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What  is  Easter?

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Easter   is   the   celebration   of   Christ's   resurrection   from the dead.   It is celebrated on Sunday, and marks the end of Holy Week, the end of Lent, the last day of the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday), and is the beginning of the Easter season of the liturgical year.

 

As   we   know   from the Gospels, Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day following his crucifixion, which   would   be Sunday.   His resurrection marks the triumph of good over evil, sin and death. It is the singular   event   which   proves   that   those who trust in God and accept   Christ   will    be raised from the dead.

 

Since Easter represents the fulfilment of God's promises to mankind, it is the most important holiday on the Christian calendar.

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Communion: Our Easter Duty

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Because of the central importance of Easter to the Christian faith, the Catholic Church requires that all Catholics who have made their First Communion receive the Holy Eucharist sometime during the Easter season, which lasts through Pentecost, 50 days after Easter.

(The Church also urges us to take part in the Sacrament of Confession before receiving this Easter communion.) This reception of the Eucharist is a visible sign of our faith and our participation in the Kingdom of God. Of course, we should receive Communion as frequently as possible; this "Easter Duty" is simply the minimum requirement set by the Church.

 

Christ Is Risen!

Easter isn't a spiritual event that happened just once, long ago; we don't say "Christ has risen" but "Christ is risen," because He rose, body and soul, and is still alive and with us today. That is the true meaning of Easter.

 

This Easter morning we celebrate the central mystery of our faith, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He suffered on the cross and died for us, but now he is risen!

 

Filled with the spirit of Easter joy, let us proclaim the might and glory of God.