The Deacon singing the Exsultet from an unfolding scroll before the assembly Drawing by Br. Martin Ermsparger, OSB The Easter Proclamation: the Exsultet 1
THE PASCHAL PROCLAMATION VvvvvvvvvvdvvvF%Yvv[vvvhvvvvvvv)gvvvvvhvvvvv+u+hvv[vvhvvvvvv)gvvvvvvfvvvvvGYvvvvvv/fvvvv{vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv1 Ex- ult, let them ex- ult, the host of heav- en, VvvvvvvvvdvvvvF%Yvv[vvhvvvvv)gvvvvvhvvvvv2jvvvvjvvvvhvvvvvvgvvvvvygvvvvdvvvv/fvvvv{vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv5 ex- ult, let An-gel mi-nis- ters of God ex- ult, Vvvvvvvvvjvvvvvjvvvvvvv6hvvvvvvvhvvvvvgvvvvdvvvvvt dvvvvvfvv{vvv+f vvvvvvvvfvvvvy fvvvvv[vvvvvvvvvvvvvv< let the trum- pet of sal- va- tion sound a- loud Vvvvvvvvvvfvvvvvvvv6hvvvvvfcvDRvvvvvvvv@3bb@bb!vvvvEavvvv]vvvvdvvvvvvF%Yvv[vvvvhvvvvv)gvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvH our might- y king s tri- umph! Be glad, let earth Vvvvvvvvvhvvvvv+u+hvvv[vvhvvvvv)gvvvfvvvvvvGYvvvvvvvv/fvvv{vvvdvvvvFYvvvvvvvvhvvvvvvv6%hvv[vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvH be glad, as glo- ry floods her, a- blaze with light Vvvvvvvvvvvhvvvvvvv)gvvvfvvvvGYvvvvfvvvvvvv/fvvv{vvvvjvvvvvv%y%gvvvygvvvv/fvv[vvvdvvvvfvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvI from her e- ter- nal King, let all cor- ners of the Vvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvvvdvvvvv/fvvv{vvvvvv+f vvvvvvvvfvvvvfvvvvvy fvvvvdvvvvvvv/fvv[vvvvdrvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv1 earth be glad, know- ing an end to gloom and Vvvvvvvvvv@3bb@bb!vvvvvvEavvvv]vvdvvvvvF%Yvv[vvvvvvhvvvvvvv)gvvvfvvvvvvvhjhvvv[vvv2jvvvhvvvgvvvvv6%hvv{vvvvvvvvH dark- ness. Re-joice, let Mo-ther Church al- so re- joice, 2
VvvvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvgvvvvfvvvvvGYvvvv/fvv{vvvv2jvvvvvhvvvvvv)gvvvfvvvvvvvvvvI arrayed with the lightning of his glo- ry, let this ho- ly VvvvvvvvvvvGYvvvvvv/fvv[vvvy fvvvvvvvvdvvvvvv/fvvv{vvvv+f vvvvvvvvvfvvvvvfvvvvvvv6hvvvvvvvfvvvvvdfdvvvv@dvv[vvk build- ing shake with joy, filled with the might- y voic- es Vvvvvvvvvvsvvvvfvvvvvv@3bb@bb!vvvvEavvv]vvvvvvvvvdbbDRvvvvvvv/fvv[vvvvvFYvvvvvvvhvvvvvvv%hvvv[vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvH of the peo- ples. (There- fore, dear- est friends, VvvvvvvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvvvhvvvvvvvvuhvv%hvv[vgvvvvvfvvvvv)gvvvvhvvvvMgvvv{vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv1 standing in the awe- some glo- ry of this ho- ly light, VvvvvvvvdvvvvvvFYvvvvvvvvvhvvvvv%hvv[vtfvvvGYvvvvvv/fvvv{vvdvvvvvvNfvvvvdvvvvsvvvvvesvvvvvfvvvv@3bb@bb!vvvvEavv]v1 in- voke with me, I ask you, the mer-cy of God al- might-y, VvvvvvvvvdvvvvvF%Yvv[vvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv%hvv[vvvvvvvgvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvH that he, who has been pleased to number me, though Vvvvvvvvvhvvvvvvvv2jvvvvv%hvv{vvhvvvvv)gvvvvvvvfvvvvvvGYvvvv/fvv{vvvvvvvdvvvvvvvFYvvvvvvhvvhvvvvv%hvvv[vvvvvvH un- worth- y, a- mong the Le- vites, may pour in-to me VvvvvvvvvvhvvvvvygvvvvvfvvvvvvvGYvvvvvvv/fvvv{vvvvvvfvvvvxNfvvvfvvvvvvvrdvvvvvvsvvvvvRdvvvvvvvsvvvvvvvvvvvv1 his light un- shad- owed, that I may sing this can- dle s VvvvvvvvvvRdvvvvvfvvvvvvv@3bb@bb!vvvvEavv}vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv per- fect prais- es.) 3
VvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvdvvvvvvrdvvvvvvfvvvvFTvvvvvvv/fvvvv}vvvvvvvvvdvvvvvvvNfvvvvvvgvvvvvvvNfvvvv/fvvvvv}vvvvvv< ( The Lord be with you. And with your spir- it.) VvvvvvvvvvvvvvfWhbb6vvvvgvvvvvvfvvvvvvvv)Mgvvvvv}vvvvvvvvvYvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvfvvvvdvvvvvvN/fvvvv}vvvvv< Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. VvvvvvvvvvvvvvfvvvvvfvvvvvfvvvvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvvfvvvvvv)Mgvvvvvv}vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv< Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. VvvvvvvvvvvvvvfvvvfvvvvygvvvvvvvdvvvvvvN/fvvvvv}vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv< It is right and just. VvvvvvvvvfvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv%6hvv[vvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvvfvvvvvv)Mgvvv{vv< It is truly right and just, with ardent love of mind and heart VvvvvvvvvvfvvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvgvvvvfvvvvvvvMgvvv[vvvvvgvvvgvvvvvNfvvvvvvvgvvvvvvygvvvvv< and with devoted service of our voice, to ac-claim our God Vvvvvvvvvfvvvv)gvvvvhvvvgvv[vvvvgvvvvvgvvvvvvDRvvvvvgvvvvFTvvvvv/fvvv{vvvvfvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvygvvvvvvvvvvvvvv< in- vis- i- ble, the al- might- y Fa- ther, and Jesus Christ, Vvvvvvvvvvfvvvvvv)Mgvv[vvvvgvvvvv%y%gvv{vvvvgvvvvvvRdvvvvfvvvvgvvvvvvFTvvvvv/fvv]vvvvvfvvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvH our Lord, his Son, his On- ly Be- got- ten. Who for our Vvvvvvvvvv%hvv[vvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvhvvv)gvvvvvfvvvvv)gvvvvvMgvvv{vvvvfvvvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvH sake paid Adam s debt to the e- ter- nal Fa- ther, and pouring 4
VvvvvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvvvfvvvvvvvv)Mgvvv[vvvvvvvgvvvvvvvvv%y%gvv[vvYvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv1 out his own dear Blood, wiped clean the record of our VvvvvvvvvDRvvvvvvgvvvvvvvNfvvvvvgvvvvv/fvvvv]vvvvvvFYvvvvvvvv%hvv[vvvhvvvvvhvvvvvvygvvvvvvfvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv< an- cient sin- ful- ness. These then are the feasts of VvvvvvvvvvFTvvvvvvgvvvvgvv{vvvfvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvhvvvvvv+u+hvv[vvvvhvvvvvv)gvvvvvvfvvvvvvv) Mgvvv{vvvvI Pass- o- ver, in which is slain the Lamb, the one true Lamb, VvvvvvvvvvYvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvNfvvvvvvvdvvvvvvfvvvvgvvvvFTvvvvvv/fvvv]vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv< whose