From the link below is available right of S. Mass of Easter Monday (Easter Monday). The following is the explanation of Dom Gueranger.
Easter Monday
The mystery of Easter is so vast and profound that it will not be too many of the seven days of this week to meditate and deepen it. Yesterday we did not do nothing but contemplate our Redeemer came from the tomb, appearing six times his beloved with his power and his goodness. We will continue to make the homage of adoration, gratitude and love for which he is entitled to this triumph is his and ours in the same time, but we also have to respectfully enter all of the wonderful doctrine and the facts of the Resurrection of our divine Liberatore is the center, so that the heavenly light illumine us even better and our joy will grow more and more.
The mystery of the Lamb.
First of all, what then is the mystery of Easter? The Bible says that Easter is the immolation of the Lamb. To understand the Passover must have understood the mystery of the Lamb. Since the early centuries of Christianity in the mosaics and wall paintings of cathedrals is represented as the symbol of the Lamb who combined in himself the idea of Christ's sacrifice and that of his victory. In her pose full of sweetness, the Lamb expressed the dedication that led him to give his blood for the salvation of mankind, but was depicted standing atop a green hill, while the four rivers of paradise, the his command, sprang under his feet, depicting the four Gospels that have brought glory to the doctrine of the four corners of the world. Later it was painted and armed with a cross, from which waved a triumphant bandieruola: is the symbolic form in which we find also in our time.
The Lamb in the Old Testament.
After sin, the man could not do without the Lamb, without it you could see forever from the sky and disinherited forever exposed to the divine wrath. In the early days of the world, the righteous Abel urged the clemency of the Creator angry, sacrificing over an altar, consisting of a sod bell'agnello the most of his flock, until the lamb himself, fell under the blows of the fratricidal , thus becoming the type of new living lamb, well, by his brothers was killed.
Later, Abraham, on the mountain, consumed the sacrifice begun by his heroic obedience, sacrificing a ram, whose head was surrounded with thorns, and whose blood is sprinkled on the altar erected to Isaac. Later God spoke to Moses, revealed to him the Easter and this Easter was then nell'immolazione a lamb and the banquet that was held in order to eat the meat. The Holy Church in these last days, he gave us to read in the book of Exodus the Lord's command on this subject. The Passover Lamb had to be without blemish: it had to shed his blood and eat his flesh. This was the first Easter.
It is full of figures, but empty of reality. Nevertheless, during fifteen centuries, the people of God had accontentarsene but the jew who lived more spiritually knew well recognize the imprint of another mysterious Lamb.
The true Lamb.
In the fullness of time, God sent his Son to earth. The Incarnate Word, who had not yet manifested to men, one day he walked on the banks of the Jordan, John the Baptist pointed to his disciples, saying: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."
The holy Baptist was preaching at that time the Passover, because the men felt that, finally, the land possessed the true Lamb, the Lamb of God, waited a long time. Here, he came, this Lamb, purer than that of Abel, more mysterious than that of Abraham, the more free from every stain of what they were offering the Israelites in Egypt. It really is the Lamb pleaded so insistently by Isaiah, a Lamb sent by God Himself; in a word, the Lamb of God Still some time and will be sacrificed. Three days ago we attended his sacrifice, we have seen his patience, his gentleness under the knife that killed him and we were bathed in his blood has washed all our sins.
By the blood of the Lamb.
The shedding of this blood regenerator was necessary for our Easter, it was necessary that we scored we were to escape the sword of the Lamb, at the same time, this blood is conveyed to us the purity of him who succeed lavished with so much liberality. Our newcomers came from the source, in which he enters his virtue, whiter than snow, and even the sinners, who had the misfortune of losing grace, a time when it purchased, they had found, by the inexhaustible strength Blood Divine, their primitive integrity. The whole community of the faithful clothed in the wedding garment, and this capacity was one of dazzling splendor as it is "the same blood of the Lamb that was washed" (Rev 7:14).
The Passover meal.
