EASTER SUNDAY SEQUENCE

On Easter Sunday morning, just before the Gospel Acclamation rings out, the choir leads the congregation in this ancient Sequence. Transcribed here with its traditional chant melody, the "Easter Sunday Sequence" provides both the English translation and the original Latin text, *Victimae paschali laudes*. It is a moment of high drama in the liturgy, shifting from a call for praise to a vivid recounting of the resurrection.

The lyrics paint a cosmic battle where "death and life have contended in that combat stupendous." The melody then turns into a dialogue, questioning Mary Magdalene: "Speak, Mary, declaring what you saw, wayfaring." Her breathless report of the empty tomb, the bright angels, and the folded shroud brings the reality of Easter morning right into the church aisles.

Singing this piece requires a steady, flowing rhythm that mimics the natural cadence of speech. Choirs can choose the accessible English lines or the historic Latin verses to build a bridge between the modern parish and centuries of Easter celebrations. The sequence culminates in a triumphant declaration that Christ is truly risen, ending with a final, joyful Amen and Alleluia.