Blood anoints the door- posts of be- liev- ers. VvvvvvvvvFYbb+7bb+uhvvvv)gvvvvfvvvvvvv)Mgvvv{vvvvvvvfvvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvhvvvvvv2jvvvvvvvv%hvvv{vvvvvvvvH This is the night, when once you led our fore- bears, Vvvvvvv6hvvvvgvvvvfvvvvvvvGYvvvvvvvMgvvv[vvvvvgvvvvvvv6hvvvvvvvgvvvfvvv)gvvvvvMgvvv{vvvvgvvvvvvv)gvvvvvvvvI Is- ra- el s chil- dren, from salver- y in E- gypt and made VvvvvvvvvvvgvvvvvvFTvvvvvvvv6hvvvvvvMgvvv[vvvvvgvvvvvvvvgvvvvvDRbb5vvvvvv/fvvvv]vvvvFYbb+7bb+uhvvvv)gvvvvfvvvvvvvvvI them pass dry- shod through the Red Sea. This is the VvvvvvvvvvM)gvvvv{vvvvfvvvvvvvvhvvvvhvvvv6hvvvvgvvvvfvvvv)Mgvv[vvvvvvvYvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvrdvvvvvDRvvvvvvvvvvI night that with a pil- lar of fire banished the dark- ness VvvvvvvvvvgvvvvN/fvv]vvvvFYbb+7bb+uhvvvv)gvvvvfvvvvvvv)Mgvvv{vfvvvvvv6hvvvhvvvvvvv6%hvv[vvvvvvvhvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvfvvvvvI of sin. This is the night that e- ven now, through- out the 5
Vvvvvvvvvvv)Mgvvvv{vvvvvfvvvvvvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvvhvvvv2jvvv%hvv[vvvvvvH world, sets Christian believers apart from world- ly vic- es VvvvvvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvvfvvvv)Mgvv{vvvvvv)gvvvvvvgvvvvvvNfvvvvvvgvvvvvv%y%gvv{vvvvvvvvvvvvvvI and from the gloom of sin, lead- ing them to grace Vvvvvvvvvvgvvvvvvrdvvvvvdvvvvvv@dvv[vvvfvvvvgvvvvvFTvvvvgvvvvv/Nfvvv]vvvvFYbb+7bb+uhvvvv)gvvvvfvvvvvvv)Mgvvv{vvvvvv< and join- ing them to his ho- ly ones. This is the night, Vvvvvvvvvvvfvvvvvvvvv6%hvv[vvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvfvvvvvv)Mgvv{vvvvvgvvvvv6hvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvI when Christ broke the prison- bars of death and rose VvvvvvvvvvgvvvvNfvvvdvvvv@dvvv[vvvDRvvvvvvvgvvvvvNfvvvvgvvvvvvv/fvvvv]vvvvvfvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvI vic- to- ri- ous from the un- der- world. Our birth would have Vvvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvfvvvv)/Mgvvv{vvvvvgvvvvvgvvvvNfvvvvvvvdvvvvvgvvvvvN/fvvvvvvvv]vvvvf% %h%gvvvv6hvvvvvvhvvvvvgvvvvh been no gain, had we not been re- deemed. O won- der of Vvvvvvvvvvvhvvvvvvv2jvvvvvjvvvvvvvygvvvvvfvvvv)Mgvvv]vvfvvvv6%hvv[vvvvvfvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvvfvvvvvI your hum- ble care for us! O love, O charity be- yond all Vvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvv)Mgvvv{vvvgvvvv)gvvvvvvfvvvvgvvvvv%y%gvv[vvvvgvvvvvv)gvvvvvvgvvvvvrdvvvvvgvvvvvvvN/fvvvvv]vvvv< tell- ing, to ran- som a slave you gave a- way your Son! VvvvvvvvvfvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvfvvv)gvvvvvgvvv[vvvgvvvvvv6hvvvvvvvvvvgvvvvvvvrdvvvvv@dvvv[vvvvv1 O truly necessary sin of Ad- am, de- stroyed com- plete- ly 6
