Alleluia! Christ is Risen!      Alleluia, or "Praise the Lord", is an expression of joy and hope for the eternal happiness which our Lord obtained for us by His Glorious Resurrection.  The Church sings Alleluia today, and often, during the Octave, because Christ has risen from the grave, and as St. Augustine says,  "We have left the grave of sin, and are ready to to walk in the way of the devine commandments."    In the Latin Missal, Easter is called "Pascha", a name chosen from a Hebrew word meaning "passing over."  The Jews celebrated the feast of "Passover" because the destroyer of the first-born of Egypt "passed over" the houses of the Israelites, who had sprinkled the transom and posts of their doors with the blood of the paschal lamb; and because the Jews were, that same night, delivered into the land of the promise (Exodus 12:11).  Since Christians have been redeemed and have "passed over" to the freedom of the children of God, we too call the day of His Resurrection, "Pascha" or "Passover."      Since Christ rose from the dead, we know that He is the Son of God, His doctrine is divine, His Church is true, and we, as members of His Mystical Body, provided we are His true disciples, shall one day rise with glorified bodies.      Easter is a day of gladness for all Christians, and their triumphant joy is given dramatic expression in the Sequence which follows the Gradual, the frequent alleluias, and the position of the Paschal Candle within the sanctuary throughout the Easter season.      "It is Christ Jesus Who died; yes, and, rose again, He who is at the right hand of God, Who also interceded for us."  Who then, "shall separate us from the love of Christ?"...............................Romans 8:34 Resurrection window located on the west wall as you would first enter the church. Back to Index Next to Sick List This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page