Christ, the true Lamb, is slain,
whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers. 

This is the night when first you saved our fathers: 
you freed the people of Israel from their slavery 
and led them dry-shod through the sea. 
This is the night when the pillar of fire 
destroyed the darkness of sin! 

This is the night when Christians everywhere,
washed clean of sin
and freed from all defilement,
are restored to grace and grow together in holiness. 

This is the night when Jesus Christ 
broke the chains of death
and rose triumphant from the grave. 
What good would life have been to us,
had Christ not come as our Redeemer? 

Father, how wonderful your care for us! 
How boundless your merciful love! 
To ransom a slave 
you gave away your Son. 

O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, 
which gained for us so great a Redeemer! 
Most blessed of all nights, chosen by God 
to see Christ rising from the dead! 

Of this night scripture says:
“The night will be as clear as day: 
it will become my light, my joy.” 

The power of this holy night
dispels all evil, washes guilt away,
restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy;
it casts out hatred, brings us peace, and humbles earthly 
pride. 

Night truly blessed when heaven is wedded to earth 
and man is reconciled with God! 
Therefore, heavenly Father, in the joy of this night, 
receive our evening sacrifice of praise, 
your Church’s solemn offering. 

Accept this Easter candle,
a flame divided but undimmed,
a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God. 

Let it mingle with the lights of heaven 
and continue bravely burning
to dispel the darkness of this night! 

May the morning Star which never sets find this flame 
still burning:
Christ, that Morning Star, who came back from the dead,
and shed his peaceful light on all mankind,
your Son who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.

[Source: The 1975 Sacramentary. This is said or sung 
during the Easter Vigil, 
after the Easter candle is lit. The deacon usually sings 
this proclamation, or 
the priest. If there is no deacon or priest to sing, then 
another person may 
sing, but omit the bracketed words of “My dearest friends, 
etc.”

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER (or Divine Mercy Sunday) 

Family: 

The Lord is truly risen, Alleluia. 

Father: 

Let us pray. 

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, 
that we who have observed the paschal mystery, 
may by Thy favor manifest its power by lives of 
virtue.
Through Christ our Lord. 

Family: 

Alleluia, Alleluia. 

Father:

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain 
to receive power and divinity and wisdom 
and strength and honor and glory and blessing. 

Family: 

Alleluia. 

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

Family: 

Alleluia. 

Father: 

Let us pray. 

O God, who dost manifest to those in error 
the light of Thy Truth that they may return to the 
way of holiness, 
grant that all who profess themselves Christians 
may spurn whatever is hostile to that name 
and embrace whatever is in harmony with it. 
Through Christ our Lord. 

Family: 

Alleluia, Alleluia. 

Father: 

I heard a voice from heaven as the voice of mighty 
thunders, Alleluia. 
Our God shall reign forever, Alleluia, 
for now has come the salvation and the power 
and the authority of His Christ, Alleluia.

Family: 

And a voice came forth from the throne saying: 
“Praise our God, all you His servants, 
and you who fear Him, the small and the great!” 
Alleluia.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER OR GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY 

Father: 

Alleluia. Risen is the Good Shepherd 
who laid down His life for His sheep 
and who deigned to die for His flock, Alleluia. 

Family: 

Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed, 
Alleluia, Alleluia. 

Father: 

Let us pray. 

O God, by the humility of Thy Son, 
Thou hast raised up a fallen world; 
to Thy faithful people give a lasting joy 
so that those whom Thou hast rescued from the 
danger of eternal death 
may enjoy endless happiness because of Thee. 
Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Family: 

Alleluia, Alleluia. 

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Family: 

The Lord is truly risen, Alleluia. 

Father: 

Let us pray. 

O God, who makest the minds of the faithful to be 
of one will, 
grant that Thy people may love whatever Thou 
commandest 
and desire whatever Thou dost promise; 
then in spite of the changing fortunes of this 
world, 
our hearts will be set where true joys are to be 
found. 
Through Christ our Lord. 

Family: 

Alleluia. Alleluia. 

