INSTRUCTION ON EASTER

Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine's
The Church's Year

What is the festival of Easter?

Easter, in Latin Pascha, signifies passing over, and has the following historical origin: Under Pharaoh, King of Egypt, the Jews in that country groaned under intolerable bondage. God had mercy on His people, and the hour of deliverance came. By His com­mand the first-born of all the Egyptians was killed by an angel. The Jews had been ordered by God to be ready for emigration, but first to kill a lamb, eat it in their houses in common, and sprinkle the door­posts with its blood. And the angel of death, by order of God, passed the doors sprinkled with the blood of the lamb, and did no harm to any child of the Israelites, whilst he slew all the first-born sons of the Egyptians. In grateful memory of this passing their doors, the Jews observed the festival of Easter, the Pasch, or Passover. After the death of Jesus, the apostles introduced the same festival into the Church in grateful remembrance of the day on which Jesus, the true Easter Lamb, took away our sins by His blood, freed us from the angel of eternal death, and passed us over to the freedom of the children of God.

Where, during this time, was Christ's holy soul?

In Limbo, that is, the place where the souls of the just who died before Christ, and were yet in original sin, were awaiting their redemption.

What have we to expect from the resurrection of Christ?

Christ is Risen - Easter - The only Real Hope for America is Obedience to Him

First Glorious Mystery - The Resurrection

Christ died on Good Friday. He was buried in the Holy Sepulchre. For three days He lay dead. Soldiers guarded the tomb. The Roman Governor, Pilate, placed on the heavy door the seal of Rome. Then Sunday morning dawned. Beautiful light appeared in the sky. The soldiers saw light pouring from the grave where Jesus lay. The great, heavy stone rolled away of itself. And Jesus, glorious, strong, beautiful, and alive, came forth from the tomb. He visited His dear Mother and thanked her. He showed Himself to Mary Magdalen who was weeping for Him. He appeared to His Apostles. He proved to us that we shall live forever. This was the first Easter.