Mangalore: Easter Vigil Leads to Resurrection

April 23, 2011

Pics by Savitha R
Daijiworld Media Network

Christians across Dakshina Kannada gathered in their respective parishes to celebrate Easter, one of their greatest feasts on Saturday April 23.

The joy of the resurrection of Jesus Christ was celebrated with gusto in the city with Easter Vigil Masses in all the churches.

After the meaningful ceremonies of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, a majority of the churches began their ceremonies at 7.30 pm.

The candlelight ceremonies which included the blessing of the Pascal candle and blessing of fire and holy water was held with great devotion. The church organ, which in the Lenten season, was silent was enlivened by the angelic choirs on Easter night.

Here are some pictures from parishes around Mangalore city.













































 

Easter Vigil Leads to Resurrection


By his death, Jesus gained life for us. His resurrection is a trans-historical fact. – Fr. Walter D’Mello, Parish Priest, Milagres.
 
For Christians, Holy Week, starting on Palm Sunday and ending with Easter Sunday (April 24 this year) is considered the focal point of ecclesiastical and liturgical year. The last three days of the week - Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday – are called sacred triduum. Together they make up “Holy Three Days” feast of Christ crucified, buried and risen from dead. During these days oils, water and fire (Easter candle) are blessed to make them holy and use them for the rest of the year for baptism, etc. On Holy Saturday, Christians wait at the tomb of Jesus, meditating upon his Passion, death and awaiting, in prayer and fasting, his Resurrection.
 
The central point of Christianity pivots on Resurrection. Jesus had repeatedly talked about Resurrection and rising from the dead on the third day. Speaking in parable, he had talked about destroying the temple and rebuilding it in three days – even as the Jews scoffed at the claim saying that it had taken their ancestors forty years to build the temple. So, after Jesus died on the cross, his disciples and followers were tossed between hope and despair. Fearing torture from the Jews they made themselves scarce, huddled behind locked doors.
 
After the death of Jesus on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple of Jesus, obtained Pilate’s permission to bury Jesus. Along with Nicodemus, they took the body of Jesus and bound it with linen cloth and spices. Near the spot of crucifixion, there was a garden in which there was a fresh tomb in which the body was buried. They rolled a stone against the tomb.
 
Next day, Saturday (day of Sabbath for Jews), the chief priest went to Pilate and said,     “Sir, we remember how the imposter said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again’. Therefore, order the sepulchre (tomb) to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead’, and the last fraud will be worse than the first”. Pilate said to him, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can”. So they went and made the sepulchre secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
 
After the Sabbath, at the dawn of Sunday, Mary Magdalene and another Mary went to see the sepulchre. According to the Biblical account, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. For fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has risen, as he said. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him”. So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell the disciples. Jesus met them and said, “Hail!” They went up and took hold of his feet and worshipped him. Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me”.
 
Some of the guards told the high priests all that had taken place. They gave a sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep’”. They took the money and did as they were directed and spread the story among Jews.
 
Mary Magdalene conveyed the news of the risen Jesus to the disciples. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After this, he appeared to two of them as they were walking into the country. They went back and told the rest; but they did not believe them.
 
Afterwards he appeared to the eleven disciples themselves as they sat at the table behind closed doors for fear of the Jews. He said to them, “Peace be with you” and showed them his nailed hands and pierced side of his ribs (The ribs had been pierced with the lance of a soldier to make sure Jesus was dead on the cross). He upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. The disciples were glad when they saw Jesus who said, “As the father has sent me, even so I send you” to preach the gospel (good news) to all nations.
 
Thomas, one of the disciples, was not with them when Jesus came. When told of the visit of Jesus, he said “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and place my hand in his side, I will not believe”. Eight days later, his disciples were again in the same house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you”. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing”. Thomas answered, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe”.
 
Holy Saturday is marked by vigil, waiting in contemplation and prayer, for the resurrection of Jesus. The idea behind this vigil is that we should do what the apostles failed to do. They failed to keep awake and pray throughout his agony in the garden of Gethsemany – when Jesus caught Peter asleep thrice within the span of an hour. The Easter vigil service is held after dark on Saturday and before dawn on Sunday which itself is the day of joyous celebration of the risen Lord. The fifty days of Easter season conclude with Pentecost Sunday  when the church recalls the gift of the Holy Spirit to the apostles – the beginning of the church and the start of its mission to all tongues, peoples and nations.
.
 
Some of today’s English expressions find an echo in the Passion of Christ, which covers his suffering, death on the cross and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. For instance, Pilate “washed off his hands” literally and, thus, “distanced himself “from the condemnation of Jesus to death, when he said, following the symbolic washing his hands: “ I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves”. There is yet another instance of “Distancing”. When Judas, the betrayer of Jesus, saw that he was condemned to death, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver, which he got for betraying Jesus, to the Jewish chief priest, saying, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood”. They said, “What is it to us? See to it yourself”. Another case of distancing and discarding after the purpose is served.
 
