My dear Pueri Cantores,

I am again addressing you, this time to focus our attention on the most important event in the whole liturgical year-the Resurrection of our Lord. The Church celebrates three stages of the redemptive mystery.

First, a farewell feast, the Lord's Supper, during which we contemplate the gift of the Eucharist, Priesthood and the commandment of love. Next we experience the stripping of Christ and His sacrifice on the cross in the liturgy of the Passion. Finally we reach the apogee, the tomb and the Resurrection, in which everything is made meaningful. This miracle of all miracles is the centre of liturgy and permeates our lives with its message that life changes but never ends.

We are preparing ourselves for those events in our community of Pueri Cantores by practising the most beautiful works of Church music and listening intently to their lyrics; by taking part in the liturgy of Easter Vigil we participate in the great mysteries of our faith. According to an ancient tradition that night is the night of vigil in honour of the Lord. The vigil celebrated that night, commemorating the holy night of Christ's resurrection is somehow "a mother of all vigils". The Church staying awake is awaiting the Lord's resurrection and is celebrating it in the sacraments of Christian initiation 1

When fire is blessed and then a deacon brings in the Light of Christ we comprehend the meaning of new light in our life. Listening to Exultet text we listen to the book of our life penetrated by the light of faith. The whole Liturgy of Word is dedicated to the history of our salvation. When finally a solemn Alleluia is resounded we all stand up and joyfully respond: Alleluia-Jesus has risen, He has changed our life and gave it a true meaning.

That significance is even intensified when at that moment baptism is administered which gives man a new life in Christ, the only Saviour. Eventually everybody renews their christening commitments of deepening their faith, hope and charity. A characteristic feature of the Paschal celebrations is that the whole Church joyfully experiences forgiveness of sins-not only the ones who receive baptism but also those who have already been adopted children. 2

And what message is given to us, Pueri Cantores?

We are like Alleluia in the liturgy-through our life of faith, our pure hearts when we receive Jesus, our beautiful singing we do evangelise. Performing Church music, adopting an attitude of love in everyday life, striving for peace in the world we proclaim that Jesus truly resurrected in our hearts. We accompany Him, as the disciples on the way to Emmaus but we recognise Him in our everyday life and preach in this way that He has given our life a new meaning.

I assure you of my prayer during the Eater Vigil of 2005 so that our words might be put into practice.

1 A letter of the Congregation for the Cult on preparation and celebration of Paschal Feasts, Rome 1988, no 77.
2 Ibid. no108