Easter Prayer

Note: This prayer uses the text of the Exsultet, the solemn Easter Proclamation sung at the Easter Vigil service. The current text dates back to the fifth century.

O Provident God,
we exult in your mighty triumph this day.
Let Earth be glad,
let our church buildings shake with joy,
filled with the mighty voices of the people.
On this day, your Son broke the prison bars of death
and rose victorious!

O wonder of your humble care for us!
O love, O charity beyond all telling,
to ransom a slave you gave away your Son!
O happy fault,
that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!

May the sanctifying power of this Easter season
dispel wickedness, wash faults away,
restore innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners,
drive out hatred, foster concord and bring down the mighty.

May this pillar of fire, our Paschal Candle,
which glows for God’s honor,
be never dimmed by the sharing of its light.
May the fire of our love persevere undimmed
to overcome the darkness of evil.

May this flame be found still burning
by the Morning Star:
the one Morning Star who never sets,
Christ your Son,
who coming back from death’s domain,
has shed his peaceful light on humanity,
and lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.