Easter Dawn

Mark 16:1-7
And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; --it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. 6 And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. 7* But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you."

The highlight of the Church's liturgical year is the celebration of Easter. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that, "The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ." (CCC 638) This mystery is too awesome to be appreciated in a few days. That's why Easter is an eight-day feast. Liturgically, each of these days is treated as a Sunday. And why not? The Church does its best to absorb the profound mystery that is our Salvation! St. Athanasius on Easter, . . " Therefore, Easter is not simply one feast among others, but the "Feast of feasts," the "Solemnity of solemnities," just as the Eucharist is the "Sacrament of sacraments" (the Great Sacrament). . Easter is 'The Great Sunday."

Let's all remind ourselves this week of how important Easter is to ALL our lives and encourage one another to a deeper spiritual effort. "All who celebrate the Easter Feasts will by the Lord's grace experience their effort in their daily lives." (Given at Rome, at the Offices of the Congregation for Divine Worship, January 16, 1988.)