Easter Vigil: 3,000 Baptized in a Night!

Baptism, Holy Week, & the Resurrection; Day 33 in 'The Art of Dying Well' by St. Robert Bellarmine

That’s right! There was an Easter Vigil when 3,000 catechumens were baptized in a night! When did this holy event occur? Early in the 4th century under the pastoral guidance of the greatest preacher in the Ancient Church (and possibly ever?), St. John Chrysostom, the Archbishop of Constantinople. As some have said, his parish was a discipleship powerhouse and this was revealed at every Easter celebration.

Although baptisms occur throughout the year, the Easter Vigil has always had a prominent place for adults and families entering into the Catholic Church as catechumens. Why Holy Pascha (Easter) and not some other major feast day like Good Friday, Ascension (Thursday), Pentecost, or Christmas?

1. Historical: First, we should point to the fact that the Resurrection of Christ is the greatest event in human history as well as in the history of the universe, and therefore, it is fitting to celebrate baptisms and the rites of initiation into Christ’s Mystical Body on the day that he completed his saving work.

2. Sacramental: Secondly, baptism is intrinsically and sacramentally linked to Christ’s Resurrection as St. Paul makes rather clear in his letter to the Romans:

   ^“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:3-5).

   We mystically participate in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection in baptism by the power of the Holy Spirit. All of the church fathers and ancient, apostolic churches are unanimous that God works in and through baptism to regenerate us and save us. It is not a mere symbol or reminder of a past event. Think of baptism like a wedding. It is in the marriage ceremony (not before) that God makes the couple into husband and wife who then become ‘one flesh.’ There is certainly a type of grace preparing catechumens to love Christ and be prepared to die for him during their ‘engagement’ period but it is not until the event of baptism that we are fully wedded to Christ and mystically united to His Resurrection. This is a great mystery (mysterion in NT Greek; sacrament in Latin)! The Apostle Peter also uses strong language for baptism: “And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21).

3. Liturgical: Thirdly, baptism is also appropriate at the Easter Vigil because it is a reenactment of the Exodus story. We pass through the waters of the Red Sea (Baptism), are anointed with oil as a royal priesthood (Chrismation/Confirmation), are guided by the Pillar of Fire by night (Paschal/Easter Candle), and are fed with manna, a heavenly food, and the Passover Lamb, Christ Himself (The Eucharist).

4. Eschatological: Lastly, baptism ushers the future into the present. The New Creation, the Kingdom of God, and the Wedding Supper of the Lamb will all be fully consummated at Christ’s return (See Romans 8 & Revelation 21-22), yet in the sacraments, we are given a foretaste of this reality now! Christ says, “For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes” (Luke 22:18). After people come out of the baptismal waters, they are chrismated (confirmed), and then drink of the fruit of the vine with Christ through the Holy Eucharist in His Kingdom. And so the newly baptized partake of the mystical meal, the Paschal Banquet, with the Lord. The Eucharist is also the Tree of Life, the medicine of immortality as St. Ignatius of Antioch writes. Through Baptism, we return to the rivers of Eden, and God recreates us into a new Adam and a new Eve who have the right to partake of the fruit of Eden again! “Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus!”

Day 33, The Sacrament of Baptism

Bellarmine begins chapter 10 stating:

“Having now explained the principal virtues which teach us how "to live well". I shall add some remarks on the Sacraments, which, no less than the former, instruct us in this most necessary Art. There are seven Sacraments instituted by Christ our Lord: baptism, confirmation, holy Eucharist, penance, holy orders, matrimony, and extreme unction. These are the divine instruments, as it were, which God uses by the ministry of his servants, to preserve, or increase, or restore His grace to us; that so being freed from the servitude of the devil, and translated to the dignity of the "Sons of God," we may one day arrive at eternal happiness with the holy angels. From these holy Sacraments, therefore, it is our intention briefly to show who are they that advance in the "Art of living well," and who fail in it. We may then know who can hope for a happy death; and who, on the contrary, may expect a miserable one, unless he change his life. Let us begin with the first Sacrament. Baptism, being the first, is justly called the "gate" of the Sacraments, because, unless baptism precede them, no one is in a state to receive the other Sacraments. In baptism the following ceremonies are observed. First of all, he who is to be baptised ought to make a profession of his belief in the Catholic faith, either by himself or by another. Secondly, he is called upon to renounce the devil, and all his works and pomps. Thirdly, he is baptised in Christ, and thus translated from the bondage of the devil to the dignity of a son of God; and all his sins being washed away, he receives the gift of divine grace, by which he becomes the adopted son of God, an heir of God, and co-heir with Christ. Fourthly, a white garment is placed on him, and he is exhorted to keep it pure and undefiled till death. Fifthly, a lighted candle is put into his hand, which signifies good works, and which he ought to add for innocence of life as long as he lives. Thus our Lord speaks in the Gospel: "So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (St. Matthew v. xvi.)” You may read the rest here.