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HOLY SATURDAY

flint, and profitable for our service. Grant, through these paschal festivities, that we may be
inflamed with heavenly desires; that we may come with pure minds to the festivities of perpetual
light. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing of the Paschal Candle.

The priest marks a cross in the wax, with a knife; he then carves two Greek letters (Alpha and
Omega) and the four numerals of the year, saying meanwhile;

Christ yesterday and today / the Beginning of all things and the End / Alpha and Omega / to Him are
the times / and the ages / to Him be glory and dominion :
throughout all the ages of eternity. Amen.

After blessing, sprinkling and incensing the grains of incense, the priest says :

Through His holy / and glorious wounds / may Christ the Lord / guard / and protect us. Amen.

The paschal candle is lit :

May the light of Christ, risen in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.

Blessing the paschal candle, the priest continues

V. The Lord be with you.   R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray. May Thy enriching blessing, almighty God, descend upon this burning candle. Turn
Thine eyes, O unseen Giver of new life, upon this new splendor in the darkness; that this night's
atoning sacrifice may be illuminated by Thy divine light, and that where so ever this mystic fire
may be carried, the wiles of the devil shall