Before the Exsultet is intoned, the rubrics state the person who will chant this asks for a blessing from the priest, in the same way the deacon does before proclaiming the Gospel. To have the honor and privilege of this task, as I have, is humbling and daunting. One needs all the grace that can be bestowed, especially if a lay cantor is taking the place of "an unworthy Levite", to paraphrase that section of the hymn.
The musical formula for the lion's share of this prayer is the same as the Preface before the Eucharistic Prayer, with some joyful sounding motives added to some phrases. The connection between the two is unmistakable. We are asked to lift up our hearts to the Lord and truly and righty give Him thanks. It is in acknowledgement of the great gift the Father through the Son in the Spirit has bestowed upon us: eternal life by the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In the Eucharistic Prayer, we have re-presented the saving action of Calvary, veiled in the Upper Room at the Last Supper. In the procession starting the Easter Vigil, it is in the presentation of the Pascal Candle, a symbol of the Risen Christ, "a torch so precious", this "pillar of fire" which "banished the darkness of sin".
Therefore "(i)t is truly right and just, with ardent love of mind and heart, and with devoted service of our voice, to acclaim our God invisible, the almighty Father, and Jesus Christ, our Lord, his Son, his Only Begotten." Why? "To ransom a slave, you gave away your Son." Is there any other god who would do that?
We humans are so loved. When are we going to act like it?
If you assist at the Vigil, let what amounts to the Church's greatest Introit ring in your ears, mind, heart, and soul.
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