The sisters prepare the church for the Easter VigilThe fire burns before the Vigil beginsThe Easter fire is blessed with holy waterThe ministers, altar servers, sisters, and faithful enter the church. “Lumen Christi” (Light of Christ) is proclaimed three times, at which point all kneel and one of the candles of the three-branch candle is litThe Exultet is sung and the Easter candle is litAfter the reading of the prophesies and the responses, the ministers prostrate themselves and all kneel for the singing of the Litany of the SaintsHoly Mass is then celebrated. At the chant of the Gloria, the bells are rung for the first time since Holy Thursday and the violet veils are lowered and removed from the holy images and statues in the churchFollowing the holy liturgy, the sisters and faithful gather together for hot chocolate
