Holy Saturday remembers the day which Jesus spent in the grave resting. The Easter Vigil takes place at the end of the day at 8 PM because the new liturgical day begins at sunset. The Paschal candle will be used throughout the season of Easter, remaining in the sanctuary of the church and throughout the coming year at baptisms and funerals, reminding all that Christ is our life and light.

After the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word, the water of the baptismal font is solemnly blessed and any catechumens and candidates for full communion are initiated into the church.

Here's a full step-by-step guide to the Easter Vigil.

Smells and Bells: at St. Michael, notice:

• a roaring Easter fire is set up outside of the church building, dispelling the darkness of the night, and everyone begins outside around the first
• the lighting and blessing of the Paschal candle, the pre-eminent symbol of the Light of Christ, prepared with the Alpha and the Omega (God is the beginning and the end) and the numbers of the calendar year (2023)
• the procession of the faithful into an entirely dark church, lit only by light from the Paschal Candle, the Light of Christ
• the Easter Proclamation, a poem marked by the phrase "this is the night" captures the whole Easter mystery within the context of the story of salvation
• the first time singing the Gloria since before Lent (lots of bell ringing!)
• multiple readings during the Liturgy of the Word, all recounting outstanding deeds in the history of Salvation
• the Liturgy of Baptism for those coming into full communion of the church
• initiation process for those seeking full communion with the Church
  • A Catechumen is an unbaptized person.
  • A Candidate for full communion is a person who was baptized in another Christian church but who has now been catechized in the Catholic faith.
  • A Confirmandi is a person in full communion with the Catholic Church and needs to receive the sacrament of Confirmation.