We entered the darkened church at 4:00 p.m. and processed to the narthex for the lighting and blessing of the new fire. Fr. Sipe, the deacon of the Mass, carried the triple candle back to the sanctuary, with Dr. Lilley, the MC, lighting another of the three branches each time the deacon sang, "The light of Christ."
Once we were back at the altar, Fr. Sipe sang the Exsultet perfectly. He always does well, but this year was perfect. The Exsultet, which is sung before the paschal candle, calls us to rejoice, because on this night Jesus Christ passed over from death into life. Sadly, I was holding the triple reed, from which the paschal candle is lit, which began dripping profusely, so I stood catching the dripping wax in my hand to save the rug.
Once the paschal candle was lit, we heard the prophecies, 12 stories recounting God's saving acts in the Old Testament. Yes, 12 readings are long, but the stories never fail to move and they contextualize all that follows. Prophecies finished, we processed down from the sanctuary with the paschal candle to bless the font then back to the altar where the sacred ministers prostrated themselves for the Litany of the Saints. Even S. Clement's innovates. This year, at Canon Reid's direction, we shortened litany by not doubling the responses. I'm a believer in the slippery slope argument in liturgy: change one bit and I see the New Zealand Prayer Book coming, but the roof didn't fall in.
At the end of the litany, the ministers came into the sacristy to take off the purple and put on the white vestments. Then back to the altar where all of the bells broke out to some impressive vamping on the organ by Peter Conte, our organist and choirmaster, which gave way to the Gloria of Vierne's Messe Solonelle. There were 17 or 18 singers in the choir tonight and they and the organ made the building vibrate. They'll have a hard time topping themselves tomorrow.
The Vigil Mass is followed by a truncated vespers at the altar then out we went. Three of us returned to the choir after the essential chores were done to say compline. Now we are in Easter-tide and the full office is restored, including the Regina Coeli at the end.
Regina cæli, lætare, allelúja ;
Quia quem meruísti portare, allelúja,
Resurréxit, sicut dixit, allelúja :
Ora pro nobis Deum, allelúja.
Joy to thee, O Queen of heaven, alleluia!
He whom thou wast meet to bear, alleluia;
As He promis'd, hath arisen, alleluia;
Pour for us to God thy prayer, alleluia.
Not counting compline, the vigil ran three hours and five minutes. It flew by. I felt like Bart Simpson at the fireworks-puppy dog-and-toy store. He is risen indeed, alleluia!