Monday in the Octave of Easter
Traditionally, the entire first week of the seven weeks of Easter is considered to be one continuous day. In the Eastern Rite Catholic Church it is called “Bright Week.”
On Easter Monday, we celebrate “Monday of the Angel.” As we hear from Matthew: “Then the angel said to the women in reply, ‘Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is
going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you” (Mt 28:5-7).
Angels are messengers of God. As spiritual beings, they have intellects and wills. They are personal and immortal. They surpass all material beings in their perfection. Angels are not the sort we see on Hallmark cards. They are fierce and frightening. In fact,
throughout the Bible the first response of any human contact with angels is fear. “Do not be afraid, Mary…” (Luke 1:30).
An angel announced Christ’s conception to Mary of Nazareth at the Annunciation and an angel proclaimed his Resurrection to the myrrh bearing women at the empty tomb.
From Easter Monday until Pentecost (the next 50 days), the Church prays the Regina Caeli instead of the Angelus at noon.
Benedict XVI said that the text of the Regina Caeli “is like a new ‘Annunciation’ to Mary, this time not made by an angel but by we Christians who invite the Mother to rejoice because her Son, whom she carried in her womb, is risen as he promised.”
He continued: “Indeed, ‘rejoice’ was the first word that the heavenly messenger addressed to the Virgin in Nazareth. And this is what it meant: Rejoice, Mary, because the Son of God is about to become man within you. Now, after the drama of the passion, a new invitation to rejoice rings out: Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. Rejoice because the Lord is truly risen,
alleluia!”
Let us pray,
V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
R. For he whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.
V. Has risen, as he said, alleluia.
R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
—Timothy J. Cronin