Archbishop leads Easter Vigil prayers for all those in ‘living hell’

Cardinal Vincent Nichols: “We pray especially for those about whom it has been said, in recent times, that ‘all hell’ will be unleashed on them.”

The Archbishop of Westminster prayed at the Easter Vigil for all caught up in war and conflict and urged “courageous restraint”, even in the face of evil.

In his homily at the Easter Vigil at Westminster Cathedral, Cardinal Vincent Nichols said: “At this moment we pray for all whose lives may be described as ‘a living hell’, whether through radical isolation, unremitting and intense pain, or because they are caught up in the theatres of war in our world today, those seemingly endless conflicts.

“We pray for peace. We pray especially for those about whom it has been said, in recent times, that ‘all hell’ will be unleashed on them. May that never be so!  May courageous restraint, even in the face of evil, be found as a foundation for true peace.”

The risen Jesus is robust, he continued. “His first act after his death is to visit the regions of hell. In the Apostles’ Creed we profess: ‘he descended into hell’. There he demonstrates his power over death and evil, raising up all who are trapped in darkness. The risen Christ is robust indeed.”

This victory over death, the ultimate enemy, is, then, also the foundation of our hope, he added. “This is the hope we are to strengthen and deepen today, clinging to it insistently in this Jubilee Year, in which we are ‘Pilgrims into Hope’.”

Bishop of Elphin and Bishop of Achonry Kevin Doran, in his homily for the Easter Vigil Mass, said: “The Scriptures tell us that, wherever evil makes its appearance in creation, it happens because the connection with God is broken. It is replaced by pride and selfish ambition, which leads to conflict and destruction.”

The virtue of faith, as Pope Benedict wrote, is closely connected with the virtue of hope, Bishop Doran said. “You could say that hope is faith, as it looks to the future. Because of our faith in the goodness of God, we can look the future with hope.”

The Right Rev Kenneth Nowakowski, Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, said in an Easter reflection published by the Catholic Union: “We are all looking for good news these days.  What would that good news be for you? I am sure that for almost all of us in Europe and especially for our Ukrainian sisters and brothers the news would be that the war in Ukraine is over, the fighting has ended with victory for the Ukrainian people, and there is peace with justice. That is indeed our hope and prayer, the good news that we seek in our everyday lives.  

“For us, as Christians, the heart of our faith is to proclaim the Good News in Jesus Christ. This year, Catholics all over the world are participating in the Jubilee year, proclaimed by Pope Francis. It is a special time of blessing, commemorated every 25 years, that helps us to reflect on the very good news that salvation is given to us through our Saviour’s incarnation, earthly ministry, death and resurrection.”

The John Bradburne Memorial Society said: “Easter is a celebration of new life, faith, and redemption, a reminder that light triumphs over darkness and that God’s love is eternal. It is also a time to reflect on the power of selfless service, just as John Bradburne dedicated his life to the people of Mutemwa, embracing the call to love, sacrifice, and compassion. This Easter, let us rejoice in the hope of the Resurrection and strengthen our faith and unity as a community.”

Cafod in a reflection published on Saturday Holy Saturday said: “Many of us will, from time to time, find ourselves living in Holy Saturday. We may occasionally experience the grief of Good Friday or the jubilation of Easter, but more often we live in the tension between the two. Between mourning and comfort, fear and joy, death and resurrection. Today we are invited to be present in this uncertain and fragile place, to look around with honesty, while also looking forward with hope, trusting in the promise of Christ’s resurrection. It is not yet the day to rejoice. But it is a day to hope.”

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