Now this role has been prepared to attend a banquet, in which that Lamb meet again. It is he who gives himself to lucky guests as nourishment, and the feast is Easter. The Acts of the Apostle Saint Andrew as well talk about it: "The flesh of the Lamb without spot serving of food, his blood is drink to people who believe in Christ, and even sacrificed, this Lamb is always whole and alive."
Yesterday this banquet took place in all the earth, but these days goes on and you realize a closer union with the Lamb which is incorporated by us of that divine food.
The reign of the Lamb.
But there's more: it is not only to be slain, his flesh to feed the divine is perhaps to command, to be King? Yes, this is so, and once again, this is our Passover. Easter is the proclamation of the kingdom of the Lamb is the cry of the elect in heaven: "He won the lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David" (Rev 5.5).
But if it is Leo, as can be the Lamb? We try to understand the mystery. In his love for the man who needed to be redeemed, to be fortified with heavenly nourishment, has deigned to show himself as a lamb, but also had to triumph over his enemies and ours; was necessary that he reigned as "a He was given all power in heaven and on earth "(Mt 28.18). In his triumph, in its invincible strength, which is the lion, to which nothing can resist, and whose roars of victory shake the universe today. Listen Ephrem: "At the twelfth, broke away from the cross like a sleeping lion" In Sanctam Parasceven, et in et crucem latronem]. Slept, our lion, "The rest was so short in fact - says St. Leo - who said he would rather sleep than a death" [First sermon on the Resurrection] .
What was it then if not the implementation of the oracle of Jacob on his deathbed, when, in announcing the first two thousand years, the dignity of his noble scion, exclaimed with holy enthusiasm: "young lion is Judah ... He bends, stretches like a lion, and as a lioness: who will get up? "(Genesis 49.9).
Today he is awakened by himself, he rose to his feet as lamb, for us, lion to his enemies, adding, from now on, the strength and sweetness. This is the complete mystery of Easter: a triumphant Lamb, obeyed, adored. Let us pay the homage due to him, and waiting in heaven to unite our voices to those of millions of angels and twenty elders, repeat from now on earth: "It is worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive the power and divinity , and the wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing "(Rev 5:12).
The grandeur of this week.
The Church of devoting more time every day this week to the abstention of the work as if it were one big party, and the crafts they remained suspended during the course. The edict of Theodosius, in 389, which suspended the action of the courts during this period, this requirement was to help the liturgy we find mentioned in the sermons of St. Augustine and in the homilies of St. John Chrysostom. The latter, talking to newcomers, expressed himself thus: "During these seven days you are enjoying the teaching of the divine, for the assembly of Christians gather to you, we admit the holy table, in this way and we will help eachother exercise in the struggles against the devil. Because now, preparing to attack with greater fury, the bigger your dignity and the more lively his attack. Put thus the benefit of our lessons during this time and know learn how to fight valiantly. Recognize that even in these seven days the spiritual marriage ceremony that you have had the honor of contracting. The solemnity of the marriage lasts seven days, as we wanted, during this same period, to detain in the bridal chamber " Fifth Homily on the Resurrection].
This then was the zeal of the faithful, their attraction to the solemnity of the liturgy, the interest that led to new recruits of the Church, that they were joining with care and devoted themselves to everything that is demanded from them during this week.
The joy of the Resurrection filled all hearts and occupied all the time. The Councils of Canons enacted into law that they built this custom. To Macon, in 585, so formulating his decree: "We should all celebrate and celebrate Easter with zeal, in which the Supreme Pontiff and Priest was slain for our sins, and we must honor him by observing the accuracy the requirements it imposes. No one, therefore, you will no servile work during these six days (Sundays that follow), but all will come together to sing hymns of Easter, assiduously attending the Holy Sacrifice daily gatherings to praise our Creator and Regenerator, the evening the morning and at noon "[Second Canon, Labbe t. st.].
