Easter Octave

April 22, 2022
Author: Hannah DeVivo

Peace be with you!

Happy Easter Season! Today we will be talking about the Easter Octave.

The Catholic Church celebrates the Easter Season for fifty days! We begin on Easter Sunday (also known as Resurrection Sunday) and end on Pentecost Sunday.

Saint Athanasius said, "The fifty days from the Sunday of the Resurrection to Pentecost Sunday are celebrated in joy and exultation as one feast day, indeed as one 'great Sunday.'" During the first eight days (or octave) we specifically rejoice in the solemnity of Easter.

The Joy of Easter

The Easter season is not always as anticipated, prepared for, or celebrated as the Christmas season, but realistically, it should be. Christmas is a beautiful time to celebrate the birth of our Savior, but why did He come? Why did God send His only beloved Son to become a human? That sweet, innocent baby was born for one reason: you. Jesus became man, took on human flesh, and roamed this earth for 30 years to save you. He knew you before you were formed in your mother's womb. He knew the pain you would feel, the struggles you would endure, and the enemy who would tempt you. He knew the hopelessness you would feel at times. He knew that without salvation, forgiveness, hope and the possibility of Heaven, you would be lost. Easter is the fruition of why that blessed babe was born!

We celebrate Easter because the God whom we worship, love, and adore became a man and suffered emotional, mental, and physical torture so that He could be with us and we with Him for the rest of eternity. Why wouldn't we rejoice for as long as possible? This incredible and ultimate love story is worthy of celebration for far more than one day.

In his Gospel, Saint John proclaims seven signs through which Jesus reveals His deity and proves that He is God. The first sign is the miracle of Jesus' turning water into wine at the wedding feast of Cana. The final and most glorious sign is the Resurrection. Jesus literally defied death and came back to life. This is the foundation of our Christian faith. This is what separates Jesus from every other man in history and why so many of us believe. The Resurrection is the cause of our faith, hope, and joy.

What is an Octave?

"Octave" comes from the Latin word octavus, which means eighth. An octave is an eight-day celebration which begins on the first day of the feast and continues through the next seven days. Celebrating an Octave of a great feast can be traced back to the Old Testament. The Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot (Feast of Booths) is a week-long fall festival commemorating the 40-year journey of the Israelites in the wilderness before their entrance into the Promised Land. Sukkot is one of three great pilgrimage feasts recorded in the Bible when all Jewish males were required to appear before the Lord in the Temple in Jerusalem.

In the book of Nehemiah, the Jewish people were especially grateful to celebrate the eight-day Feast of Booths after their exile in Babylon: "So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim. The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great. Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly." Nehemiah 8:16-18

In the Catholic Church, we celebrate octaves during both the Easter and Christmas seasons. The Easter Octave begins on Easter Sunday and ends on the second Sunday of Easter, which is Divine Mercy Sunday. Every day within the Octave is considered a "little Easter." In fact, each day of the Octave is ranked as a Solemnity in the Church's liturgical calendar.

What is a Solemnity?

A Solemnity is the highest celebration and marks one of the most important days of the liturgical year. Even if the Solemnity falls on a weekday, often both the Gloria and the Creed are said at Mass. There are two Scriptural readings before the Gospel. Also, there will sometimes be processional and recessional hymns and use of incense. Some Solemnities are also holy days of obligation. On holy days of obligation, just like on Sundays, Catholics are required to attend Mass and to avoid work and business that hinder divine worship or suitable relaxation of mind and body. All holy days of obligation have the rank of Solemnity at least at the local level, though not necessarily holding that rank in the General Roman Calendar. The joy and triumph of Easter is expressed in several special ways during the weekday liturgies of the Octave of Easter. While each day is a Solemnity, they are celebrated somewhat differently. The Gloria is sung or said at each Mass. Only Preface I of Easter is allowed during the Octave, not Easter Prefaces II through V. A double Alleluia is used for the dismissal at the end of each Octave Mass. The Easter Sequence may be used for any or all of the weekday Masses within the Octave. The Creed is not said.

Welcoming the new members into the Body of Christ

Another wonderful reason for us to celebrate the Octave of Easter is to celebrate the neophytes! A neophyte is a newly baptized Catholic. As I spoke about in my blog post, most Adult Baptisms into the Church happen during the Easter vigil.

It is such a joy to welcome and receive these fresh, new souls into the Body of Christ! A rising tide lifts all boats. The rising tide of the new members lifts us all. We rejoice in the new hope, excitement, and vigor they bring into our lives and our Church.

What you can do to keep Easter in your heart and home

You have fasted in some form for forty days. You have walked with Jesus through His Passion and death. Now, it is time to celebrate with Him and be as close to Him in His triumph as you were in His sorrows. There is an invitation here for you to jump into the joy, life, and hope of your faith!! It is worth noting that although we are focusing on the solemnity of the Octave of Easter in this post, there are fifty days of Easter. There are fifty days of rejoicing after the forty days of Lent and fasting. This is extremely significant because it shows us that the feast is longer than the fast! This is a small taste of Heaven for us, who believe that although there is pain and suffering in this life, there will be eternal life and joy everlasting when we are united with God in Heaven.

Some ways you can make these eight days different and special for your family:

• Go out to eat as a family.
• Play celebratory, fun music and dance to it!
• Make a visual change in your home: bring in fresh flowers, make decorations, or even print out some coloring pages and have fun coloring them with your children.
• Spend time together outside and look for signs of new life and Spring.
• Read the Gospel aloud daily.
• Have a specific candle or scent that you use in your home during the Easter Season.
• Pray the Divine Mercy Novena together from Good Friday to Divine Mercy Sunday.

Whatever you choose to do, may you feel the peace of the Risen Lord. This is a time for you to celebrate with your family, and that will look different for everyone. I hope that the joy of our Lord and the hope of Easter fills your hearts! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!

Before You Go

What are some ways that you like to rejoice and feel close to God?

Do you have any special family traditions during the Easter season?

Have you learned anything new in this article?

I would LOVE to hear from you. Send me an email to Catholic-Living@Autom.com
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