Exsulted

The deacon sings the exultet

The exsultet ( Latin "es jauchze", present subjunctive of exsultāre), also Praeconium paschale , is the Easter praise sung in the Roman Catholic and Evangelical Lutheran liturgy of the light celebration at the beginning of the Easter vigil . In him Christ is praised as the light of the world and his resurrection is linked to the divine plan of salvation revealed in the Old Testament .

Surname

The Exsultet (historical spelling: Exultet) takes its name from its Latin initial word . Since the reform of the Holy Week liturgy in 1955, the liturgical name has been Praeconium paschale (Latin for "Easter Announcement", "Easter Praise"). More rarely it is also referred to as Laus cerei (Latin for "praise of the candle"), Benedictio cerei (Latin for "blessing of the candle") or Exsultet iam angelica turba .

Origin and structure

Beginning of the Exultet (manuscript from 1386)

The dating of the Latin text is controversial. Praise for the Easter candle is a practice in the 4th century ( criticized by Hieronymus , practiced by Augustine ). The oldest surviving text version comes from northern Italy or southern Gaul from the end of the 4th or beginning of the 5th century. The author is unknown; Echoes of the theology of Ambrose suggest an origin in Milan or its sphere of influence. The history of the origins of the Exsultet undoubtedly includes Byzantine liturgical models, especially the versified homilies sung there , which are also called Kontakia . In the Middle Ages, the Easter praise was written on parchment sheets that were pinned together, resulting in an Exsultet scroll of considerable length.

The exultet consists of two parts: a prologue (invitation to Easter joy and request for assistance, verses 1–5) and a main part, which is comparable to the prayer of Holy Mass . It is opened by a prefation (praise and thanks for salvation, verses 6-7) with introductory acclamations . This is followed by anamnesis (verses 8–19), epiclesis (offering praise, verses 20–21), a second anamnesis (praise of the candle, bee and Easter vigil, verses 22–25) and final requests (verses 26–27). The five "Haec sentences" of the first anamnesis (verses 8-12) place the Easter vigil in the context of salvation history , the following five "O-calls" name the paradox of redemption, including the motif of the "wonderful exchange" and the call O felix culpa . The melody of the main part corresponds to a solemn prefatory tone, the prologue has a characteristic free melody.

The Exsultet in the Roman Catholic Church

In the Roman Catholic Easter Vigil liturgy, the exultet is preferably performed by the deacon at the ambo .

Current versions of the text

In the post-conciliar form there is officially a long and a short version for the Exsultet. If the Easter praise is sung by a cantor who is not a cleric , the words in brackets are omitted. The long version reads:

