Amid choruses of “Alleluia” Christians around the world have marked the great celebration of Easter

SPRINGFIELD -

In Rome Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Easter Vigil at St. Peter’s Basilica, marking the culmination of the three days of the Easter Triduum. As part of the ceremonies there the Holy Father baptized Magdi Allam, one of Italy’s most well known Muslims. Allam, who is married to a Catholic, has increasingly rejected the radical forms of Muslin that has taken hold in recent years.

In the Diocese of Springfield, Bishop Timothy McDonnell also marked the beginning of Easter with the traditional Easter Vigil Service at St. Michael’s Cathedral. As in some 35 other diocesan Catholic communities this ceremony also marked the reception of new members into the faith. Across western Massachusetts 45 individuals were scheduled to receive the three sacraments of initiation, Baptism, Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation. Another 113, who had already been previously baptized, were to receive the sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Confirmation.

In his Easter homily Bishop McDonnell spoke of the enbduring and important message of Easter.

“Because of the resurrection, we have been given the power, the grace, to be the builders of our own destiny; because of the resurrection, we have received the power, the grace, from Jesus to direct our life towards God. Through our union with Christ that began on the day of our baptism, we share in the glory of his resurrection. And here at this Eucharist on this Easter day, together with our fellow believers throughout the world, we take the opportunity to renew our baptismal commitment to Christ, we take a fresh look at the path toward which we were directed when first we were baptized, the pilgrimage path that calls us to follow Christ. As we renew our baptismal promises in just a few moments here at this Mass, we make a new determination for ourselves to let the word of God dwell in our hearts; we promise anew our best efforts to live our lives as fully as possible following Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord.”