Within the tradition, the rites (blessing of the new fire, blessing of the Paschal candle, and the Exsultet) effect liturgical illumination of the community: they symbolically and ceremonially proclaim Christ's Resurrection, bring the new light of the risen Christ into the assembly, and inaugurate the Easter Vigil rites that lead to baptism and reception of catechumens.
The Exsultet (Praeconium Paschale) appears in the Order of the Easter Vigil (Liturgia Vigiliae Paschalis) immediately after the blessing of the new fire and the blessing of the Paschal candle. The Vigil is held in the hours of darkness between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Day and is the principal liturgy celebrating the Resurrection. The sequence in the supplied sources places 'De Benedictione Novi Ignis' (the blessing of the new fire) with an accompanying hymn and oration, then 'De Benedictione Cerei Paschalis' (the blessing of the Paschal candle) with its hymn and oration, and then 'De Solemni Processione Et De Praeconio Paschali' (the solemn procession and the Exsultet), which includes the sung proclamation 'Lumen Christi' followed by the Praeconium Paschale: Exsultet and the hymn 'O Res Digna'. Following the Exsultet the Vigil proceeds to readings, the blessing of baptismal water, procession to the font, renewal of baptismal promises, and the Mass of the Easter Vigil. The supplied sources list hymn and oration titles but do not reproduce the full Exsultet text or detailed rubrics for performer roles.
- 01Kindle a new fire (De Benedictione Novi Ignis) in the designated place for the Vigil.
- 02Sing or chant the hymn Inventor Rutili (versus Prudentii) during or immediately after the kindling of the new fire, as indicated by the liturgical sequence.
- 03Priestly or clerical recitation of the oration titled 'Deus, Qui Per Filium Tuum' over the newly kindled fire (the Archive listing indicates this oration accompanies the blessing of the new fire).
- 04Prepare the Paschal candle for blessing (place near the newly blessed fire) in anticipation of De Benedictione Cerei Paschalis.
- 05Sing the hymn 'Christus Herie Et Hodie' as part of the blessing of the Paschal candle sequence.
- 06Priestly or clerical recitation of the oration titled 'Veniat, Quaesumus' during the blessing of the Paschal candle (as named in the order).
- 07Form a solemn procession (De Solemni Processione) with the newly blessed Paschal candle to the assembly or as prescribed by local liturgical custom.
- 08Intone or sing 'Lumen Christi' during the procession as the Paschal candle is presented to the congregation (listed in the procession/Exsultet section).
- 09Sing or proclaim the Praeconium Paschale (Exsultet) following the 'Lumen Christi' proclamation (the Exsultet is listed as the central proclamation in this section).
- 10Sing the hymn 'O Res Digna' after the Exsultet as indicated by the liturgical tracklist sequence.
- 11Proceed from the Exsultet to the Scripture readings (Lectio) of the Vigil, then to the blessing of the baptismal water (De Benedictione Aquae Baptismalis) with its oration 'Omnipotens Sempiterne Deus', procession to the baptismal font, renewal of baptismal promises, and the Mass of the Easter Vigil, in the order given by the liturgy.
- ⚠The Vigil rites (including the new fire, the Paschal candle blessing, and the Exsultet) are prescribed for the hours of darkness between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Day; performing them outside this liturgical timeframe would be irregular according to the stated timing of the Vigil (the sources do not supply explicit prohibitions but indicate the canonical time).
- ⚠No other explicit contraindications or risks are listed in the provided sources.
Community Record
- [1]Easter Vigil. Wikipedia: 'The Easter Vigil... is a liturgy held in traditional Christian churches... Historically, it is during this liturgy that people are baptized and that adult catechumens are received into full communion with the Church. It is held in the hours of darkness between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Day...'wiki
- [2]Liturgia Paschalis (tracklist) — Archive.org. Archive tracklist headings: De Benedictione Novi Ignis (Inventor Rutili; Oratio: Deus, Qui Per Filium Tuum); De Benedictione Cerei Paschalis (Christus Herie Et Hodie; Oratio: Veniat, Quaesumus); De Solemni Processione Et De Praeconio Paschali (Lumen Christi; Praeconium Paschale: Exsultet; O Res Digna); De Benedictione Aquae Baptismalis (Oratio: Omnipotens Sempiterne Deus); Processione Ad Fontem Baptismalem; De Renovatione Promissionum Baptismatis; Missa Solemnis Vigiliae Paschalis.other