Easter is a solemn feast in the Church, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This event signifies God’s ultimate triumph over sin and death, offering humanity eternal salvation through Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. The celebration of Easter follows Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, which spiritually prepares the faithful for this profound mystery.
The Easter Vigil, known as the “Mother of All Vigils,” marks the beginning of Easter on Holy Saturday night. This symbolic liturgy includes the blessing of the Paschal Candle, representing Jesus Christ as the Light of the World, and often welcomes new members into the Church through baptism. The Vigil transitions from darkness to light, reflecting Jesus’ victory over death and illuminating the hearts of believers with hope and renewal.
Easter Sunday inaugurates a 50-day season of joy known as Eastertide. The first eight days form the Octave of Easter, during which each day is celebrated as a solemnity, emphasising the centrality of Jesus Christ’s resurrection in salvation history. This period culminates in two major events: the Ascension, where Jesus returns to the Father in Heaven, and Pentecost, marking the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Church.
For Catholics, Easter is not just a historical commemoration, but a living reality that renews faith. It is a time to reflect on Jesus Christ’s Paschal Mystery, His passion, death, and resurrection, and its transformative power in their lives. Through liturgical celebrations, renewal of baptismal promises, and acts of mercy, Catholics are reminded of their call to live as witnesses to the risen Christ in a world longing for hope and redemption.
Archbishop Mark Coleridge’s Easter Message 2024
Archbishop Mark shares his Easter message and invites us to embrace Easter as a time when Jesus brings us peace and transforms death into life.
Transcript
At the first Easter, as the women come to the tomb, they’re wondering who’s going to roll the big stone away because these stones were big. But then when they get to the tomb, they find that the stone has already been rolled away. And that goes to the heart of Easter. Because Easter is about rolling away all the stones that seem unmovable and block the way into life. Because unless the stone is moved, Jesus can’t get out of the tomb, and we can’t get into the tomb.
But once the stone is rolled away, Jesus comes towards us, and we can go into the tomb. And when we do, what we see are the grave cloths, we’re told, in the gospel story. We see the linen cloths that had wrapped the body of Jesus and even his head. And those grave cloths are our old fears and anxieties and angers and depressions, all those death things in us. They are simply rolled up in a corner of an empty tomb.
So may Easter be for you, whoever you are, and whatever the big stones might seem to be. May it be a moment when the stone is rolled away and Jesus comes towards you saying, peace. And when you can look into an empty tomb and see that the things of death have become the things of life. Happy Easter.