It stands in stark contrast to the beginning of the Good Friday liturgy, where silence is required because it is demanded. It seems the Church can hardly wait to "let this holy building shake with joy, filled with the mighty voices of the peoples."
Why is that? We have just finished Lent and Holy Week, a time of solemn and somber preparation. We have been reminded of our sins and sinfulness, how we really are everything yet nothing in the sight of God, how much we needed to be saved. We have cried out, "Attende, Domine." We have pleaded, "Parce, Domine." We have made partial reparation with our praying, fasting, and almsgiving. We have rent our hearts and worn our ashes and sackcloths. We have prepared as best as possible for tonight, where we who have walked in darkness will see our great light.
We are ready to celebrate our redemption "with ardent love of mind and heart and with devoted service of our voice." We are ready to express our belief in "(t)he sanctifying power of this night." We are ready in awe and amazement to marvel at the "wonder of your humble care for us," We are ready to rejoice and be glad in this "love (and) charity beyond all telling."
While technically it not, as it come after the procession of the Pascal Candle to the sanctuary at the end of the Introductory Rite of the Easter Vigil Mass, I have called the Exsultet the Church's greatest Introit. This is the hymn of our great joy and greatest Joy, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His redeeming work. May this prayer prepare you for tonight's Wedding Feast, as you renew you life in Christ and as His Bride receives new members into His Mystical Body.
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