The Church has many masses in a year, the regular Sunday mass, special occasions like church festivals, days of significants, Christmas or Easter. Among all the masses, the Easter Vigil is the longest mass of the year. Jesus was crucified and buried, his fellowers is waiting patient for his raise of death. Unlike normal mass that has only 3 readings, the Vigil has 8 readings and a Gospel. In additional, new adult Catholics are also baptised in the Vigil after studying the catechism since last September. The mass is 3 hours long and it’s starts at 10p.m. I think it’s a small miracle that I did not fall asleep.
Pat is the sponsor for her friend’s baptism. Since I am married with Pat, I am also a co-sponsor. Ada is our first god-daughter, although she is only a few years younger than us. It is a joy to see some one baptism and joined the family of the Church. When Ada shows up in Pat choir a few years back then, I image she would eventually drift away to join the more youth protestant church. Somehow to me, she doesn’t look like the type of people would become a Catholic. The profile does not fit but I guess there are always exceptions.
I felt very peaceful in the Easter Vigil. 3 hours passed surprisingly fast without even feeling bored. The first 3 readings was in darkness, the ceiling lights are turned off and we can only rely on the candle in our hands. Watching the candle fire dance in my hand and listening to the Latin chants gives me a mystical experience. My mind is drawn to the fire along with all my worries and let the worries burn in the flame. I didn’t pay much attention to the reading nor the homily, athough some words slip into my ear from time to time. My mind was wandering, thinkings pop up and go. All my worries, angers, expectations and contemplations flashed across my mind, until all my thoughts are exhausted. When the priest is preparing the eucharist, my mind was almost empty and sort of in a state of mediatation. I felt the Easter Vigil had gave me strength to live through the suffering in life.
