Tuesday in the Octave of Easter

READINGS

Sequence -- optional Victimae paschali laudes

Christians, to the Paschal Victim           

Offer your thankful praises!

A Lamb the sheep redeems;           

Christ, who only is sinless,           

Reconciles sinners to the Father.

Death and life have contended in

that combat stupendous:           

The Prince of life, who died,

reigns immortal.

Speak, Mary, declaring           

What you saw, wayfaring.

“The tomb of Christ, who is living,           

The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;

bright angels attesting,           

The shroud and napkin resting.

Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;           

to Galilee he goes before you."

Christ indeed from death is risen,

our new life obtaining.           

Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!           

Amen. Alleluia!

REFLECTION

In the Catholic Sunday Easter Liturgy, there was a sequence read before the Alleluia is sung and then the Gospel is read. Why is there a sequence read at Easter Liturgy?

This question led me to look into: what is the purpose of the sequence in the Easter liturgy? In liturgical celebrations, the sequence is a chanted or recited poem, which serves as accompaniment during the procession of the Gospel to the ambo.

Historically, sequences appeared in the 9th Century, during the medieval period. It was a solemn embellishment of the liturgical celebration which previewed what would be read in the Gospel. They were usually chanted or sung after the Alleluia. The name sequence is a derivitive of the Latin sequere, which means "to follow." So it was sung as the Book of Gospels is processed to the ambo.

Today, sequences are read on special feasts like the Resurrection of Our Lord, Pentecost, and Corpus Christi. It is read before the Alleluia. If the Extraordinary Form is used, then it is sung during the Octaves of Easter and Pentecost.

Our Church History is beautiful. Let us thirst to know more and understand the rich tradition of our Holy Catholic Church.

Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! Alleluia!