Latin: Missale Romanum ³2002	German: Missal
Exsultet iam angelica turba caelorum exsultent divina mysteria et pro tanti Regis victoria tuba insonet salutaris	Rejoice, you choirs of angels, rejoice, you heavenly multitudes, sound the trumpet, praise the victor, the exalted King!
Gaudeat et tellus tantis irradiata fulgoribus et, aeterni Regis splendore illustrata totius orbis se sentiat amisisse caliginem.	Sing praises, you earth, outshone by the shine from on high! The light of the great king shines around you. See, darkness has disappeared everywhere.
Laetetur et mater Ecclesia tanti luminis adornata fulgoribus: et magnis populorum vocibus haec aula results.	You too are happy, Mother Church, clad in light and splendid splendor! Sounds reflected, holy hall, sound of the people's mighty jubilation.
(Quapropter astantes vos, fratres carissimi, ad tam miram huius sancti luminis claritatem, una mecum, quaeso, Dei omnipotentis misericordiam invocate.	(Therefore I ask you, beloved brothers, you witnesses of the light that this candle spreads: Call with me to the Almighty Father for his mercy and his help,
Ut, qui me non meis meritis intra Levitarum numerum dignatus est aggregare luminis sui claritatem infundens cerei huius laudem implere perficiat.)	that he who, without my merit, out of pure grace, has called me into the band of the Levites, enlighten me with the splendor of his light, so that I may worthily proclaim the praise of this candle.)
(V. Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo.) V. Sursum corda. R. Habemus ad Dominum. V. Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro. R. Dignum et iustum est.	(V: The Lord be with you. A: And with your spirit.) V: Lift up your hearts. A: We have them with the Lord. V: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. A: That is worthy and right.
Vere dignum et iustum est, invisibilem Deum Patrem omnipotentem Filiumque eius unigenitum, Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, toto cordis ac mentis affectu et vocis ministerio personare.	In truth, it is worthy and right to praise the hidden God, the Almighty Father, with all ardor of the heart and to praise his only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, with a voice of joy.
Qui pro nobis aeterno Patri Adae debitum solvit et veteris piaculi cautionem pio cruore detersit.	He paid for us debt to the eternal father of Adam and wiped out the debt with his blood, which he shed out of love.
Haec sunt enim festa paschalia, in quibus verus unbekannt Agnus occiditur, cuius sanguine postes fidelium consecrantur.	Holy Easter has come, on which the true lamb was slaughtered, whose blood sanctifies the doors of the believers and protects the people from death and destruction.
Haec nox est, in qua primum patres nostros, filios Israel, eductos de Aegypto, Mare Rubrum sicco vestigio transire fecisti.	This is the night that delivered our fathers, the sons of Israel, from Egypt and led them on a dry path through the waters of the Red Sea.
Haec igitur nox est, quae peccatorum tenebras columnae illuminations purgavit.	This is the night when the shining pillar drove away the darkness of sin.
Haec nox est, quae hodie per universum mundum in Christum credentes a vitiis saeculi, et caligine peccatorum segregatos, reddit gratiae, sociat sanctitati.	This is the night which separates all who believe in Christ in the whole earth from the vices of the world, wrests them from the misery of sin, brings them home into the kingdom of grace and inserts them into the holy church.