The Councils of Mainz (813) and Meaux (845) give the same requirements. We find in Spain in the seventh century, in the edicts of King Wamba and Recesvinthe. The Greek Church renewed them in his council in Trullo, Charlemagne, Louis the Pious, Charles the Bald the sanction in their constitutions; canonists of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, Burkard, St. Ivo of Chartres and Gratian we show them in use to their time at last Gregory IX tried again to give them the force of law in one of his Decretals of the thirteenth century. But already in many places this observance was weakened.
The council held at Constance in 1094 reduced the solemnity of Easter Monday and Tuesday. The liturgists John Beleth, in the twelfth century, and Durandus in the thirteenth, show that, in their day, this reduction was already used by the French. It did not take long to spread throughout the West and was the common law for the celebration of Easter, until, having always increased relaxation, was then made by the Apostolic See the exemption of public holiday on Tuesday and, in France, Also on Monday, after the Concordat of 1801.
To get an understanding of the liturgy until the Sunday after Easter, it is therefore necessary to constantly remind the neophytes, always present with their white robes to the Masses and the Divine services. The allusions to their recent regeneration are continuing unabated and return in songs and readings throughout the course of this solemn Eighth.
The Station.
In Rome, the station is now the Basilica of St. Peter. Initiated into the divine mysteries last Saturday in the Basilica of the Saviour at the Lateran, the neophytes yesterday celebrated the Resurrection of the Son in the beautiful sanctuary of the Mother, it is appropriate that on this third day they come to pay homage to Peter, on which rests the whole building the Holy Church. Jesus, Savior, Mary, Mother of God and men, Peter, the visible head of the mystical body of Christ: these are the three events by which we entered and remain in the Christian Church.
Mass
Epistle (Acts 10.37-43). - In those days Peter, standing among the people, said: "My brothers: You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed with the Holy Spirit and power of Jesus of Nazareth, who went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, because God was with him, and we are witnesses to what he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, but they killed him by hanging him on the cross. But God raised him on the third day and made it renders visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses preordained by God to us who ate and drank with him after his resurrection from the dead. And commanded us to preach to the people and to testify as he was by God the Judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets testify, asserting that whoever believes in him receives, for his name, the forgiveness of sins. "
Mission of Christ and the Apostles.
St. Peter addressed this speech to the centurion Cornelius and relatives and friends of the pagan, he had them gathered around him to receive the Apostle that God sent him. It was to prepare all this audience to receive Baptism and to form the beginnings of Gentilismo, because until then, the Gospel was not preached to the Jews. Rimarchiamo who is St. Peter, Apostle and not another, to open unto us Gentiles the gates of the Church that the Son of God founded on him, how about a rock unshaken. That's why this passage from the book of Acts we read today in the Basilica of St. Peter, at the place of his crucifixion, and in the presence of newcomers who are just as many followers on the latest achievements of faith pagan idolatry.
We also observe that the method used by the Apostle to inculcate the truths of Christianity to Cornelius and those of his house.
He begins to speak of Jesus Christ, remember the miracles that accompanied his mission, then, having told his ignominious death on the cross, exposes the fact of the resurrection of the Man-God, as the greatest guarantee of the truth of his divine nature . It is further the mission of the Apostles to be accepted, so their testimony so solemn and so disinterested, since it has not caused them to persecution.
He therefore who confesses the Son of God incarnate, that is passed in this world, doing good, doing all sorts of miracles, dying on the cross, rising again from the grave, and entrusting to the men who chose to continue the mission on the ground that ministry he began, but he who confesses all this doctrine is ready to receive, in Baptism, the forgiveness of their sins.
Such fortunate was the fate of Cornelius and his companions, this was one of our newcomers.
