“Exult, let them exult, the hosts of heaven, exult, let Angel ministers of God exult, let the trumpet of salvation sound aloud our mighty King’s triumph!” – from The Exsultet: The Proclamation of Easter
As we meditate on Christ’s sacrifice and rejoice in the new life we have in Him, here are four ways to prepare your heart for the celebration of the Resurrection!
1. Pray the Stations of the Cross
During Lent, we commit ourselves to prayer and penitence, striving to be more like Christ and reflecting upon His sacrifice for us. A time-honored Lenten tradition we are pleased to carry on here at the Basilica is the commemoration of Christ’s suffering and death through praying the Way of the Cross. This Lent, we invite you to join us in this practice and pray along with our special video recording.
2. Listen to Sacred Music
Rejoice in the triumph of the Resurrection and uplift your spirit with the sounds of Basilica Choir and instrumental ensembles! Whether you’re listening to Mass recordings or attending a concert in person, there’s nothing quite like heavenly harmonies and words of praise to help incline your heart towards God. You can experience sacred music from anywhere in the world by watching previous Easter recordings from the Basilica – or if you’re local to the area, come in person to this years’ Octave Day of Easter Concert on April 16, 2023, at 7:00 pm!
3. Participate in Mass During Lent and Holy Week
Grow in holiness and strengthen your devotion by drawing near to the Lord in the celebration of the Mass. Here at the Basilica, you can join us in person or virtually via livestream every Sunday and during Holy Week for Masses as you prepare your heart for Easter.
4. Read One or More of the Gospel Accounts
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each provide a unique perspective in presenting the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord. By starting at the very beginning with the miracle of Christ’s incarnation and following the events of His ministry, you can gain richer insight into the context of His sacrifice and resurrection within the story of divine redemption.
For some highlights of the Gospel accounts, you can reflect on these 5 verses for Easter.
As we celebrate Easter, we rejoice that Christ conquered death and brings us eternal life. We rest in His power and the beautiful gift of grace that He extends to us, proclaiming His victory throughout the world.
Get the CD: Triumph of the Cross, Music for Easter
Enrich your Easter celebrations and joyfully commemorate Christ’s Resurrection with the new edition of Triumph of the Cross, Music for Easter. This extraordinary collection of music recorded here at the National Shrine will bring you as close as possible to experiencing the great solemnity of Easter at Mary’s Shrine from the comfort of your own home.