The new Easter Liturgy, of course, begins on Saturday evening, and every Catholic family able to do so will be present at the Paschal Vigil.

As the years go by, the meaning of the various parts will become clearer to our people - the “Lumen Christi,” the chanting of the Exuliet, the prophecies, the shortened form of Mass, and the blessings involved.

The liturgy - especially the Easter Liturgy - is coming to life.

What does it mean to us on this first Easter of the conciliar era?

First, that Easter is not just a feast of the living, but of the dead too; not a feast of saints, but of angels too; not of the saved only, but of sinners too. Everyone is included on this great day. Easter is so great because it is the Feast of Our Lord - His “Hour”, “the day which the Lord has made.” Then as the procession enters the church in darkness, the word “Lumen Christi” come out, loud and clear, “Light of Christ”. They mean: -

(1) The radiance of the Godhead;

(2) The light of divine truth that Christ came into the world to teach;

(3) Our own call, as a vocation to our new Risen Life.

“If you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above!” It is not a matter of an Easter joy, nor thrill, not emotion. It is not even a matter of good resolutions or good intentions. It is the divine entering our hearts and souls; overwhelming the human reaction. The sacramental grace of the Eucharist - made complete by our Easter confession and communion - is what personifies Easter. The effect goes deep in the soul. We are invited, nay more than invited, we are urged and exhorted on Easter, to seek the things that are of heaven, not of earth.

This Easter, 1964, is our opportunity. Our families - what challenges they can offer, the corporal and spiritual works of mercy in our own midst, family prayers, good examples. Our neighborhoods - what opportunities for justice, charity, fair play, for putting aside the littleness of racial and national and sectional differences. Our nation - an election year with all the issues that so often touch on moral questions. Our world - nuclear decisions, automation, poverty.

All in all, Easter of 1964 offers us, possibly more than ever before, the testing ground for real Christianity - are we ready to follow the Lumen Christi down the aisle of the church to life’s real problems, or is it only a symbol? God grant that it be a reality. Easter is the day the Lord has made - “If you be risen with Christ, seek the things

that are above.” They are so much more significant than the things we have below!

Paul J. Hallinan

Archbishop of Atlanta