Haec nox est, in qua, destructis vinculis mortis, Christ ab inferis victor ascendit.	This is the blessed night when Christ broke the chains of death and rose from the depths as victor.
Nihil enim nobis nasci profuit, nisi redimi profuisset.	Indeed, we would have been born in vain if the Savior had not saved us.
O mira circa nos tuae pietatis dignatio! O inaestimabilis dilectio caritatis ut servum redimeres, Filium tradidisti!	O incomprehensible love of the father: to redeem the servant, you gave the son!
O certe necessarium Adae peccatum, quod Christi morte deletum est!	O truly salvific sin of Adam, you became a blessing to us because Christ's death destroyed you.
O felix culpa, quae talem ac tantum meruit habere Redemptorem!	O happy guilt, what a great Redeemer you have found!
O Vere beata nox, quae sola meruit scire tempus et horam, in qua Christ ab inferis resurrexit!	O truly blessed night, you alone were granted to know the hour in which Christ rose from the dead.
Haec nox est, de qua scriptum est Et nox sicut dies illuminabitur et nox illuminatio mea in deliciis meis.	This is the night of which it is written: "The night will be as bright as the day, the night will surround me like radiant light."
Huius igitur sanctificatio noctis fugat scelera, culpas lavat et reddit innocentiam lapsis, et maestis laetitiam. Fugat odia, concordiam ready, et curvat imperia.	The splendor of this holy night removes iniquity, cleanses guilt, gives innocence to sinners, and joy to those who mourn. It drives away hatred far, it unites hearts and bends violence.
In huius igitur noctis gratia, suscipe, sancte Pater, laudis huius sacrificium vespertinum, quod tibi in haec cerei oblatione sollemni, per ministrorum manus de operibus apum, sacrosancta reddit Ecclesia.	On this blessed night, holy father, accept the evening sacrifice of our praise, accept this candle as our festive gift! Prepared from the precious wax of bees, it is offered to you by your holy church by the hand of her servants.
Sed iam columnae huius praeconia novimus, quam in honorem Dei rutilans ignis accendit.	So the praise of this precious candle has now sounded, which was lighted by the blazing fire for the glory of the Most High.
Qui, licet sit divisus in partes, mutuati tamen luminis detrimenta non novit.	Even if its light has spread around the circle, it has lost none of the power of its shine.
Alitur enim liquantibus ceris, quas in substantiam pretiosae huius lampadis apis mater eduxit.	Because the flame is nourished by the melting wax that the industry of the bees has prepared for this candle.
O Vere beata nox, in qua terrenis caelestia, humanis divina iunguntur!	O truly blessed night that reconciles heaven and earth, that connects God and people!
Oramus ergo te, Domine, ut cereus iste in honorem tui nominis consecratus, ad noctis huius caliginem destruendam, indeficiens perseveret. Et in odorem suavitatis acceptus, supernis luminaribus misceatur.	This is what we ask of you, O Lord: consecrated to the glory of your name, keep the candle lit to drive away the darkness that night. Accept them as a sweet smelling sacrifice, marry their light with the lights in the sky.
Flammas eius lucifer matutinus inveniatili , inquam, lucifer, qui nescit occasum Christ Filius tuus, qui regressus ab inferis, humano generi serenus illuxit, et tecum vivit et regnat in saecula saeculorum. A: Amen.	It shines until the morning star appears, that true morning star that never goes down: your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead, who shines in the light of Easter; who lives with you and rules forever. R. Amen.

