The Proper for the Mass on Easter Sunday
(from the medieval English Sarum Missal)
(translated from the Latin text printed in the edition of
Francis H. Dickinson [London, 1861-83])
Officium (Ps. 138 [139]. 5,6). I have risen and I am with you, alleluia;
you have placed your hand over me, alleluia; your wisdom has become a thing of wonder,
alleluia, alleluia.
Psalm (Ps. 138 [139]. 1,2). Lord, you have tested me and you have known me; you
knew when I sat down and when I got up again. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to
the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Prayer. God, who on this day, having conquered death through your only-begotten
Son, reopened the path to eternal life for us: may you, through your prevenient grace,
inspire our prayers, and aid us in their fulfillment. Through the same Jesus Christ your
Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and
ever. Amen.
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians ( I Cor. 5.7-8). Brothers,
throw away the old yeast, so that you might be fresh dough, as you are unleavened bread.
For Christ our paschal offering is sacrificed. Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival,
not with the old yeast, not with the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened
bread of sincerity and truth.
Gradual (Ps.117 [118]. 24, 1). This is the day the Lord has made: let us rejoice
and be happy in it. V. Give thanks to the Lord because he is good: because his
mercy endures forever. Alleluia. V (I Cor. 5.7). Christ our paschal offering is
sacrificed.
Sequence. A very bright light shines out . . . .
From the Gospel according to Mark (Mark 16.1-7). At that time, Mary Magdalene
and Mary the wife of James and Salome bought spices so that, coming (to the tomb) they
might anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb,
soon after sunrise. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll back the
stone from the opening of the tomb for us?" And looking up, they saw the stone rolled
back. It was a huge stone. And going into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting to the
right, dressed in white robes, and they were stupefied. And he said to them, "Don't
be frightened; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He is risen, he
is not here. Look at the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter,
that he goes ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he told you."
Offertory (Ps. 75 [76].9-10). The earth trembled and lay still when God rose up
in judgment, alleluia.
Secret. Accept, we beg you, the prayers of your people, and their offerings of
sacrifice, so that what has begun in these Easter mysteries may bring us, through your
power, to eternal salvation. Through our Lord . . . .
Communion (I Cor. 5.8,9). Christ our paschal offering is sacrificed,
alleluia. Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival with the unleavened bread of sincerity
and truth, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Postcommunion. Pour out on us, O Lord, the spirit of your charity, so that you
may, through your mercy, make of one mind those whom you have filled with your Easter
sacraments. Through the Lord Jesus Christ . . . .
