Proclamation of the Date of Easter

T IS AN ANCIENT CUSTOM of the Church to proclaim the date of Easter and other moveable feasts, on the feast of the Epiphany, at the beginning of the secular year. It is certainly a good idea, at the beginning of the Calendar year, to make sure that the Church's celebrations are in the diary before holidays and other engagements are planned.

Sometimes the Proclamation of the Date of Easter is chanted by a cantor from the ambo, with lights and incense, after the gospel reading or homily at the Epiphany Mass. The music is included in the Sourcebook for Sundays and Seasons 2003, published by Liturgy Training Publications.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, The glory of the Lord has shone upon us, and will be manifest among us, until the day of his return. Through the rhythms of times and seasons let us celebrate the mysteries of salvation. Let us recall the year's culmination, the Easter Triduum of the Lord: his crucifixion, his burial and his rising, celebrated between the evening of the 19th April and the dawn of 20th April. Each Easter and each Sunday Holy Church makes present that great and saving deed by which Christ has forever conquered sin and death. From Easter come forth and are reckoned all the days we keep holy: Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, 5th March; the Ascension of the Lord, 29th May; and Pentecost, 8th June; the First Sunday of Advent, 30th November. Likewise the pilgrim Church proclaims the Passover of Christ in the feasts of the holy Mother of God, in the feasts of the Apostles and Saints, and in the commemoration of the faithful departed. To Christ who was, who is, and who is to come, Lord of time and history, be endless praise, for ever and ever. Amen.

May God bless you all and your families as you seek to serve him throughout 2003.

+ Andrew Ebbsfleet