The short version is:

Latin: Missale Romanum ³2002	German: Missal
Exsúltet iam angélica turba cælórum: Exsúltent divína mystéria: Et pro tanti Regis victória tuba ínsonet salutáris.	Rejoice, you choirs of angels, rejoice, you heavenly multitudes, sound the trumpet, praise the victor, the exalted King!
Gáudeat et tellus tantis irradiáta fulgóribus: et, ætérni Regis splendóre illustráta, totíus orbis se séntiat amisísse calíginem.	Sing praises, you earth, outshone by the shine from on high! The light of the great king shines around you. See, darkness has disappeared everywhere.
Lætétur et mater ecclésia, tanti lúminis adornáta fulgóribus: et magnis populórum vócibus hæc aula resúltet.	You too are happy, Mother Church, clad in light and splendid splendor! Sounds reflected, holy hall, sound of the people's mighty jubilation.
(V. Dóminus vobíscum. R. Et cum spíritu tuo). V. Sursum corda. R. Habémus ad Dóminum. V. Grátias agámus Dómino Deo nostro. R. Dignum et iustum est. Vere dignum et iustum est, invisíbilem Deum Patrem omnipoténtem Filiúmque eius Unigénitum, Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, toto cordis ac mentis afféctu et vocis ministério personáre. Qui pro nobis ætérno Patri Adæ débitum solvit, et véteris piáculi cautiónem pio cruóre detérsit. Hæc sunt enim festa paschália, in quibus verus individuelle Agnus occíditur, cuius sanguine postes fidélium consecrántur. Hæc nox est, in qua primum patres nostros, fílios Israel edúctos de Ægýpto, Mare Rubrum sicco vestígio transíre fecísti. Hæc ígitur nox est, Quæ peccatórum ténebras colúmnæ illuminatióne purgávit. Hæc nox est, quæ hódie per univérsum mundum in Christo credéntes, a vítiis sǽculi et calígine peccatórum segregátos, reddit grátiæ, sóciat sanctitáti.	(V: The Lord be with you. A: And with your spirit.) V: Lift up your hearts. A: We have them with the Lord. V: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. A: That is worthy and right. In truth, it is worthy and right to praise the hidden God, the Almighty Father, with all ardor of the heart and to praise his only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, with a voice of joy. He paid for us debt to the eternal father of Adam and wiped out the debt with his blood, which he shed out of love. Holy Easter has come, on which the true lamb was slaughtered, whose blood sanctifies the doors of the believers and protects the people from death and destruction. This is the night that delivered our fathers, the sons of Israel, from Egypt and led them on a dry path through the waters of the Red Sea. This is the night when the shining pillar drove away the darkness of sin. This is the night which separates all who believe in Christ in the whole earth from the vices of the world, wrests them from the misery of sin, brings them home into the kingdom of grace and inserts them into the holy church.
Hæc nox est, in qua, destrúctis vínculis mortis, Christ ab ínferis victor ascéndit. O mira circa nos tuæ pietátis dignátio! O inæstimábilis diléctio caritátis: ut servum redímeres, Fílium tradidísti! O certe necessárium Adae peccátum, quod Christi morte delétum est! O felix culpa, quæ talem ac tantum méruit habére Redemptórem! Huius igitur sanctificátio noctis fugat scélera, culpas lavat: et reddit innocéntiam lapsis et mæstis lætítiam. O Vere beáta nox, In qua terrénis cæléstia, humánis divína iungúntur!	This is the blessed night when Christ broke the chains of death and rose from the depths as victor. O incomprehensible love of the father: to redeem the servant, you gave the son! O truly salvific sin of Adam, you became a blessing to us because Christ's death destroyed you. O happy guilt, what a great Redeemer you have found! The splendor of this holy night removes iniquity, cleanses guilt, gives innocence to sinners, and joy to those who mourn. O truly blessed night that reconciles heaven and earth, that connects God and people!
In huius ígitur noctis grátia, súscipe, sancta Pater, laudis huius sacrifícium vespertínum, quod tibi in hac cérei oblatióne sollémni, per ministrórum manus de opéribus apum, sacrosáncta reddit Ecclésia. Orámus ergo te, Dómine, ut cereus iste in honórem tui nóminis consecrátus, ad noctis huius calíginem destruéndam, indefíciens persevéret. Et in odórem suavitátis accéptus, supérnis lumináribus misceátur. Flammas eius lúcifer matutínus invéniat: Ille, inquam, lúcifer, qui nescit occásum: Christ Fílius tuus, qui, regréssus ab ínferis, humáno géneri serénusillúxit, et vivit et regnat in sǽcula sæculórum. R. Amen	On this blessed night, holy father, accept the evening sacrifice of our praise, accept this candle as our festive gift! Prepared from the precious wax of bees, it is offered to you by your holy church by the hand of her servants. So we ask you, O Lord: consecrated to the glory of your name, keep the candle lit to drive away the darkness that night. Accept them as a sweet smelling sacrifice, marry their light with the lights in the sky. It shines until the morning star appears, that true morning star that will not set in eternity: your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead, who shines people in the paschal light, who lives with you and reigns forever! A: Amen.

Before the liturgical reform (1970)

Before the liturgical reform in the course of the Second Vatican Council, the exsultet concluded with an intercession for the clergy, namely the Pope and the local bishop, as well as for the imperator , i.e. the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire . Originally this part of the Exsultet was as follows:

Latin: until 1955

German: until 1955

Precamur ergo te, Domine: ut nos famulos tuos, omnemque clerum, et devotissimum populum: una cum beatissimo Papa nostro N. et Antistite nostro N., quiete temporum concessa, in his paschalibus gaudiis, assidua protectione regere, gubernare et conservare digneris. Respice etiam ad devotissimum Imperatorem nostrum N., cujus tu, Deus, desideri vota praenoscens, ineffabili pietatis et misericordiae tuae munere, tranquillum perpetuae pacis accommoda: et caelestem victoriam cum omni populo suo.

We ask you now, O Lord: grant us days of peace, us and all those who are dedicated to your service and the people who are faithfully devoted to you, united with our Holy Father N. and with our Bishop N.: in this joyful Easter time, lead us graciously, guide and guard us forever. Look down on our godly ruler N., whose desires you know; by the assistance of your unspeakable grace and mercy, grant him rest of perpetual peace and heavenly victory with all his people.

