Saturday 22 March 2008

The last hours of darkness

Throughout the day people have been working in the Cathedral, changing the dull, lifeless scene of Passiontide into the bright, living image of the resurrection. The Cathedral is now ready, though still in darkness. The darkness will only be dispelled at the Easter Vigil, when the Paschal Candle, the symbol of Christ's resurrection, leads the congregation into the church. At the Gloria the Cathedral will be flooded with light - a potent sign of Christ coming from the tomb, the end of the reign of darkness over our world. It is undoubtedly the most dramatic liturgy of the Church's year.