March 31st
Easter Sunday
St John Chrysostom (347-407), Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Antioch; Feast day September 13th

"O Death, where is your sting?  O Hell, where is your victory?  Christ is risen, and you are overthrown.  Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen.  Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice.  Christ is risen, and life reigns.  Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.  For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep."

St John of Damascus (676-749), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Damascus; Feast day March 27

"Now all things have been filled with light, both heaven and earth and those beneath the earth; so let all creation sing Christ's rising, by which it is established."

St Gregory the Theologian (329-389), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Cappadocia; Feast day May 9

"Yesterday I was crucified with Him; today I am glorified with Him; yesterday I died with Him; today I am quickened with Him; yesterday I was buried with Him; today I rise with Him.  But let us offer to Him Who suffered and rose again for us -- you will think perhaps that I am going to say gold, or silver, or woven work of transparent and costly stones, the mere passing material of earth, that remains here below, and is for the most part always possessed by bad men, slaves of the world and of the Prince of the world.  Let us offer ourselves, the possession most precious to God, and most fitting; let us give back to the Image what is made after the Image.  Let us recognize our Dignity; let us honour our Archetype; let us know the power of the Mystery, and for what Christ died."

St Augustine (354-430), Confessor, Bishop, Father of the Church; Thagaste, Algeria; Feast day August 28th

"Resurrectio Domini, spes nostra -- the resurrection of the Lord is our hope."

St Gregory the Great (540-604), Confessor, Pope, Doctor of the Church; Rome, Italy; Feast day March 12th

"It is only right, with all the powers of our heart and mind, to praise You Father and Your Only-Begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Dear Father, by Your wondrous condescension of Loving-Kindness toward us, Your servants, You gave up Your Son.  Dear Jesus, You paid the debt of Adam for us to the Eternal Father by Your Blood poured forth in Loving-Kindness.  You cleared away the darkness of sin by Your magnificent and radiant Resurrection.  You broke the bonds of death and rose from the grave as a Conqueror.  You reconciled Heaven and earth.  Our life had no hope of Eternal Happiness before You redeemed us.  Your Resurrection has washed away our sins, restored our innocence and brought us joy.  How inestimable is the tenderness of Your Love!

"We pray You, Lord, to preserve Your servants in the peaceful enjoyment of this Easter happiness.  We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who lives and reigns with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever.  Amen."