Easter Vigil 2025: Guide to Catholic Easter Vigil Mass, Readings and More

Anyone who has attended this beautiful, unique Holy Week liturgy would be hard-pressed to disagree.

The Easter Vigil is the longest service of the year, for good reason. It’s filled with powerful scripture and beautiful liturgical traditions.

It’s also when the Church grows, since the Easter Vigil is the night when catechumens can receive the Catholic sacrament of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion on the same night.

The Easter Vigil is a one-of-a-kind Mass, more different than a regular Sunday liturgy than any other Mass of the year.

Hallow breaks down the modern Easter Vigil, starting with its roots, which are younger than you might realize.

Biblical Roots of The Easter Vigil

As with the entirety of Holy Week, we understand the Easter Vigil first from the Bible, which tells us of Jesus’s final days, death and resurrection.

But the Easter Vigil celebrates the story of salvation unfolding throughout history, and the liturgy is inspired by both the Old and New Testaments.

“By most ancient tradition, this is the night of keeping vigil for the Lord (Ex 12:42), in which, following the Gospel admonition (Lk 12:35-37), the faithful, carrying lighted lamps in their hands, should be like those looking for the Lord when he returns, so that at his coming he may find them awake and have them sit at his table.” Roman Missal

Pope Pius XII and Maxima Redemptionis

However, the Easter Vigil that St. Augustine knew and experienced is likely much different than the Holy Saturday service that occurs worldwide in the 21st century.

During the middle ages, Holy Week liturgies took place at different times than we’re accustomed to. They often began in the mornings, when the meaning of a nighttime vigil was compromised, and at a time when fewer people could attend these services.

In the 1950s, Pope Pius XII changed the observance of Holy Week, to encourage greater lay participation.

His 1955 papal document Maxima Redemptionis solidified changes to Holy Week that are more familiar today.

One of the most noteworthy elements of the Easter Vigil occurs outside the church.

The Vigil Begins: Easter Vigil Worship Place + Service of Light

On Good Friday, the altar is bare; the church sparsely decorated. Crosses and statues are covered. The next day, on Holy Saturday, there is no morning Mass before the Easter Vigil. The church remains empty, quiet and dark before the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

Throughout the day, we await Christ’s imminent Resurrection, resting with Him in the darkness. As Pope Francis recently said,

“There are moments when life seems to be a sealed tomb: all is dark, and around us we see only sorrow and despair … Jesus tells us that in these moments we are not alone. Precisely in these moments He comes closer than ever to restore life to us.”

The Easter Vigil that night marks the first sign of Christ’s light and resurrection.

After churchgoers have filed into the church, the Easter Vigil service begins at sunset with an invitation from the priest to walk from the dark church outside to begin the Service of Light.

A fire burns, dispelling the night’s darkness, as the priest takes the Paschal Candle, carves a cross and other symbols into it, and lights the candle. With incense burning, the priest passes light from the candle to smaller candles held by everyone in attendance.

As everyone moves inside, the light from Christ illuminates the dark worship space. It serves as a powerful symbol, as Christ is the Light of the World. As Christ’s light enters the church, it can also enter our hearts.

As Pope Benedict XVI said, “Beginning with the resurrection, God’s light spreads throughout the world and throughout history..This Light alone – Jesus Christ – is the true light, something more than the physical phenomenon of light..”

It’s a symbol that perhaps those in the Middle Ages were better equipped to appreciate than we do, given that light and electricity are typically abundant for us.

The Exsultet

When the procession ends, and the candle settles on its resting place, the Exsultet, also known as Easter Proclamation, begins. It’s a beautiful, rich hymn that celebrates the truly holy night with words such as those below:

This is the night
of which it is written:
The night shall be as bright as day,
dazzling is the night for me, and full of gladness.
The sanctifying power of this night
dispels wickedness, washes faults away,
restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners,
drives out hatred, fosters concord, and brings down the mighty.
On this, your night of grace, O holy Father,
accept this candle, a solemn offering,
the work of bees and of your servants’ hands,
an evening sacrifice of praise,
this gift from your most holy Church.

The Exsultet gives a taste of the unique Scripture and song that take place as the Vigil unfolds.

The Easter Vigil Readings and Psalms

In the readings at the Easter Vigil, we trace the story of the world from God’s creation through Jesus’s Resurrection.

A Psalm follows each reading. After the psalm, the congregation rises as the priest says, “Let us pray…” and offers a specific prayer related to the reading and psalm. After “Amen,” everyone sits, and the next reading begins.