Easter Day and the Great Fifty Days

Easter day begins a week of celebration. Each day in the week is treated as a major Holy Day with its own readings and collect. The Second Sunday of Easter always recounts the story of the disciples gathering "eight days later," on what used to be spoken of as the Octave Day of Easter. Each Sunday is "eight days later," and we continue to gather, just as they did.

After the story of Thomas on the Second Sunday, another of the resurrection appearances is the focus of the Third Sunday of Easter. The fourth Sunday of Easter celebrates Christ as the Good Shepherd. The Sixth Sunday, associated with rogation days, celebrates the renewal of Creation.

The 40th day after Easter, Ascension Day, marks Christ return to the Father. This begins nine days of prayer and preparation for the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which concludes the 50 days.

The day of Pentecost, known also as Whitsunday, along with Easter and Christmas Day, completes the three days when all baptized Christians are expected to receive Communion. Ascension Day, as a Principal Feast, should be marked by participation in the Eucharist as well, if possible. The dates for the entire Pascal Cycle, from Ash Wednesday to Pentecost, are based on the date of Easter, which varies from March 22 to April 25. Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox.