Easter Sunday
Stored in Cargo: Easter Sunday
| Liturgical Feast | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | First Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox |
| Rank | Solemnity |
| Type | Movable |
| Season | Easter |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre |
| Countries | Universal |
| Dioceses | |
The Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord, commonly known as Easter or Pascha, is the greatest and oldest solemnity of the Roman Rite and the entire liturgical year. It celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion, the central mystery of the Christian faith. According to the General Roman Calendar, Easter Sunday is the culmination of the Easter Triduum and the beginning of the fifty-day Easter season that ends with Pentecost. It is a Holy Day of Obligation in every country where such obligations exist.
The date is movable: the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the vernal (spring) equinox (computed ecclesiastically as March 21), yielding a range from March 22 to April 25. The Resurrection fulfills the Old Testament Passover and establishes the New Covenant, making Easter the “feast of feasts” and the foundation of Christian hope. Liturgical tradition holds that the entire liturgical year revolves around this paschal mystery.
The celebration begins with the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night—considered the mother of all vigils—and continues with the Mass of Easter Day. This reflects universal Roman Rite observance; Eastern Catholic Churches celebrate according to the same paschal computus but with their own rich rites.
Liturgical observance
The liturgical color is white or gold, symbolizing joy and victory over death. The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night (the highest expression of Easter) includes the Service of Light (Paschal candle), extended Liturgy of the Word (up to nine readings), baptismal liturgy, and first Eucharist of Easter. The Mass of Easter Day features the renewal of baptismal promises and the singing of the Sequence Victimae paschali laudes.[1]
Readings for the Vigil (Lectionary no. 41) include Genesis 1:1–2:2 (creation), Exodus 14:15–15:1 (Red Sea), Isaiah 55:1–11, Romans 6:3–11, and Mark 16:1–7 (or the year’s Gospel). Easter Day readings (no. 42) are Acts 10:34a,37–43; Colossians 3:1–4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b–8; and the Gospel of the year (John 20:1–9 in Year B).[2]
The Paschal candle is lit throughout the Easter season. The Gloria and Alleluia return after their Lenten absence. Special rites include the sprinkling with Easter water and, in many places, the ancient Risen Christ procession at dawn.
History
The celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection on the Sunday after Passover is attested from the 2nd century (cf. St. Justin Martyr, *First Apology* 67). The Council of Nicaea (325) standardized the computus to separate Christian Easter from the Jewish calendar. The Easter Vigil was originally an all-night vigil of fasting and prayer until dawn. The 1955 reform under Pius XII restored the Vigil to the night hours; the 1969 reform under Paul VI further simplified it while retaining its centrality.[3]
Since 2002 the *General Roman Calendar* lists it simply as “Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord” with the highest solemnity rank.
Theological significance
The Resurrection is the cornerstone of Christian faith: “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1 Cor 15:14). The *Catechism of the Catholic Church* (nos. 638–658) teaches that the empty tomb and appearances confirm the historical reality of the Resurrection, which conquers sin and death and opens eternal life.[4]
Pope St. John Paul II called Easter “the fundamental and primary feast which sums up the entire salvific plan of God” (*General Audience*, 12 April 2000).
Veneration and traditions
Universal customs include the proclamation of the Exsultet, blessing of the Easter fire, baptism of catechumens at the Vigil, and greeting “Christ is risen! – He is risen indeed!” Popular traditions—Easter baskets, eggs (symbolizing new life), lamb-shaped foods, and lilies—stem from ancient Christian symbolism and later cultural accretions, but are not part of the official liturgy.
Significant locations
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Shrines
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Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- Built over the sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection; the traditional location of the empty tomb (Diocese of Jerusalem). The annual Miracle of the Holy Fire on Holy Saturday draws thousands.
St. Peter’s Basilica
- Site of the papal Easter Vigil and Urbi et Orbi blessing; plenary indulgence attached under usual conditions.
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
- Hosts one of the largest Easter Vigil celebrations in the United States.
References
- ↑ "Easter Vigil 2025". Vatican. https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/libretti/2025/20250420_libretto-veglia-pasquale_en.html.
- ↑ "Easter Sunday Readings". USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/easter-sunday-resurrection-lord.
- ↑ "Paschalis Sollemnitatis (1988)". Vatican. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20011021_letter-paschal-precepts_en.html.
- ↑ Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 1997. pp. 638–658.