Reflection on the Octave of Easter

 

This week we celebrate the Octave of Easter, but some of the faithful may wonder what that is.  The Octave of Easter is the eight-day period during which Easter is celebrated, which includes the actual feast day of Easter on Easter Sunday. The Octave begins on Easter Sunday and ends on the Second Sunday of Easter of the Divine Mercy with every day being another solemnity or another “little Easter.” Monday, April 5, is referred to as “Monday in the Octave of Easter.” 

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! The comprehension and joy of this amazing gift of Christ conquering sin and death by his own death and resurrection is not confined to just one day. The Octave of Easter gives us time to impress upon our souls the Easter mysteries: the joys and graces of this great feast of the Church. Each day of the Octave, the liturgy reflects upon the mysteries of the resurrection of Christ and our own resurrection through the sacrament of Baptism.

Holy Week is commemorated right before we start the Easter season.  During Holy Week we mark Good Friday, the day of Christ death on the cross.  The Octave of Easter is the response to Good Friday and Holy Week.  Christ's resurrection without a doubt made his divinity known to the world.   With great joy, the Octave of Easter celebrates his resurrection in a special way in our Masses during that week.  Each Mass within the Octave of Easter is considered a solemnity with the Gloria sung at the beginning of Mass.  

For many years in the Diocese of Jackson, the priests went on retreat right after Easter, so in most of the parishes of our Diocese, the Masses of the Octave of Easter were not celebrated.  We are now have the priests’ retreat for the Diocese the second week of the Easter season.  One of the motivations of moving the retreat was the celebration of the Octave of Easter.  We encourage all of the faithful to attend some of the daily Masses during the week or to watch them streaming on the internet to celebrate this joyful week.  

The Easter sequence Victimae Paschali Laudes can be said or sung before the Gospel every day during the Octave.  I will close with the words of this beautiful Easter sequence.  Blessings to all of you during the Octave of Easter.  

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!