Light a Holy Fire for Easter: A Saint Patrick Response to Quarantined Liturgy

As my family makes preparations to celebrate Easter at home during quarantine, my thoughts inevitably turn to the Paschal Fire. For 24 years, we have made the late night trek to church to see that fire set ablaze and to participate in the Easter Vigil Mass. This year is strange. And I’m floundering a bit.

I made a little Paschal candle for our domestic church. It’s not much but it’s pretty, symbolic, and at least reminiscent of liturgy. I also bought a few beeswax tapers off the internet that my family can light from that larger candle.

I’m not sure how it will all go. But my husband and I agree that there should be fire. Christ, Light of the World, show us Your glory and lead us to salvation.

My thoughts turn to practical matters like how we should light our home Paschal candle. Matches, of course. I’ll get those ready. But wait… Why not build our own Paschal Fire? Let’s light it from a Paschal Fire.

The churches have been closed. The sacraments withheld. The worship of Christians has been suppressed by fear. That fear, ironically is the fear of death. The same death which is defeated on Easter morning and for all eternity through the saving power of Jesus Christ.

My heart quickens as I think of the darkness and Easter. Watching the Paschal candle lighted by Father outside of the church. The smell of the smoke and the beeswax. The light of the Paschal Fire reflecting on the alter boys, on the priests and deacons, and on the people gathered. I don’t need more convincing…

I want a fire.

That thought nags at me through the day and I locate our rusty fire pit, usually reserved for burning autumn debris…

That will do. That will certainly do.

I imagine the fire on Holy Saturday night and know that the flames will make an impression on the children. On me. This is different. This is not Mass…but it is holy.

Then, I remember St. Patrick and the glorious Paschal Fire which he set ablaze on a hill in direct defiance of the Druidic High King. It was the night that the pagans would light their own fire to honor their sun god, and it was from this fire that all other fires would be lit around Ireland.

This pagan festival fell on the feast of Easter and Patrick built a huge bonfire which could be seen for many miles around…

A beacon of defiance. A symbol of hope. An act of worship. The annihilation of fear.

Ireland was awash with paganism and the worship of God suppressed. It was unlawful to light that fire. It was inflammatory. It was public. The punishment was death and yet Saint Patrick lit the Easter fire boldly…

On a hill.
In the midst of a pagan feast.
In celebration of the King of Heaven and the victory of Easter.
In holy defiance of the enemies of God.

The lighting of that fire wasn’t liturgical…but it was holy. And when the Druid king sent his solders to put out the fire and kill Patrick, they were unable to extinguish it. It was a fire that would not die. And neither did Patrick. Not that day. Because it was the beginning of the transformation of Ireland to the heart of Jesus Christ.

It was a bold act of unreserved worship. And I want that.

I am determined to light that fire. So that it shines through the darkness and shows my children that even when the land is covered with the darkness of fear, and the full expression of faith is suppressed by those who have power over our religious freedom…

We are still free. That is the point of Easter.

I imagine Paschal fires lighted across the world. In neighborhoods and on the country hills, in celebration of the the victory of Easter and…in defiance of the darkness.

I hope you light one. Safely, of course. Whether it is in your barbecue pit, a bonfire in your field, or simply a candle held against the darkness…

I hope you light one.

Let the world see your light. Let God see your light. Let it be a sign of our steadfast faith in the God whose fire cannot be extinguished. We are an Easter people. Let our praise shine like fire from our homes! Let the world see that the Light of Christ will not be extinguished.

Let others know. And share your fires on social media. Let His light shine!

And next year, may we all find ourselves shivering in the night air outside our parish churches, watching the flickering of the Paschal Fire in a new way. Never again forgetting the night we lit our own in hopeful defiance against the darkness.