From where does the expression “blood money” come? Judas threw the thirty pieces of silver in the temple and went away and hanged himself. But, the chief priest, taking the pieces of silver, said: it is not lawful to put them into the treasury since they are “blood money”. So, they bought with them the Potter’s Field to bury strangers. Therefore, the field has been called Field of Blood. Incidentally, the betrayal by Judas conforms to the current expression about “biting the hand that feeds”, specially in the context of the Last Supper just a while earlier.
 
“Framing” is increasingly coming into vogue specially in the context of sting operations by TV channels. Since Pilate openly admitted that he did not find any guilt deserving death sentence, it is interesting to go back to one of the “framed” charges. The central point of framing was playing Jesus against Caesar: “We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar and saying that he himself is king.” When Pilate was trying to release Jesus, the Jews said “If you release this man you are not Caesar’s friend; everyone who makes himself a king sets himself against Caesar”. Pilate said to the Jews, “Behold your king”! They cried out, “Away with him …Crucify him … We have no king but Caesar”. Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.
 
The main Easter-eve vigil open-air service at Milagres Church, Hampankatta, starts on the  Church Campus Ground at 7 PM on Holy Saturday.
 
John B. Monteiro, author and journalist, is editor of his website www.welcometoreason.com (Interactive Cerebral Challenger).

Holy Week - Complete Coverage (With Photo Albums):

By John B. Monteiro
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Comment on this article

  • Joseph F. Gonsalves, Bannur, Puttur / Mangalore

    Tue, Apr 26 2011

    Dear Mr. Amarpreet Khosla, Malliggekatte/Sankarapura I did not commented that the Holy Bible/the Holy Book fell down from above/heaven.

    I quote your comment: All religion books written only on these earth..dude Unquote

    You are right all the religions books were written on this earth & no book fell down from heaven.

    BY THE BY ONLY ON these earth MEANS I AM CONFUSED. KINDLY EXPLAIN.

    The author of the Holy Bible is none other than the Holy Spirit. See below scriptures.

    2 Peter Chapter 1 20. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21. FOR THE PROPHECY CAME NOT IN OLD TIME BY THE WILL OF MAN: BUT HOLY MEN OF GOD SPAKE AS THEY WERE MOVED BY THE HOLY GHOST.

    THE EARTH WAS CREATED BY GOD.
    When Jesus comes second time in glory there will appear some signs & wonders on this earth. The course of the Sun, Moon & stars will dwindle & with the fire on earth there will be a new earth. And a New Jerusalem will come out from heaven.
    Revelations 21: 1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea.
    2 And I John saw the holy city,New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

    This is what Jesus prophesized heaven & earth will pass away but my words will never pass awayMatthew 24:35

    For further details study revelations.

  • Alwyn, Canada

    Sun, Apr 24 2011

    Happy Easter to all. God bless and enjoy the blessed day.

  • MR.AUDY REGO,PRESIDENT, ALL BANKS' CHRISTIAN EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, MANGALORE, MANGALORE

    Sun, Apr 24 2011

    SINCERE THANKS TO DAIJIWORLD.COM FOR THE PHOTOS & EXCELLENT COVERAGE DURING HOLY WEEK, EASTER & SPECIALLY ON GOOD FRIDAY

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Sun, Apr 24 2011

    As X'mas celebrates Jesus' birth, Easter celebrates his victory over death & his resurrection. Easter also called pascha, does not have a fixed date, but always falls on sunday between march 22 and april 25 following the cycle of the moon.
    It is the most important festival for christians around the globe.
    A VERY HAPPY EASTER TO ALL.

    Henry Misquith/Bahrain

  • Louis D'Souza, Udupi/Kuwait

    Sun, Apr 24 2011

    Happy Easter to all of you, may the risen Lord bless each one of you and all your wihes may come true.

  • Amarpreet Khosla, Malliggekatte/Sankarapura

    Sun, Apr 24 2011

    Mr.Joseph F. Gonsalves, Bannur, Puttur / Mangalore...Can you able to elaborate what you mean by 'New Earth' and New Jerusalem...Earth exists billion years ago..All religion books written only on these earth...dude..

    To all my friends..Leo D'souza (Balkunje), Gilbert Quadros (Mangalore), Raphael D'Mello (Kinnigoli), John Soloman (Sasthan), George Menezes (Manchkal), Ronny (Karkala), Alwyn (Shirva), John Cardoza (Shirtady), Ronny (Mudrangadi), Jerry (Kateel), Vinod Nazreth (Bajpe), Charlie (Belvai), Hector Lewis (Kalyanpura)..and one and all at daiji world...Wish you Happy Easter....

    LET THIS EASTER EGG REMINDS YOU THAT NOTHING CAN DESTROY YOUR DREAMS AND LOVE..
    HAVE A WONDERFUL EASTER!
    HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARILY JOYFUL
    EASTER..CHEERS N ENJOY..Jai Ho..

  • G.N.BANGERA, Mijar/Muscat

    Sun, Apr 24 2011

    Wishing all the reader of Daiji news of my brothers & siters very happy easter resurection jesus christ live again in all of us praise the LORD sing the song

  • ISMAIL K PERINJE, PERINJE/YANBU-KSA

    Sun, Apr 24 2011

    Happy EASTER to all my brothers and sisters.

