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| Mary Magdalene meets Jesus at the tomb. |
-Brian Mendonca
The Exsultet is one of the most beautiful chants of Easter. Seeping through the stillness of night, the chant is sung before everything else during the Easter service of the midnight Mass. Roughly of 10 minutes duration it is a testimony to Christian faith and the reason for it.
It is sung solo by a singer who, if worthy, can hold the night with the power of her/his voice. The Exsultet recalls events in the Bible which the laity are called upon to revisit on Easter night. The opening words of the verses continually remind us 'This is the night when . . .' This makes the night momentous as the faithful witness the Paschal candle at the altar.
'Let this holy building shake with joy,' (1.18) urges the singer. S/he hopes to 'sing this candle's perfect praises' (2.10). Already in the first 2 minutes the binary of light and darkness has been firmly established.
By dying on the cross Jesus repays the debt of Adam and wipes out 'our ancient sinfulness' (3.33).
The saving of the Israelites from the pursuing Egyptians around 1250 BCE and their being confounded in the Red Sea is recalled. 'This is the night, when once you led our forbears, Israel's children, from slavery in Egypt and made them pass dry shod through the Red Sea.' (4.15) Led by Moses (1400-1200 BCE), the Israelites have a miraculous escape after enduring 430 years in Egypt under the Pharoahs.
'This is the night when Christ broke the prison bars of death and rose victorious from the underworld.' (5.19) The night is invested with sanctifying power to dispel all wickedness, to bring joy to mourners, and to bring down the wicked. (7.05)
The candle is now offered to God, 'the work of bees and of your servants' hands' (8.12) It is referred to as a 'pillar,' 'a fire into many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light.' (8.36)
This Easter night is specially blessed because 'things of heaven are wed to those of earth, and divine to the human.' (9.00) The candle is exhorted 'to persevere undimmed, to overcome the darkness of this night.' (9.24) In the final plea the Lord is implored to allow the candle to 'mingle with the lights of heaven.' (9.38)
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