Gospel (Luke 25.13-35). - At that time two of his disciples were leaving that day to a village called Emmaus, distant from Jerusalem threescore furlongs. And they reasoned together of what had happened. It came to pass as reasoned and argued with each other, Jesus himself came and began to travel with them. But their eyes could not know. And he asked them: "What are these discourses that you do for the road and why are you so sad?" And one of them, named Cleopas, answered: "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know how much these days there is happened? "He said to them:" What things? "And they answered:" The fact of Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and our leaders have made the sentencing to death and crucify. But we trusted that it was to redeem Israel, however, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. But some women among us amazed us, because, having gone to the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body, they came back saying that they had seen a vision of angels who say it alive. And some of our friends went to the tomb have found that if the women had said, but he would not have found. " Then Jesus said to them: "O fools and slow of heart to believe all these things foretold by the prophets! Was perhaps not the Christ to suffer these things and then enter his glory? "Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things he was referring. And as they approached the village where they went, he feigned to go farther. But they forced him to stay, saying: "Stay with us, it is nearly evening and the day has already declined." And entered with them. Having become And it came to pass with them at table, he took bread, blessed it, broke it and handed it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. And they said among themselves: "There is perhaps the heart was burning in his chest while he talked with us on the street and we interpreted the Scriptures?". And in that instant they rose and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, who said: "The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon." And they also narrated what had happened to them and how they had recognized in the breaking of bread.
The significance of the test.
Contemplate these three pilgrims, who converse on the road to Emmaus and seguiamoli in heart and mind. Two of them are frail men like us, who tremble before the tribulation, that the cross was shocked and did lose the soul, in need of glory and prosperity to continue to believe. "O fools and slow of heart - tells them the third traveler. - ... It was perhaps the Christ to suffer these things and then enter his glory? ". Up to now we also have too much resembled those two men, showing us that even more Jews than Christians! And that's why the love of earthly things has made us insensitive to be attracted to those heavenly, holding forth, for the same reason, to sin. But from now on, we can no longer think this way. The splendor of the Resurrection of our Master show us quite clearly what is the purpose of suffering, when God sends it. Whatever our tests, we never arrive to be nailed to a gibbet, nor crucified between two villains. The Son of God has enjoyed that kind, and see today if the torture on Friday prevented the momentum that was taken on Sunday at her immortal kingship. Its glory is all the more brilliant, as was his deep humiliation? Do not tremble, then, so much the prospect of a sacrifice, we think of eternal happiness with which we will be rewarded. Jesus, that the two disciples did not recognize, did not have to let them hear his voice and describe the plans of divine wisdom and goodness, and light was made in their spirits. Indeed, what I'm saying? Their hearts were warmed and burned in his chest, hearing him talk of the cross that leads to glory. What if we had not yet recognized, is that he did not shut their eyes to the ravvisassero. The same thing will happen for us, if we let Jesus speak, as they did. We understand then that "there is no more a disciple of the Master" (Matthew 10:24), and seeing the splendor of which he now holds, we will feel moved to say to ourselves: "The sufferings of this present time can not have no proportion with the glory that will be revealed in us "(Romans 8:18).
Effects of the Eucharist.
In these days when the Christian's spiritual efforts for its regeneration are rewarded with the honor of being admitted, bringing the wedding garment, the table of Christ, do not omit to point out that it was at the time of the breaking of bread that were opened Eye of the two disciples who recognized their master. The heavenly nourishment, whose virtue proceeds solely from the words of Christ, brings light to the souls, and then they see what they saw not the first. So will we, as a result of the sacrament of Easter, but we consider that, in this regard, says the author of the Imitation: "They really know their Lord in the breaking of bread, because their heart is burning inside so strong of them, while Jesus walks with them "(Lk 4.14).
Wallow, then, to our divine Risen, from now on, even more than before, we are his, not only by virtue of his death, but because of his resurrection, which is also ours. We become like the disciples of Emmaus, faithful and cheerful, considerate, according to their example, to demonstrate by our deeds, that renewal of life which the Apostle recommends, and the stature of Christ to those who want to resurrect all loved up with them.
The Church chose this stretch of the Gospel in preference to others because of the station which today is held in the Basilica of St. Peter. Indeed St. Luke tells us that the two disciples found the Apostles already aware of the resurrection of their Master, for they said: "It appeared to Simon." We spoke yesterday of the fact that privilege to the Prince of the Apostles.
(Dom Prosper Gueranger, The Liturgical Year. Trad. L. Roberti, P. Graziani and P. Suffia, Alba, 1959)
