Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!

Is there anyone who is a grateful servant? Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting? Let them now receive their wages!

If any have toiled from the first hour, let them receive their due reward;

If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast!

And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.

And if any delayed until the ninth hour, let him not hesitate; but let him come too.

And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first. He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, as well as to him that toiled from the first.

To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows. He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor. The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not, rejoice today for the Table is richly laden! Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one. Let no one go away hungry.

Partake, all, of the cup of faith. Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hades when He descended into it. He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh. Isaiah foretold this when he said, "You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with. It was in an uproar because it is mocked.

It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.

Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.

O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen
and you, o death, are annihilated!

Christ is Risen,
and the evil ones are cast down!

Christ is Risen,
and the angels rejoice!

Christ is Risen,
and life is liberated!

Christ is Risen
and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!
-- St. John Chrysostom

Propers for Easter Day

INTROIT. Psalm 139:18,4,5. I am risen and am still with thee, alleluia: thou hast laid thine hand upon me, alleluia: thy knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Ps. 139:1. O Lord, thou hast searched me out and known me: thou knowest my down-sitting and mine uprising. Glory be....I am risen...

COLLECT. O God, who for our redemption didst give thine only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection hast delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through the same thy Son Christ our Lôrd, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, ône God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Lesson from the Acts of the Apostles

In those days, Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

GRADUAL. Haec dies. Psalm 118:24, 29. This is the day which the Lord hath made: we will be joyful and be glad in it. O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious: and his mercy endureth for ever.

The Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Colossians.

Brethren: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

ALLELUIA, alleluia. 1 Cor 5:7. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

SEQUENCE. Victimae Paschali. Christians, to the Paschal victim Offer your thankful praises! A lamb the sheep redeemeth: Christ, who only is sinless, Reconcileth sinners to the Father. Death and life have contended In that combat stupendous: The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal. Speak, Mary, declaring What thou saw, wayfaring. "The tomb of Christ, who living, The glory of Jesus's Resurrection; Bright angels attesting, the shroud and napkin resting. Yea, Christ my hope is arisen: To Galilee he goes before you." Christ indeed from death is risen, Our new life obtaining. Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning! Amen. Alleluia.

The Continuation of the Holy Gospel
According to Mark

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. The Creed is said.

OFFERTORY. Terra tremuit et quievit. Psalm 76:8-9. The earth trembled and was still, when God arose to judgment, alleluia.

SECRET. We beseech thee, O Lord, mercifully to accept the prayers and oblations of thy people: that this beginning of thy Paschal Mysteries may by the operation of thy grace be unto us a wholesome medicine unto everlasting life. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, and liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

COMMUNION. Pascha nostrum. 1 Corinthians 5:7-8. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us, alleluia: therefore let us keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

POSTCOMMUNION. We beseech thee, O Lord, pour into our hearts the love of thy Hôly Spirit: that as thou hast now fulfilled us with this Paschal Sacramênt, so thou wouldest make us to continue in all godly concord. Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lôrd, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Holy Ghost, ever ône God, world without end. Amen.

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PROPERS OF THE MASS
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