The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-04-16
EASTER SUNDAY.

II there be a III oment on earth which brings
O foretaste Of Heaven, if there be an hour in
Time which reminds US of our bissfLl Eternity,
if there be a day in this place of exile which
lax s us realize the glory of our native land,
it is surely the dawn of the Resurrection morn
ing, the commemorative hour of the Saviour's
triumph over death, the glorious day Of
Easter Sunday.
SO vast and immeasurable was the JOY of the
Church-the chosen spouse of Christ-at this
triumph of her Lord, this victory of her King,
that eighteen centuries ago, she pronounced
decree which is at once an evidence of her
awful power, and testimony of her undying
love. She who was to subsist throughout all
ages, and 10 teach all nations, gave her first
lesson beside the open grave of Christ, in order
to impress upon the world the great fact
| of His Resurrection, and of her own divine
| commission. The Sabbath of the Jews was
changed to the Sunday of the Christians;
| and from that day to this, each Sunday in the
| year is but "an Easter Day in every week."
reno wing the mystery of the Resurrection and
| rejecting the blessings of that zone Lords day
of holy JOY"
| Setting aside the Seventh day Of the week.
| the day of rest of the Jews, and whose obser-
| vance wes commanded to Moses engraven even
| upon tablets ofstone,- Church proposed to
her children to observe the first day of the
week in honor of their Lord who on that day
| had purchased for them an eternal Sabbath and
an un.ending joy : and all Christian nations
have yielded obedience to her decree.
! In our latitude, Easter Sunday follows the
Vernal Equinox, for the Sun as it passes on
to its meridian splendor, is but an image of onr
Bless sd Lord, who, rising from the darkness of
death, passed on to the glorious scene of His
Ascension, whose ineffAble mystery human
mind can understand.
After the solemn stiffness and pathetic sad
ness of the Holy Week, when the churches re-
sound with lamen tations, and the ceremonies
Of religion wear o funereal aspect the bright
ness and beauty of Easter Sunday are peculi-
arly impressive. The Church now Iohes her
self as happy Bride, and with lights, en-
blematcal of joy, and with flowers, symbolical
of hope, spread in profusion upon her affairs,
she commences her allelujah of Thanksgiving
which continues uninterrupted for fifty days,
during which time there occures no peniten-
tial fast, and there is heard no sound of sad
ness
This Easter time, or Pascal season, is not the
figure of any joy which belongs TO Earth, but
symboiizss our eternal life-a life of endless
rest aud happiness. The Church teaches MS
, thai the trials aud sorrows of earth shall be
followed by the repoee and joys of Heaven
and that the Lent Of our exile shall be sue
ceeded by the Easter of our home in Paradise
But the great lesson We ARE TO learn is the
nee .siry of now life, the obligation to rise
above oar grovelling passions, aud thus waIb
as humble follow Of Him who was without
sin.
, Oar little catechisn particularly teaches n'
that Sc were Gre atul uhly to "know, love and
serve God in this world, aud be happy with
; Him in the next y oril other words, that duty
10 to be our watchword here below, and hap
piress our reoompense above, that life must
|, always be a time of trial, and that death alone
can bring us a true Pascal season.
But as a loving mother soothes the sorro ws
of child, so does the Holy Church cheer and
encourage in this pilgrimage on earth, by
3 the beautiful suggestions she gives of our
3 Eternal happiness, aud on no day of the year
\ is her care more manifest or her suggestions
, more cousoliug, than this beautiful day o
her Masters triumph. Now her songs of 10!
q aud her hymns of til snksgiving are in har
mony with those which the angels sing il
, Heaven now her shining vestments ant
glorious ritual reflect the spiendor of thu
eternal Kingdom but above all, her powe
: of recouciling the sinner with his God, and o
Q feasting the Christian soul upon the divin
;. Eucharistic food, makes this day for each c
: her children a foretaste of Heaven, a reminde
h of q blissful eternity, and certain pledge G
y that Easter blessedness which will unfold 70
% those who, faithful to her teachings, follow i
the footsteps of their risen Lord.