The Easter Vigil

From Reuters:

Benedict led the world's Catholics into Easter on Saturday night, urging them to rise the above "confusions of this age" by following Church teachings.

The German-born pontiff, marking the fourth Easter of his pontificate, began the Easter eve service in the atrium of a darkened St Peter's Basilica, where he carved the Greek letters Alpha and Omega on a large candle.

The basilica became a sea of flickers as thousands of people gathered inside the largest church in Christendom lit candles before the lights were turned on.

The gesture symbolises the darkness in the world after Christ's death and the light of resurrection.

"God's creation ... begins with the biblical command: 'Let there be light'. Where there is light, life is born, chaos can be transformed into cosmos," the pope said.

In his sermon, the pope noted that in Jesus's time, many followers were so confused "amid the contradictory messages of that time, they did not know which way to turn".

"What great compassion (Jesus Christ) must feel in our own time too -- on account of all the endless talk that people hide behind, while in reality they are confused," the pope said.

From UPI:

Pope Benedict XVI began the Easter Vigil late Saturday at St. Peter's in Rome, celebrating the mass that opens the holiest day of the Christian calendar.

The service began in darkness, the BBC reported. After Benedict lit a candle to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ, he was joined by thousands of worshippers who lit their candles.

This Easter is a difficult one for Italy. Holy Week began with the devastating earthquake in L'Aquila, northwest of Rome, and Benedict granted a dispensation so a funeral mass could be celebrated for more than 200 of the dead on Good Friday.

In his homily and prayers, Benedict talked of the symbolism of light as an image of God and of Christians providing light for the world.

I attended the Easter Vigil at my parish.

Just like at St. Peter's Basilica, the Easter Vigil begins in the dark, symbolizing the darkness of the world without Jesus. The priest lights the Paschal candle and that flame is passed from person to person, candle to candle, until the church is glowing with light -- hope.

Out of darkness, light.

In addition to the fire, there is the water of baptism, in which sins are washed away, new members are baptized into the Church and the faithful renew their baptismal vows.

Then, catechumens are confirmed.

They receive the Holy Eucharist for the first time.

It's a moving celebration of initiation, rebirth, and life.

It's hope I can believe in.