Easter Vigil

Oh how I wish I had taken the time to blog before now... it has been a month since the Easter Vigil and everything is not fresh in my mind. However, this will be a good way for me to really think back and relive that night.

The Easter Vigil was a beautiful "service of lights." I've always loved candles - especially when they are used to light up a room. My favorite service was always Christmas Eve when the entire church would be lit up with each person's individual candle as we concluded by singing Silent Night "A Capella." Well, this service began with lighting the Paschal Candle and then lighting our smaller candles from the same flame. We processed in and followed the Paschal Candle - followed in Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection. What a wonderful visual - we should ALWAYS be following in that mystery. We should be striving to be like Christ, but to know that we need his grace and ultimate gift also.

The entire service was nice, but I must say that I enjoyed the "Litany of the Saints." I knew about the litany, but I had never heard a full one and I never thought I'd enjoy it. It was beautiful and I found myself listening intently at the names being called. I don't know all of the names, but I do know they are gifts from God to the Church and to me.

During Confirmation I so wanted to FEEL something. I tried to keep reminding myself what I learned in a book titled In Constant Prayer - it is not about what I get out of worship, it is what GOD gets out of us worshiping HIM. When Fr. Ross anointed me with the Chrism oils, I felt at peace. I could smell the beautiful fragrance and was calmed. It was a wonderful FEELING. It was nothing like my baptism - when I first received the Holy Spirit, but it was wonderful none-the-less.

Receiving my first Holy Eucharist was also neat. I was nervous. I was afraid I would do something wrong or drop something. However, I felt full and fulfilled. I used to always love Communion Sunday (once a month in the Baptist Church). I would always love to wake up and know that it was Communion Sunday. However, today I yearn for the Eucharist. I thirst for it each day. I have even began going to daily Mass some mornings so I don't have to wait until Sunday.

The most meaningful part about this whole process and event was who was there standing with me and supporting me. Thank you to everyone who could make the event and everyone who was there is spirit! Mom and Dad - special thanks for your support. I couldn't feel whole without you two supporting me.

Enjoy the pictures from our great event!

Love, HilaryOutside before the vigil began. You can't see the sand gnats... but they were biting us!
The WHOLE GROUP! Paul & Sam Lambert (Sam was my sponsor), Beth Pernitz, Me, Kyle, Mom (Carolyn Estepa), and Dad (Larry Estepa)