Easter Prayers
What is Easter?
Easter, also called Pascha (or a variant of that word in many languages) is the celebration of Christ's bodily resurrection from the dead. It's celebrated on the Sunday following Holy Week. Easter is a 50-day season, called Eastertide, which lasts until Pentecost. These Easter Prayers reflect these themes. More Info: Easter
Easter Prayer of St. Hippolytus of Rome
Christ is Risen: The world below lies desolate
Christ is Risen: The spirits of evil are fallen
Christ is Risen: The angels of God are rejoicing
Christ is Risen: The tombs of the dead are empty
Christ is Risen indeed from the dead, the first of the sleepers,
Glory and power are his forever and ever
Saint Hippolytus (AD 190-236)
Catholic Collect for Easter Sunday
God our Father, by raising Christ your Son you conquered the power of death and opened for us the way to eternal life. Let our celebration today raise us up and renew our lives by the Spirit that is within us. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
International Committee on English in the Liturgy (ICEL)
Anglican-Use Collect for Easter Day
O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
1979 Book of Common Prayer
Eastern Prayer of Christ Resurrected
Christ, rising again from the dead dieth now no more: death shall no more have dominion over him; for in that he died, he died once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God, alleluia, alleluia.
Let the Jews now tell us, how the soldiers, who guarded the sepulchre, lost the King, though they had placed a rock over him. Why kept they not the Rock of Justice? Either let them restore the buried One, or adore with us the risen One, saying: But in that he liveth, he liveth unto God, alleluia, alleluia.
The Liturgical Year: Book 7
Easter Prayer of Praise
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In His great mercy He has given us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.
It is reserved in heaven for you, who because of your faith in God are being protected by His power until the salvation that is ready to be revealed at the end of time.
New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book
Queen of Heaven / Regina Caeli
Queen of Heaven rejoice, Alleluia;
The Son whom you merited to bear, Alleluia, has risen as He said, Alleluia.
Pray for us to God, Alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia,
For the Lord is truly Risen, Alleluia.
Marian antiphon traditionally recited during Easter
Alternate Anglican Collect for Easter Day
O God, who made this most holy night to shine with the glory of the Lord's resurrection: Stir up in your Church that Spirit of adoption which is given to us in Baptism, that we, being renewed both in body and mind, may worship your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ who overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
1979 Book of Common Prayer
Alternate Anglican Collect for Wednesday in Easter Week
O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
1979 Book of Common Prayer
Catholic Collect for the Second Sunday of Easter
God of mercy, you wash away our sins in water, you give us a new birth in the Spirit, and redeem us in the blood of Christ. As we celebrate Christ's resurrection, increase our awareness of these blessings, and renew your gift of life within us. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
International Committee on English in the Liturgy (ICEL)
Anglican Use Collect for Easter Week Six
O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
1979 Book of Common Prayer
Catholic Prayer for the Easter Virtues
Lord, the resurrection of Your Son has given us new life and renewed hope. Help us to live as new people in pursuit of the Christian ideal. Grant us wisdom to know what we must do, the will to want to do it, the courage to undertake it, the perseverance to continue to do it, and the strength to complete it.
New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book
Compiled by David Bennett
Updated 04/11/2017