“Yes, Christ is truly risen, and we are witnesses of this. We proclaim this witness to the world, so that the joy which is ours will reach countless other hearts, kindling in them the light of the hope which does not disappoint.” — St. John Paul II, 2000
Good news! Easter didn’t end on Sunday. As Catholics, we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection for an entire seven-week liturgical season. (One week longer than our season of Lenten penitence and preparation!) I encourage you to bask in the joy and light of the Resurrection for the whole 50-day season this year.
This time of joy, “kindling…in the light of hope,” recalling the miraculous event of our Lord’s triumph over sin and death begins with the Easter Octave, from Easter Sunday to Divine Mercy Sunday, and continues until Pentecost Sunday.
We begin the season with the Easter Vigil, held on the evening of Holy Saturday. It is the Liturgy of all Liturgies beginning with the lighting of the Easter fire in the darkness. Catholics around the world celebrate this most solemn day of the Resurrection, which is central to Christianity. Without the Resurrection, all other aspects of the faith fall apart. After the Paschal candle is lit, everyone else lights their tapers one by one until the entire church is aglow, representing the Light of Christ spreading throughout the world. My favorite part of the Easter Vigil is chanting the Exsultet, the Easter Proclamation. It has always been my favorite part of the Mass because of the beautiful imagery contrasting light and darkness, as illustrated in the following verse:
Therefore, O Lord,
we pray you that this candle,
hallowed to the honor of your name,
may persevere undimmed,
to overcome the darkness of this night.
Receive it as a pleasing fragrance,
and let it mingle with the lights of heaven.1
The last day of the Easter Octave is marked by Divine Mercy Sunday which presents Catholics with the opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence—one of two types of indulgences.2 This type removes all temporal punishment due to sin, while a partial indulgence only removes some of the temporal punishment.
It is important to understand that an indulgence is a “remission of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven.” (CCC 1471) Indulgences are unlike confession in that they pertain to the effects of sins that have already been forgiven. The Church teaches that these sins, though forgiven by God, leave a temporal effect or “stain” on the soul. The temporal punishment which indulgences remit is this temporary stain left on the soul due to past sin.
According to The Gift of The Indulgence published by the Apostolic Penitentiary, a plenary indulgence can be gained by:
- Being in a state of grace, completely detached from sin (even venial sin)
- Receiving the Sacrament of Confession
- Receiving the Eucharist
- Praying for the intentions of the Pope3
However, Fr. Chris Alar of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception explains how an indulgence granted on Divine Mercy Sunday is unique. To gain this indulgence, a Catholic must receive the Sacrament of Confession before or during the weekend of Divine Mercy Sunday as well as receive Holy Communion during Divine Mercy weekend. Fr. Chris explains that Jesus extends a special grace to His Church on Divine Mercy Sunday and grants “freedom from all sin and punishments” without completing the other requirements necessary for receiving all other indulgences. Such a wealth of mercy!4
So, beyond attending Easter Mass and preparing to receive the indulgence offered on Divine Mercy Sunday, how can we best celebrate Easter throughout the whole season?
I would encourage you to take time each day to reflect on the meaning of Christ’s Resurrection and its significance in our lives and for all of humanity. Whether first thing in the morning, on your drives throughout the day, or perhaps before bed, I recommend meditating on Easter-related passages from Scripture and from the saints.
One passage worthy for meditation, from an Easter sermon from St. Vincent Ferrer, encourages us to rejoice and reflect:
But the greatest of all [feast days] is Easter Day, the day of the Lord’s Resurrection, because today assurance was given to us to obtain eternal and immortal life in soul and body. Christ gave it to us through His Resurrection, which is the cause and the assurance of our resurrection.5
St. Vincent points out the connection between Christ’s Resurrection and our own. Christ’s Resurrection won for us the “assurance of our resurrection”—without His, ours would not exist. He opened the gates of heaven, and they will not be closed again. That is our assurance. But what does our resurrection mean? Ours is the renewal and perfection of the body and the soul, or as St. Vincent puts it, the ability “to obtain eternal and immortal life in soul and body.” Our resurrection comes when we are perfected in our souls by growing in holiness with God during this life and afterwards through Purgatory, if needed, as well as in our bodies at the Second Coming. We will be united body and soul at the end of time, and both will be perfected by this very victory of Christ’s Resurrection. It is only through Him, through His sacrifice and victory, and through our intentional participation in it that we are “assured of our resurrection.”
It is our invitation to accept. It is our victory to share in. Therefore, this Easter season, through your prayerful meditations, ponder how Christ is calling you to prepare for and accept this gift of your resurrection and how He wants you to share in His own right now.
Photo by Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash
1United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (n.d.). Easter Proclamation (Exsultet). Retrieved April 4, 2024, from https://www.usccb.org/prayer-worship/liturgical-year/easter/easter-proclamation-exsultet
2Catholic Exchange. (n.d.). What is a Plenary Indulgence? Retrieved April 4, 2024, from https://catholicexchange.com/what-is-a-plenary-indulgence/
3Vatican. (2000, January 29). Apostolic Penitentiary: The Gift of the Indulgence. Retrieved April 4, 2024, from https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/tribunals/apost_penit/documents/rc_trib_appen_pro_20000129_indulgence_en.html
4EWTN. (n.d.). How to Obtain the Unique Plenary Indulgence Jesus Offers on Divine Mercy Sunday. Retrieved April 4, 2024, from https://ewtn.co.uk/chpop-how-to-obtain-the-unique-plenary-indulgence-jesus-offers-on-divine-mercy-sunday/
5St. Vincent Ferrer Priory. (n.d.). B009: The Divine Mercy Devotion. Retrieved April 4, 2024, from https://www.svfsermons.org/B009_%20Easter2.htm