  • Baheer, Mangalore

    Sat, Apr 23 2011

    Happy Easter to all my christian brothers and sisters..may god bless you all.

  • Joseph F. Gonsalves, Bannur, Puttur / Mangalore

    Sat, Apr 23 2011

    By adhering to the New Testament we have to repent whole heartedly, refrain from sinning and live righteously. We have grace through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit guides us until Jesus comes second time in glory to rule the earth for 1000 years wherein there will be a new earth and a New Jerusalem.
    Jesus says Matthew 24:35 says Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

    WISHING ALL OF YOU, THE DAIJIWORLD TEAM, STAFF, NEWS EDITORS, EDITOR IN CHIEF, JOURNALISTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, VIDEO SHOOTERS, WELL WISHERS, DAIJIWORLD READERS, COMMENTATORS AND ALL OF US A HAPPY AND A PLEASANT EASTER. MAY THE RESURRECTED JESUS SHOWER HIS BLESSINGS UPON ALL OF US TILL HE RETURNS IN GLORY

  • Joseph F. Gonsalves, Bannur, Puttur / Mangalore

    Sat, Apr 23 2011

    Isaiah Chapter 64: 6. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags and we all do fade as a leaf and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

    John the Baptist says John 1: 29. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

    Matthew Chapter 20:8. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.


    God loves all his creations.
    A sinless and faultless human born miraculously in to this world bore all our sins and saved us from the sin redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL because without shedding the blood there is no remission of sin. Now we have forgiveness. Therefore the word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:1-10
    In the Old Testament there was no forgiveness and the punishment was immediate.
    The readers may ask now also we are sinning and are we saved from the sin through forgiveness continuously sinning and forgiveness, sinning and forgiveness. Where is the end to sin? Continued…

  • Kurt Waschnig, Oldenburg/Germany

    Sat, Apr 23 2011

    I wish all avid readers of Daijiworld and the team of Daijiworld a HAPPY EASTER!


    Best regards


    Kurt Waschnig Oldenburg Germany

  • Ashetty, Padubidri

    Sat, Apr 23 2011

    Wish you all Christians bros/Sis a Happy and Holy Easter.

  • Alwyn, Mangalore - USA

    Sat, Apr 23 2011

    Easter is a promise
    God renews to us in each spring.
    May the promise of Easter
    fill our heart with peace and joy!
    Happy Easter to all!

  • Clara Lewis, Kemmannu/Dubai

    Sat, Apr 23 2011

    Wish you all Happy and Holy Easter.

    Thank you Fr.Walter D'Mello and Mr. John Monteiro, Excellent writing and photographs, thoroughly enjoyed.

  • Bulsam, Mangalore

    Sat, Apr 23 2011

    I wish all our Christian brothers & sisters a Maundy Thursday,Good Friday and Easter Saturday celebrations.
    May God make this land of oldest civilisation a much beter place for you and for me & the entire human race.

  • A.S.Mathew, U.S.A.

    Sat, Apr 23 2011

    Jesus was born in an obscure village, never wrote a book, never
    held an office, and never owned a house. He never had been to a
    big city, didn't travel more than
    200 miles from his home town. When
    he was dead, He was laid down in
    a borrowed grave by the generosity
    of a friend.

    According to the sacred book of the 2nd largest religion in the world, Koran tells very openly that "Jesus was born of virgin
    birth, He was sinless and holy,
    and a person filled
    with the Holy Spirit also He will
    come back to establish His kingdom
    on earth".

    The Bhahai religions tells about
    Jesus " He was the manifestation
    of God".

    My son was interested in philisophy
    and religion, so I bought for him
    the sacred books of many major
    religions, and gave them with this statement.

    "If you can find somebody better
    than Jesus Christ who is kind,
    holy, truthful and compassionate loving, merciful and graceful, then follow that person".

    There is nobody like JESUS CHRIST.
    Jesus Is the Lord of Lords, King
    of Kings, and He is totally
    unique and there is nobody like
    Him to follow. He is living
    because He was resurrected from the dead two thousand years back.

    May the Lord Jesus bless you all
    with His abundant peace and joy in
    these troubled times.

  • vincy, Bantwal/Dubai

    Sat, Apr 23 2011

    God bless you at Easter
    and keep you all year through.
    God give you all the faith it takes
    to make your dreams come true.
    May His love and wisdom always help
    to guide you on your way,
    And His light shine down upon you now
    To bless your Easter Day.

  • rajesh, mangalore/dubai

    Sat, Apr 23 2011

    happy easter to all my christian brothers n sisters..may god bless you all.

  • SUJIR PRAVEEN, MANGALORE/UDUPI

    Sat, Apr 23 2011

    May Lord bless you on
    this auspicious day of Easter,
    and May it be a new beginning
    of greater prosperity,
    success and happiness.
    Wish you a Happy Easter


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Title: Mangalore: Easter Vigil Leads to Resurrection



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