In 2007 we find ourselves facing unexpected challenges. With changes in the language of liturgy, increasing issues of control and compliance, and ongoing friction between lay ministers and some clergy, the path ahead is neither level nor smooth. Although many issues demand our attention, priority must be given to liturgy, for without it as our source and summit, we have nothing from which to draw our commitment to justice or to the poor. So this year we turn to the great Vigil as the template and master plan for our efforts. As a thematic plan I have chosen to use the song of the Vigil, the Exsultet. “This is the night” points to so many moments in the Christian journey, but I believe it speaks very well to this moment in our church. It is a dark moment, but never a hopeless one because we are a people divided but undimmed. This is a moment charged with infinite potential and energy. The Exsultet with its powerful imagery will lead us in light on our journey through this night.

With the beginning of volume 34, we have a few changes. We welcome frequent feature writer Ron Raab to the ranks of our columnists. His new column, Building Bridges, connects ritual to everyday life. Ron is uniquely qualified for this as he often takes sacramental ritual literally into the street in order to be more accessible to those the church so often neglects. Our Preparation Guide has a new name, Liturgy Formation, better representing its focus on the process of creating worship experiences. The “Music Planning” section of that column becomes “Ledger Lines,” with a shift toward developing an understanding of the concepts of solid music and liturgy integration. Finally, we bid farewell to the columns Sacred Space and Liturgy in Context, and we have relocated the Visual Arts Awards features to be exclusively online (see contents page).

In this issue we have a multifaceted approach to banishing darkness. Claire Wing shares with us insights about prayer and light from her own work in stained glass. Adam Rewa focuses on the ministry of the assembly and how each person is called to service; our baptismal identity mandates that we be the light of Christ in a world of darkness. Joni Woelfel describes ways of being life-giving even as a result of our own suffering, reaching out to people who seem trapped in their own darkness. Jean Marie DuHamel catechizes about the dimensions of forgiveness, casting light amidst the shadows of blame and despair. Tom Iwanowski offers basic formation about the Mass so that as a community we may be better able to share in the light that is life.

These are dark times for our church. We seem determined to hurt each other over ritual style, language style, who may minister what to whom, and, of all things, who may wash the dishes afterward. Regardless, we are called to be children of the light, and that demands that we minister as God calls us, regardless of gender or state of life. We draw strength from the power of liturgy prayed well. So this Easter Vigil, build that blazing new fire in the night, let it burn defiantly as people gather to worship. Have a big paschal candle and light it confidently. Sing loudly into the night that Christ is our light and that we thank God for that. Make a big enough light and a big enough sound that you can feel the glory fill you and know that darkness indeed has vanished forever. And if somebody, anybody, tells you that you cannot do this, that it’s too much work or that it’s inconvenient to start so late or that no one will gather outside or any such excuse, shake the dust from your feet and go find a community who knows better. For this is the night truly blessed.

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes for ever! ML

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