Easter Vigil

Easter Vigil mass is commencing as I type.  I miss that service so much!  It has been 3 years since I've attended the 3 hour service to rejoice in Christ's death and resurrection.  There is something about the candle light service, the solemnity, the sound of a song like "Go Light Your World" ringing at the end of church that brings Christ's sacrifice and my task here on Earth into perspective.  At the last vigil I attended, my then fiancee was baptized in confirmed into the Catholic faith.  A couple months later, we married.  A few hours after that, God blessed us with our honeymoon souvenir.  Nine months later, our son was born, and that was the end of Easter Vigil as I knew it.  Trying to tend to children for the 7:30 to 10:30 duration is, well, impossible!

I am floored by the number of people I meet who have quit going to church because their children are nutty, antsy, cranky, etc.  I listen to their justifications in awe.  Sometimes my own kids are no picnic during church, so I sympathize with their problems.  I just didn't agree with the solution.  Tonight I find myself wondering if I fall into this group when it comes to Easter Vigil.  I'm certain we would spend all our energy and attention containing nutty, antsy, cranky kids, and I feel like it would be a huge distraction to the other parishoners along with preventing my husband and I from getting anything from mass.  Perhaps we should leave our children to God and trust Him to take them through this most holy service.  

For this year at least, we will go to Easter Sunday mass, but I will do some serious praying and listening to God's desire for next year's Easter celebration.

Go Light Your World- Kathy Troccoli

There is a candle in every soul

Some brightly burning, some dark and cold

There is a Spirit who brings a fire

Ignites a candle and makes His home

So Carry your candle, run to the darkness

Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn

Hold out your candle for all to see it

Take your candle, and go light your world

Take your candle, and go light your world

Frustrated brother, see how he's tried to

Light his own candle some other way

See now your sister, she's been robbed and lied to

Still holds a candle without a flame

So Carry your candle, run to the darkness

Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn

Hold out your candle for all to see it

Take your candle, and go light your world

Take your candle, and go light your world

Cause We are a family whose hearts are blazing

So let's raise our candles and light up the sky

Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus

Make us a beacon in darkest times

So Carry your candle, run to the darkness

Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor

Hold out your candle for all to see it

Take your candle, and go light your world

Carry your candle, run to the darkness

Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn

Hold out your candle for all to see it

Take your candle, and go light your world

Take your candle, and go light your world