Father: 

I am the true vine, you are the branches! 
He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much 
fruit, Alleluia, Alleluia. 

Family: 

As the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you, 
alleluia. 

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Family: 

The Lord is truly risen, Alleluia. 

Father: 

Let us pray. 

O God, all good things come from Thee; 
by Thy holy inspiration grant unto Thy humble 
servants 
to think correctly and by Thy merciful guidance 
to act accordingly. Through Christ our Lord. 

Family: 

Alleluia, Alleluia. 

Father: 

Ask, and you shall receive that your joy may be 
full. 

Family: 

For the Father Himself loves you because you have 
loved Me, and believed, Alleluia, Alleluia. 

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER 

Family:

God has raised up His Son and has enthroned Him in 
glory, Alleluia. 

Father: 

Let us pray. 

Loving Father, hear our prayers 
and grant that the Savior of mankind, 
who now dwells with You in equal majesty, 
may continue His presence with us, 
as He promised, 
to the end of time.
Through Christ our Lord.

Family: 

Alleluia, Alleluia. 

Father: 

Father, I have glorified You on earth.

Family: 

I have finished the work You gave Me to do, 
Alleluia.

Keep your family’s focus on the Easter season by reading 
this passage from the 
Gospel of Luke concerning the Resurrected Christ on Easter 
Tuesday. 

Father: Christ is risen, Alleluia. 
Family: He is truly risen, Alleluia.

Father: Let us pray. O God, 
Thou dost increase Thy Church with an offspring 
ever renewed; 
enable Thy servants to reflect in daily living 
the power of the mystery they have experienced 
through faith. 
Through Christ our Lord. 
Family: Alleluia, Alleluia. 

Father: Now while they were speaking these things 
Jesus stood in their midst and said to them: 
“Peace be to you.
It is I, fear not.” 
But they, being troubled and frightened, 
supposed that they saw a spirit. 
And He said to them: 
“Why are you troubled and why do thoughts arise in 
your hearts? 
See My hands and feet, that it is I myself. 
Handle and see, 
for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see 
Me to have.”
And when He had said this He showed them His hands 
and feet. 
But while they yet believed not and wondered for 
joy, 
He said: “Have you here anything to eat?”
And they offered Him a piece of a broiled fish and 
a honey-comb. 
And when He had eaten before them, 
taking the remains, He gave to them. [Luke 24:36-43]

O my all-merciful God and Lord,
Jesus Christ, full of pity:
Through Your great love You came down
and became incarnate in order to save everyone.
O Savior, I ask You to save me by Your grace!

If You save anyone because of their works,
that would not be grace but only reward of duty,
but You are compassionate and full of mercy!

You said, O my Christ,
“Whoever believes in Me shall live and never die.”
If then, faith in You saves the lost, then save me,
O my God and Creator, for I believe.

Let faith and not my unworthy works be counted to me, O my God,
for You will find no works which could account me righteous.
O Lord, from now on let me love You as intensely as I have loved sin,
and work for You as hard as I once worked for the evil one.

I promise that I will work to do Your will,
my Lord and God, Jesus Christ, all the days of my life and forever more.
Prayer of St. John Chrysostom.

Dear Lord,
as my life declines
and my energies decrease,
more than ever 
hold me by Your Power,
that I may not offend You,
but daily increase in Your Love.
Give me strength to work in Your Service
till the last day of my life.
Help me to ever have 
an increasing dread of venial sin,
or whatever would cause 
the slightest withdrawal of Your Love,
all day long, 
and at night keep me close to Your Heart;
and should I die,
ere the morning breaks, 
may I go rejoicing 
in that vision of Your entrancing beauty,
never to be separated from You.

Amen.

God, our Father, I turn to you seeking your divine help and guidance as I look for suitable employment. I need your wisdom to guide my footsteps along the right path, and to lead me to find the proper things to say and do in this quest. I wish to use the gifts and talents you have given me, but I need the opportunity to do so with gainful employment. Do not abandon me, dear Father, in this search, but rather grant me this favor I seek so that I may return to you with praise and thanksgiving for your gracious assistance. Grant this through Christ, our Lord.

Amen.