‘A liturgical jewel of unsurpassed beauty’

The Exsultet proclaims the story of salvation on the ‘mother of all holy vigils’

The Easter Vigil begins with a new fire (above) that is blessed by the bishop or priest. The Paschal Candle is lit from the new fire. Tapers held by the assembly are lit from the Paschal Candle during the Service of Light (Lucernarium) that proceeds the singing of the Exsultet. (ICR Photos)

By Emily Woodham

Staff Writer

The Exsultet is sung at no other Mass except the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night.

Those who have never participated in the Easter Vigil, which begins after sundown on the night before Easter Sunday, may be unaware of the significance of the “Easter Proclamation,” as it is also known. The Exsultet, Latin for “Give praise” (or more literally, “Let (it) praise”), proclaims the history of salvation and its fulfillment in the mystery of Easter.

Whenever possible, the Exsultet is sung by a deacon. If no deacon in the church can sing it, then a priest may sing it. However, if none of the parish clergy can sing the ancient chant, then a lay cantor may do so. A portion of the Exsultet must be omitted if it is sung by laity.

“These rubrics are meant to be taken very seriously,” said Tish O’Hagan, director of the Office of Worship for the Diocese of Boise.

The Exsultet is part of the Vigil’s introductory rites. It follows the “Lucernarium” or “Service of Light.” According to the Roman Missal and documents from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the Vigil must be celebrated at night so the symbolism of a “blazing fire” outside the church (or suitable substitute as circumstances demand) is not diminished. The ritual of preparing and lighting the Paschal candle from a new fire blessed by the priest as the liturgy begins, which is then used to light tapers held by the faithful, manifests through these symbols the movement of the people of God from darkness to light.

After the candlelight procession into the church and the placing of the Paschal Candle by the altar, the lights in the church are turned on while the faithful continue to hold their burning tapers. Only the altar candles remain unlit. The priest blesses incense, and the deacon who will chant the Exsultet incenses the missal and the Paschal Candle. Then he sings. (If a layperson is singing, the incensing of the candle and book are omitted.)

The congregation continues to stand with their lighted tapers as the deacon chants. It is not until after the end of the Exsultet that the congregation extinguishes their candles and sits for the Liturgy of the Word. (The altar candles are not lit until the Gloria.)

For centuries, the Exsultet has served as a liturgical jewel of unsurpassed beauty on this, the “mother of all holy vigils,” as St. Augustine aptly described the Easter Vigil. As the Exsultet exhorts us, ‘Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her, ablaze with light from her eternal King, let all corners of the earth be glad, knowing an end to gloom and darkness’ (“Christ Our Light,” usccb.org).

There were various forms of the Exsultet by the ninth century. The one used today by the Catholic Church is believed to be from a text by St. Ambrose. It begins with an exhortation to praise, then leads into a history of salvation from Adam to Christ, and ends with an entreaty for blessings for the Paschal Candle so that its flame will continue through the night.

For centuries, an extended portion of the Exsultet was dedicated to the praise of bees because they contributed wax for the Paschal Candle. The bees were also esteemed in the text as symbols of the Church and, in particular, the chaste fruitfulness of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1570, the portion about the bees was omitted. In 2011, in the new English translation of the Latin promulgated by Pope St. John Paul II, the praises of the bees and their work were readmitted, but only in two lines.

The Exsultet is challenging for singers for many reasons. Cathryn Gardner, music director at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Boise, suggests that singers prepare well before the Easter Vigil.

“The Exsultet is physically challenging because Easter Vigil Mass is so late. People are already tired from two days of celebrating the Triduum,” she said. “Another physical aspect is how long the Exsultet is. Sustaining singing for that long can be taxing on the voice, especially when you have been talking or singing already that day.”

It is also mentally demanding because singers are so exposed, she added. “You are standing at the ambo in front of the entire congregation, often singing completely by yourself, with all eyes on you. It is taxing even for the most experienced singers, and the length mentioned earlier does not help. You are essentially singing the story of Easter and praises to God while everyone listens to only you.”

It’s because of these difficulties that there is flexibility to have a trained musician, a cantor, sing instead of someone from the clergy, she explained. Although it is ideally sung a cappella, there is no prohibition against it being sung with an instrumental accompaniment. However, the accompaniment must be kept simple so that it does not detract from the message of the chant.

For those preparing to sing the Exsultet, Gardner recommends a vocal care regimen that includes sufficient sleep, hydration and vocal warm-up before singing. “You don’t want to strain your voice from overuse or poor use. Some singers use tea, hot water with lemon, or a specific brand of cough drops to help their voice recover and last longer. Use this time we have before Easter to find a process that works for you so your voice stays healthy despite all the use it will get during Holy Week. Also, make sure to rest in between Triduum liturgies.”

Cantors should consider the spiritual aspect of chanting the Exsultet. “I would highly encourage anyone preparing to sing this to really meditate on the words and allow them to speak to your heart as you prepare. Some themes present in the text are redemption, joy and hope. Use these themes to guide you and prepare your heart,” said Gardner.

She noted that attending the entire Triduum helps a cantor better understand the Exsultet. “Observing all of Holy Week can help one gain a deeper understanding of each specific day, as you see them all linked together.”

When it comes time to sing, she suggests that cantors be present in the moment and sing with joy. “The Easter Vigil is a joyous celebration of hope and renewal!”

  "Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her, ablaze with light from her eternal King, let all corners of the earth be glad, knowing an end to gloom and darkness.”                                                  — the Exsultet

Cathryn Garnder, Director of Music, Our Lady of the Rosary, Boise.