Easter Vigil

Year A

April 5, 2026

On this page you will find:

The readings for Mass, the Mass leaflet with the choice of hymns
A sample universal prayer available for download, in PDF and editable Word formats.
A meditation on the Sunday Gospel, a spiritual text and commentary by Marie-Noëlle Thabut

Solemnity

The angel spoke and said to the women:
"You, have no fear!"
I know you are looking for Jesus the Crucified.
He is not here.
for he has risen, just as he said."

Matthew 28:5

Readings from the Mass

https://www.aelf.org/2026-04-05/romain/messe

Easter Vigil Booklet

Consult the Lectio Divina page, which invites you to read the Gospel in a prayerful atmosphere so that you may be touched in your heart. It is important not to rush to read commentaries or homilies before having this personal experience of encountering Christ in Scripture.
Next, if you wish, you can read the meditations below which will enrich your personal reading and meditation.

Méditation

HOMILY OF POPE FRANCIS

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb” (Mt 28:1). We can imagine those steps…: the typical step of someone going to a cemetery, a step weary with confusion, a weakened step of someone who cannot convince themselves that everything is over in this way… We can imagine their pale faces, bathed in tears… And the question: how is it possible that Love is dead?

Homily

Draw from the source

We have just listened at length to the Word of God. The Old and New Testaments have touched our ears. The Lord wanted to make known to us his mighty deeds. Listening to Holy Scripture is much more than simply receiving facts and events written down on paper. Each time, we responded, "Thanks be to God," or "Praise be to you, Lord Jesus." We recognized in these texts that God is present in our world and in human history.

We thank God for leading us through the Red Sea – yes, I do mean “us,” because Saint Paul reminded us that in baptism we sacramentally participate in the death and resurrection of Christ. During this Easter season, children and adults will be baptized. Being immersed fully in water during baptism has a different symbolic meaning than simply pouring a few drops of water on the forehead or head.

The Apostle Paul is certainly referring to baptism by immersion, since immersion is like an experience of death, and coming out of the water is undoubtedly experienced as an experience of life. "Brothers and sisters, all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death." And we are called to a new life. Saint Paul says, "For we too have been buried with him in order that we too may live a new life."

Understanding the readings

with Marie-Noëlle THABUT

Une parole pour la route