Easter is the most important festival for Christians

What is Easter?

Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His death is celebrated on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday.

The Easter ritual begins with the Easter Vigil. Often the Easter Vigil is the occasion for believers to be baptised or confirmed.

Easter is the day of the year when Christians who do not go to church often go to confession.

How do you prepare for Easter?

The faithful prepare to celebrate Easter during Lent and Holy Week.

Lent

This is the 40-day period before Easter Day. It recalls the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Day.

Holy Week in Lourdes

This is the week that begins with Palm Sunday, which recalls the coming of Jesus to Jerusalem. During Holy Week, believers celebrate Jesus' last meal with his apostles, known as Maundy Thursday, then his arrest and death on the cross: Good Friday and finally his resurrection: Easter Sunday.


In spite of the current health situation, the Sanctuary of Lourdes has organised, for our great pleasure, Masses and celebrations for Holy Week which took place from 28 March to 4 April 2021.


For those who were unable to attend physically, the masses were broadcast live on TV Lourdes and on the Shrine's Facebook page.

On Holy Thursday, we were lucky enough to be able to attend the Lord's Supper in the underground Basilica of St Pius X in Lourdes.

The Last Supper is the last meal Jesus Christ had with the twelve apostles on Holy Thursday evening.

On Good Friday we also attended the Way of the Cross on the esplanade of the Sanctuary of Lourdes.

Why does the date of Easter change each year?

The date of Easter is set after the first full moon following March 21, after the day of Spring. Easter is always celebrated on a Sunday. Easter is then celebrated no earlier than 22 March and no later than 25 April.

Easter traditions

In France, the bells stop ringing from Thursday to Saturday of Holy Week as a sign of mourning. On Saturday night they leave Rome, blessed by the Pope, flying over gardens, fields and parks, dropping chocolate sweets.

So on Sunday, after Easter mass, the family gathers around a lamb roast and the children go hunting for eggs, rabbits, chickens and chocolate bells.


In France, the Monday following Easter Sunday is always a public holiday.

Easter Prayer

Lord Jesus, we come to you to thank you for the Easter resurrection.

We thank you for the gift of your life to save us, for your death on the cross that washed away our sins and for your resurrection that gives us eternal life.

We ask you to help us understand the depth of your love for us and to give us the grace to live in the joy of your resurrection. We ask you to bless all those who celebrate Easter, to protect them from all evil and to guide them on their spiritual path.

We thank you for all the blessings you have given us through the Easter resurrection and we entrust our lives and souls to you.


Amen