During the Easter Vigil, the contrast between darkness and light is very striking: the church lies almost entirely in darkness and, suddenly, at the proclamation of the coming of Christ’s light and the glory of his Resurrection, the light is kindled. Yet before that appearance of brightness and radiance, the silence and darkness of Holy Saturday begin to be broken by the small flame of the Paschal candle—that tall candle, symbol of the Risen Christ—followed by the priest and the people. It is lit from the newly blessed fire outside the church and, for the first time, the acclamation is sung: “The light of Christ,” and we all reply, “Thanks be to God,” until we too light our small candles from the Paschal candle, so as to share in this holy light and follow Christ, for, as he himself told us: “He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn 8:12).
Therefore, if during these days you go to church to take part in Mass and see the Paschal candle lit, be assured that it is not by mistake, for it is Eastertide! Indeed, all the more so because, as Jesus himself promised us: “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (Jn 9:5). And this so that, as the priest declares while lighting the Paschal candle: “May the light of Christ, who has risen in glory from the dead, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.”