Resurrection Sunday Proclamation

Sunday, April 4, 2010 will be Easter. The historic, liturgical church has called it “Easter Day.” I personally have preferred to call it “Resurrection Sunday” for many years. There is a liturgical proclamation that is used on Easter Day that is full of rich, biblical truth from beginning to end. Savor it for your personal enrichment.


Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God's throne!
Jesus Christ, our Lord 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 forever!

Rejoice, O Church! Exult in glory!
The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
Echoing the mighty song of all God's people!

It is truly right that with full hearts and minds and voices
We should praise the unseen God, the all-powerful Father,
And His only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

For Christ has ransomed us with His blood,
And paid for us the price of Adam's sin
To our eternal Father!

Through the Passover sacrifice,
Christ, the Lamb, was slain, and
His blood consecrates the hearts of all believers.

Through that night, God freed the captives
From slavery and led them into liberty!

Through that night, the pillar of fire
Destroyed the darkness of sin!

As a result of the Lamb's sacrifice,
Believers in Christ everywhere, are
Washed clean of sin,
Freed from all defilement, and
Are restored to grace and grow together in holiness.

Through that night, Jesus Christ
Broke the chains of death
And rose triumphant from the grave.

What good would life have been to us,
Had Christ not come as our Redeemer?

Father, how wonderful your care for us!
How boundless your merciful love!
To ransom a slave
You gave away your son.

O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam,
Which gained for us so great a Redeemer!

Most blessed of all nights, chosen by God
To see Christ rising from the dead!

Of that night scripture says:
"The night will be as clear as day:
It will become my light, my joy."

The power of that holy night
Dispels all evil, washes guilt away,
Restores lost innocence, brings joy to mourners;
It casts out hatred, brings us peace, and humbles
Earthly pride.

Night truly blessed when heaven is wedded to earth
And man is reconciled to God!

The flame of resurrection light though divided
Remains undimmed:
A pillar of fire that glows to the glory of God.

May it, through the Church's witness
Mingle with the lights of heaven
And continue bravely burning until
All darkness is completely dispelled!

May the morning Star of God ever find this flame
Still burning in all our hearts:
Christ is the Morning Star, who came back from the dead,
And shed His peaceful light on all mankind,
God's Son who lives and reigns for ever and ever!

Again, rejoice, O Church! Exult in glory!
The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
Echoing the mighty song of victory!

-- Roman Catholic Sacramentary (pp 182-186)

Consider printing this off for your pastor. He/she may appreciate it before Resurrection Sunday.