VvvvvvvvvdvvvvvdvvvvvvvFTvvvvvvvgvvvvvvvN/fvvvv]vvvf %h%gvvvvygvvvvfvvvvvv)mgvvv{vvvvfvvvvvvygvvvvvvvvfvvvvvvvvi by the Death of Christ! O hap- py fault that earned so Vvvvvvvvvv)Mgvv[vvvvvvgvvvvvNfvvvvdvvv@dvv[vvdvvvgvvvvvvFTvvvvvvv/fvvv]vvvFYbb+7b+b+uhvvvv6hvvvvgvvvvvygvvvvvvfvvvvvvI great, so glo- ri- ous a Re- deem- er! O tru- ly bless- ed Vvvvvvvvvvv)Mgvvv{vvvvvvNfvvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvygvvvvvvfvvvvvv)Mgvvvvv{vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvI night, wor- thy alone to know the time and hour Vvvvvvvvvvvvgvvvvvvvvygvvvvvv/r/dvv[vvvDRvvvvvvvgvvvvvFTvvvvvgvvvvvvv/fvvvv]vvvvvvv6bb6vvvgvvvvfvvvvv)Mgvvvv[vv< when Christ rose from the un- der- world! This is the night Vvvvvvvvvfvvvvvvv6hvvvvvvgvvvfvvvvvFTvvvvvMgvvv{vvvfvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvygvvvvvvfvvvvvv)Mgvv{vvI of which it is writ- ten: The night shall be as bright as day, VvvvvvvvvvvYvvvvvvvvvvfvvvvgvvvvvvygvvvvvvfvvvvvMgvvv[vvvgvvvvvrdvvvvvgvvvvFTvvvvvvv/fvvvv]vvvvvvvvvvvvvvv< dazzling is the night for me, and full of glad- ness. VvvvvvvvvvfvvvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvgvvvvvfvvvvvv)Mgvvv[vvvvgvvvvy fvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvhvvvvvvmgvvv[vvv< The sanctifying power of this night dis- pels wick- ed- ness, Vvvvvvvvvvvfvvvvvvgvvvvvv6hvvvvvvfvvvv)Mgvvv[vvvgvvvvvvFTvvvvvvv6hvvvhvvvvvhvvvvvvvvgvvvvfvvvvvFTvvvvvMgvvv{vI wash- es faults a- way, re- stores in- no-cence to the fall- en, VvvvvvvvvvgvvvvvrdvvvvgvvvvvvFTvvvvvvv/fvc]vvvvvNfvvvvvvvvhvvvvv2jvvvvv%hvvv[vvvvv)gvvvvfvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv< and joy to mourn- ers, drives out ha- tred, fos- ters 7
VvvvvvvvvvFTvvvvvvMgvvvv{vvvgvvvvvvvgvvvvvvvvvvrdvvvvvvgvvvvvvFTvvvvvvv/fvv}vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv< con- cord, and brings down the might- y. Vvvvvvvvvvfvvvvv%hvv[vvvvhvvvvvvvv2jvvvvvvjvvvvv6%hvv[vvvhvvvv)gvvvvfvvvFTvvvvvMgvvv{vvvfvvvvv6hvvvvvvhvvvvvvv5 On this, your night of grace, O ho- ly Fa- ther, ac- cept this Vvvvvvvvvv2jvvvvvhvv[vvvfvvvv6hvvvvfvvvvvv)gvvvvvhvvvvMgvvv{vvvvfvvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvH can- dle, a sol- emn of- fer- ing, the work of bees and of Vvvvvvvvvvvhvvvvvvv)gvvvvvvfvvvvvvvvMgvvvvv{vvvfvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvgvvvvvfvvvvvv)Mgvvvv[vvvvvvvvvI your serv- ants hands, an evening sa- cri- fice of praise, Vvvvvvvvvvgvvvvv%y%gvv[vvvgvvvvvvvgvvvvvvvvgvvvvvvrdvvvvgvvvvvvN/fvvvv]vvvvvfvvvvvv6%hvv[vvvhvvvvvv6hvvvvvvvvH this gift from your most ho- ly Church. But now we know VvvvvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvgvvvvvhvvvvv2jvvvvhvv[vvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvfvvvv)Mgvvvv[vvvvvvvvvI the praises of this pil- lar, which glowing fire ig- nites VvvvvvvvvvgvvvvvvDRbbM5vvvvvvvFTvvvvv/fvvv{vvfvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvv2jvvvvvjvvvvvygvvvvvvvvfvvvvFTvvvvvMgvvv{vvvvvv< for God s hon- or, a fire into man- y flames di- vid- ed, VvvvvvvvvvfvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvv6%hvv[vvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvgvvvfvvvvvv)Mgvvv{vvvvvfvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvH yet never dimmed by shar- ing of its light, for it is Vvvvvvvvvv6hvvvvvhvvvvvv2jvvvvvjvvvvvvv6%hvvv[vvvvhvvvvvvvv6hvvvvvhvvvvvv)gvvvvvvfvvvvv)Mgvvv{vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvI fed by melt- ing wax, drawn out by moth- er bees 8
VvvvvvvvvYvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvrdvvvvvvgcvFTvvvvvvv/fvvv]vvvvf %h%gvvvjvvvvvvvvvygvvvvvfvvvvvv)mgvvvvv{vvvvvvvv< to build a torch so pre- cious. O truly bless- ed night, VvvvvvvvvvvvfvvvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvvfvvvvv)Mgvvvv{vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvI when things of heav-en are wed to those of earth, Vvvvvvvvvvgvvvvvvgvvvrdvv[vvDRvvvvvgvvvvFTvvvvvv/fvvv}vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv< and di- vine to the hu- man. VvvvvvvvvvvFYvvvvvvvvv%hvv[vvhvvvvv+u+hvv[vvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv2jvvvvv%hvvvvv{vvvvvvvvvvvvH There- fore, O Lord, we pray you that this can- dle, VvvvvvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvgvvvvvfvvvvvMgvvv{vvvvvvvYvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvNfvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvI hallowed to the honor of your name, may perse- vere Vvvvvvvvvvgvvvvv%y%gvvvvvv[vvvvvYvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvrdvvvvv@dvv[vvvDRvvvvvvgvvvvvN/fvvvvvv]vvvvvvvvvv< un- dimmed, to overcome the dark- ness of this night. VvvvvvvvvvfvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvvhvvvvvv6jvvvvvv%hvvv{vvvvvvvvhvvvvv)gvvvfvvvvv)gvvvvvMgvv[vvvvvI Re- ceive it as a pleas- ing fra- grance, and let it min- gle VvvvvvvvvvgvvvvvvvgvvvvvDRvvvvvvvgvvvvFTvvvvvvfvvv]vvvvvfvvvvvvJvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvvvhvvvvvvvvvv5 with the lights of heav- en. May this flame be found still Vvvvvvvvvvv2jvvvvv%hvv[vvvhvvvvvhvvvvvvv)gvvvvvvfvvvvvvv)Mgvvv{vvvvgvvvvFTvvvvvvvvygvvvvvfvvvvvv)Mgvvv[vvvvvvvI burn- ing by the Morn- ing Star: the one Morn-ing Star 9
Vvvvvvvvvvvvgvvvvv6hvvvvfvvvvv)Mgvvv{vvvvvv6bb6vvvvvvvfvvvvvvv)Mgvvv{vvvvgvvvvvvvfvvvvvvgvvvvvv6hvvvvvvvvvvvvH who nev- er sets, Christ your Son, who, com- ing back Vvvvvvvvvvvhvvvvvvvv)gvvvvvvvvvfvvvvvv)Mgvvv{ccfvvvvvv6hvvvvvvhvvvvvvgvvvvvvvfvvvvvv6)Mgvvv[vvvvvvvvvvvvvv< from death s do- main, has shed his peace- ful light Vvvvvvvvvfvvvvgvvvvvv6hvvvvfvvvMgvv{vvvvgvvvvvvDRvvvvvvgvvvvvvN/fvvvv[vvfvvvvvtfvvvdvvvvfvvvvvrdvvv@dvvv}vvv1 on hu- man- i- ty, and lives and reigns for e- ver and e- ver VvvvvvvvvvvvvvdvvvvvDRvvvvv}vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv A- men Text: ICEL Music: Columba Kelly, @ Saint Meinrad Archabbey, 2012 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 10