An Easter message from The Most Rev. Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester

The Most Rev. Peter A. Libasci Courtesy photo)

MANCHESTER - The Most Rev. Peter A. Libasci, D.D, Bishop of Manchester, the Roman Catholic Church in New Hampshire, has issued an Easter message to the faithful. It follows in the form of a letter.

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Today we proclaim, "Jesus Christ Our Lord is Risen from the Dead! He lives among us, invisibly here, and yet is to be found in the glory of heaven with the Father and the Holy Spirit!"

This is the day for us to be found visibly here on earth, while we are reminded that our destiny is to be found in a glorified body so that we will live forever, as God intended, but now through Jesus, in a new heaven and a new earth! (Revelation: 21:1-5).

Through His Son, Jesus, God has brought human nature to a higher state of being, as the Bible teaches us. God sent His Son, born of a woman, so that the nature of God and the nature of being human would accomplish what no mere human being could ever be capable of doing on its own. Human weakness always benefits by a true helping hand, the wisdom of experience, a patient companion, and the virtues of fidelity and loyalty. God, therefore, "so loved the world that He gave us His Only Son," to lead us to our true destiny, not wishing the sinner to die, but to turn away from sin and turn toward the light of His face.

For this reason, with our small Lenten sacrifices behind us, we come to Easter Mass. Here we enter into the Passion and Death ("This is My Body which will be given up for you; this is the chalice of My Blood which will be poured out for the forgiveness of sins") and the joyous Resurrection ("Behold the Lamb of God! Behold Him Who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those who are called to the Supper of the Lamb!"). Here is the True Helping Hand, The Wisdom of Experience, The Patient Companion, whose fidelity to the Father and loyalty to us poor sinners leads us to the Holy Communion of our Passover, from death to life in Christ Jesus.

On this Easter Day, it is our custom to recall and renew the meaning of the Baptism we received.

Take a prayerful moment today, and often, as we rise with Christ to our higher calling:

(Roman Missal Third Edition: New Jersey Catholic Book Publishing Corp. 2011)

"Dear brothers and sisters, through the Paschal Mystery we have been buried

with Christ in Baptism, so that we may walk with Him in newness of life.

And so, now that our Lenten observance is concluded, let us renew the promises

of Holy Baptism, by which we once renounced Satan and his works and promised to serve God in the holy Catholic Church. And so, I ask you:

Do you renounce Satan? "I do."

And all his works? "I do."

And all his empty show? "I do."

Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth? "I do."

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered death and was buried, rose again from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father? "I do."

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body and life everlasting? "I do."

May almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us new birth by water and the Holy Spirit and bestowed on us forgiveness of our sins, keep us by His grace, in Christ Jesus our Lord, for eternal life. Amen."

May God bless you and may this Easter and its following days fill your heart and soul with the great presence of the risen Christ Jesus.

Sincerely in Christ,

The Most Rev. Peter A. Libasci, D.D.
Bishop of Manchester