The Exsultet (Easter Vigil)

Sung by the Rev. Noah Van Niel, Curate, at the Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham, Massachusetts.

[ladyeoin]

Fantastic rendition, and sung from the heart. Thank you!

[daceliepins]

Thank you for posting this. Oh, Jesus, our one saving joy.

[chouha]

Rejoice, heav'nly powers,
Sing, choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God’s throne!
Jesus Christ our King is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!
Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
Radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered!
Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes for ever!
Rejoice, O Mother Church!
Exult in glory!
The ris’n Saviour shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God’s people!
My dearest friends,
standing with me in this holy light,
join me in asking God for mercy,
that he may give his unworthy minister grace
to sing his Paschal praises.

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And also with you.
V. Lift up your hearts.
R. We lift them to the Lord.
V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
R. It is meet and right so to do.
It is meet and right that with full hearts and minds and voices,
we should praise the invisible God,
the Almighty Father, and his only begotten Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Who on our behalf, to Thee, Eternal Father,
Solved Adam’s fall:
the ancient sin, cleansed with His precious Blood.
This is our Paschal feast,
when Christ the true Lamb, is slain,
whose holy blood seals those who believe.
This is the night, when first You saved our Fathers;
delivering Israel out of Egypt;
a dry transit through the Red Sea.
This is the night, when sin’s darkness was illuminated by the pillar of fire
This is the night, when all who believe in Christ,
are spared from the isolation of mental darkness,
and are restored, united in holy grace.
This is the night, that destroyed death's chains;
Christ ascending victor over hell.
Indeed, of what use is life if not for our Redeemer?
O marvel at the persistence of your boundless works!
O delight in your inest'mable love: our bondage ransomed,
redeemed by Thy Son.
O that blissfull crime, Adam's iniquity; which Christ's death has redeemed!
O most blessed of nights, that very moment and hour of Christ's resurrection!
Here is the night, of which scripture says: 'Behold, the night is as clear as day, -
its shall illuminate and delight me.'
Treat then as holy this night from which evil flees, cleanses guilt,
restores fallen innocence-and comforts the bereaved.
Take flight evil doubts;
Conform your hearts; resist the spirit of this world!

Therefore, this night of grace, holy Father, incense us to sacrifice this evening:
this solemn Wax oblation, the persistent work of bees, resanctify your Church.
As we celebrate this new pillar, so we honour God in flames ascending.

For although brilliance distributes and divides, it is not detered;
For light gathers and conforms where there is knowledge.
Cherish indeed, then, this wax, for it is as your soul;
on this precious substance is impressed the fire that nurtures and educates.

O night very blessed, which pillaged Egypt, and enriched the Hebrews,
may it join earth and heaven.
Consecrate this Candle in honour of Christ, the DayStar,
May this Light perservere throughout all creation.
Through Thy Son, Jesus Christ,
who liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
ever one God, world without end.
Amen