After Franz II was the last German-Roman emperor until 1806, it was no longer possible to insert a name for the ruler; In the course of the reform of the Holy Week liturgy, the following general formulation was inserted in 1955:

Latin: from 1955

German: from 1955

Precamur ergo te, Domine: ut nos famulos tuos, omnemque clerum, et devotissimum populum: una cum beatissimo Papa nostro N. et Antistite nostro N. quiete temporum concessa, in his paschalibus gaudiis, assidua protectione regere, gubernare, et conservare digneris. Respice etiam ad eos, qui nos in potestate regunt, et, ineffabili pietatis et misericordiae tuae munere, dirige cogitationes eorum ad iustitiam et pacem, ut de terrena operositate ad caelestem patriam perveniant cum omni populo tuo.

We ask you now, O Lord: grant us days of peace, us and all those who are dedicated to your service and the people who are faithfully devoted to you, united with our Holy Father N. and with our Bishop N.: in this joyful Easter time, lead us graciously, guide and guard us forever. Look down also on those who rule us by virtue of their office; through the assistance of your unspeakable grace and mercy direct their minds to peace and justice, so that they and all your people can get out of the workings of the world to the heavenly fatherland.

Wording in the Lutheran Church

A deacon of the Evangelical Church with an Easter candle

The Exsultet is sung in the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church with the following wording by the cantor or pastor:

Rejoice now, you angels; exult you heavenly armies; bright tones, trumpet of salvation, praise the victory of the eternal king. Let the earth rejoice too, illuminated by the radiant light and shining in the splendor of the eternal King; see how the darkness has departed from it at every end! May our mother, the Church, rejoice in the splendid splendor of such light; May the joyful hymns of their children fill the house of our God. Therefore I ask you, who are present at the glow of the Easter light: Call with me to the mercy of Almighty God, that he may fill us with the clarity of his light and graciously accept our hymn of praise. Through Jesus Christ, his Son, our Lord, who lives and rules with him and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen

• V: The Lord be with you
• A: And with your mind
• V: Hearts aloft
• A: We raise them to the Lord.
• V: Let us give thanks, Lord, our God.
• A: That is worthy and right.

V: It is truly worthy and right to praise the invisible God, the Almighty Father and his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord from the bottom of the heart and to praise with a jubilant voice. He paid Adam's debt to Heavenly Father and erased the debt with his holy blood, shed out of love. This is the feast of Easter when the true Passover lamb is sacrificed: Christ, whose blood marks the doors of the believers and protects the people from death and destruction. This is the night when God delivered his people out of Egypt and led them dry-footed through the waters of the sea. This is the night when Christ tore the bonds of death and rose from hell victorious. Oh how wonderfully your mercy has graced us, we would have been born in vain if the Redeemer had not saved us! O inconceivable grace of your love: to redeem the servant, you gave the son. O blissful guilt that was honored by such a Savior! This is the night when Christ drives out iniquity and washes away sin; innocence gives joy to the fallen and the mourning. On this night of grace, accept, Lord Holy Father, the sacrifice of our thanks that we offer you by the light of this candle. Let this bright light drive away the darkness of the night; it continues to shine in undiminished splendor until the morning star appears, the true morning star that will not set in eternity: your son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead and lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit from eternity to eternity,

