Tag: Easter

Anthems & Canticles: Pascha Nostrum

Blessed Easter! I hope all of you had an enjoyable Easter in church. One of the things I enjoyed on Easter Sunday is the singing of the Easter Anthem or Pascha Nostrum. But before I start waxing lyrical about it, here’s a quick introduction about some words:

An anthem or canticle is a hymn that uses parts of the Bible. It is best sung during worship although it can be said.

Pascha Nostrum means “Our Passover” in Latin.

The Pascha Nostrum is a combination of a few New Testament verses which are 1 Corinthians 5:7 to 8, Romans 6:9 to 11, and 1 Corinthians 15:20 to 22.

Here is the Pascha Nostrum in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer:
Christ our passover is sacrificed for us : therefore let us keep the feast; Not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness : but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Cor. v. 7
    Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more : death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once : but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin : but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. vi. 9
    Christ is risen from the dead : and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death : by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die : even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Cor. xv. 20.
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

There are quite a few musical settings for the Pascha Nostrum and which you can check out (and sing/chant along prayerfully).

Easter Collects

Christ is risen!

This is a short post to share the collects for Easter Day.

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: We humbly beseech you, that, as your grace goes before us to put good desires into our minds, by your continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

NOTE: The above is a modernised version of the Easter Day collect from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. The 1662 BCP appoints the collect above to be used for the week.

Below are other Easter Day collects for the week which have become popular in modern (20th century) prayer books.

O God, who for our redemption gave your only begotten Son to die upon the Cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the devil and the power of death: Grant us grace to die daily to sin, that we may live with him in the joy of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that we who celebrate with reverence the Paschal feast may be made worthy to attain to everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in the fullness of his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.