A: Amen

literature

• Clara Vasseur OSB: Rediscovering the old: The rich symbolism of the Easter candle . Beuroner-Kunstverlag, Beuron 2007, ISBN 978-3-87071-160-3 [incl. CD with recording of the Exsultet Latin and German as well as other works].
• Guido Fuchs and Hans M. Weikmann: The Exsultet. History, theology and design of the Easter light thanksgiving . 2nd Edition. Pustet, Regensburg 2005, ISBN 3-7917-1306-X .
• Norbert Lohfink : The Exsultet German. Critical analysis and redesign. (PDF; 155 kB) In: Georg Baulik, Norbert Lohfink: Easter Vigil and Old Testament. Studies and suggestions. With an exsultet setting by Erwin Bücken (Österreichische Biblische Studien 22; Lang, Frankfurt 2003), pp. 82–120.
• Thomas Forrest Kelly: The Exultet in Southern Italy . Oxford 1996, ISBN 0-19-509527-8 .
• G. Cavallo: Exultet, rotoli liturgici del medioevo meridionale . IPZS, Rome 1994.
• Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church : The celebration of Easter vigil . Groß Oesingen 1993, ISBN 3-86147-099-3 (liturgical booklet with notes and sequence).
• Heinrich purpose: Easter praise and baptism. Studies on the structure and theology of the Exsultet and other Easter preconies with special consideration of the baptism motifs. Lang, Frankfurt / M. u. a. 1986 [dissertation] ISBN 3-8204-8216-4 .
• Hansjörg Auf der Maur : The Easter light thanksgiving. In: Liturgisches Jahrbuch , No. 21, 1971, pp. 38–52.

Web links

Commons : Exultet  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Texts in Latin and German
• Exsultet sung by Br. René Dorer OFM, Telfs
• Sung Exsultet in the version by Norbert Lohfink SJ (translation) and Erwin Bücken SJ (setting). (MP3; 9.9 MB)
• Evangelical text with notes and explanations (PDF; 410 kB)
• Explanations by Alfred Ehrensperger for the Swiss Liturgy Commission ( Memento from March 31, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 98 kB)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Guido Fuchs and Hans M. Weikmann: The Exsultet. History, theology and design of the Easter light thanksgiving . Pustet, 2nd edition, Regensburg 2005, p. 16.
2. ^ Edward Foley, Mark Paul Bangert: Worship Music . Liturgical Press, 2000, ISBN 978-0-8146-5889-5 , p. 110
3. ^ Friedrich Hauck, Gerhard Schwinge: Theological specialist and foreign dictionary. With a list of abbreviations from theology and church and a compilation of lexical reference works . Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2002, ISBN 978-3-525-50146-7 , p. 160
4. ↑ Laus cerei among other things also: Peter C. Bower: The Companion to the Book of Common Worship . Geneva Press, 2003, ISBN 978-0-664-50232-4 , pp. 139, pp. 139
5. ↑ Guido Fuchs, Hans M. Weikmann: The Exsultet. History, theology and design of the Easter light thanksgiving . 2nd Edition. Pustet, Regensburg 2005, p. 19 f., P. 103
6. ↑ Missale Romanum ex decreto Sacrosancti Oecumenici Concilii Vaticani II instauratum auctoritate Pauli PP. VI promulgatum Ioannis Pauli PP. II cura recognitum. Editio typica tertia 2002. pp. 342-347.
7. ↑ Missal : for the dioceses of the German-speaking area; authentic edition for liturgical use; Holy Week and Easter Octave; supplemented by the celebration of baptism and confirmation as well as the consecration of the oils. Edited on behalf of the Bishops' Conferences of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Solothurn u. a. 1996, ISBN 978-3-451-23926-7 .
8. ↑ Missale Romanum ex decreto Sacrosancti Oecumenici Concilii Vaticani II instauratum auctoritate Pauli PP. VI promulgatum Ioannis Pauli PP. II cura recognitum. Editio typica tertia 2002.
9. ↑ Missal : for the dioceses of the German-speaking area; authentic edition for liturgical use; Holy Week and Easter Octave; supplemented by the celebration of baptism and confirmation as well as the consecration of the oils. Edited on behalf of the Bishops' Conferences of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Solothurn u. a. 1996, ISBN 978-3-451-23926-7 .
10. ↑ The complete Roman Missal in Latin and German. Following the missal by Anselm Schott OSB, published by the Benedictines of the Beuron Archabbey. Herder Verlag, Freiburg / Basel / Vienna 1963, pp. 403f.
11. ↑ The celebration of the Easter Vigil , ed. from the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church, Groß Oesingen 2003, pp. 7–11.