This prayer vigil rests on a single desire: to speak through many channels—word, image, light, sound, symbol—so that everyone might grasp the central truth it exists to reveal. The Lord sets us free from evil.
«To shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death» (Lk. 1:79)
Human life is shaped by fear—many fears, different fears—that we struggle against and that rob our days of light and joy.«To shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death» (Lk. 1:79)
Left to our own strength, we cannot break free. The fear, the evil, seems always to win. It leaves us in darkness.
But Jesus taught us that the Father in heaven protects his children and leads them toward joy. With his help, our lives recover the light that can illuminate them.
How could we make this clear without making it too hard to follow? We tried this way...
Our Evils and Our Fears
At the center of the Basilica of St. Francis stands a platform. Around it sit benches, chairs, and cushions for pilgrims.
A lit brazier is carried to the center of the platform. Its flame represents the light of joy, the light of meeting God and our brothers and sisters.
Different voices speak phrases that name human fears. We chose six fears, each represented by a person dressed in black.
When each fear is named, one of these figures climbs onto the platform and takes a position that somehow evokes what is being spoken of.
- Fear of loneliness (crouched, arms crossed before the face)
- Fear of sickness (standing, hands pressed to the temples, as if in pain)
- Fear of sin (standing, one arm bent, covering the face)
- Fear of the future (standing, one hand shielding the eyes, the other stretched out as if to block something threatening)
- Fear of not being loved (standing, arms hanging at the sides, head drooping)
- Fear of death (the figure wears a hooded poncho that gradually covers the face. When the second word is spoken—«The void»—the lights of the basilica dim. Only the brazier flame remains, and one low light at the far end of the church.)
The six figures gather around the brazier and darken its flame.
The person is in darkness. Fears surround him. He feels abandoned by everyone—perhaps even by God.
An off-stage voice reads Psalm 13 (12), accompanied by a refrain sung by the whole assembly: «This night...»
The Person Tries to Free Himself Alone
The person tries to break free on his own. He summons his strength and rebels. A glimpse of light breaks through. But it is only a false glimmer. As new phrases voice these attempts, one person moves the figures circling the brazier.
All effort is useless. When one figure moves away, another takes its place.
These movements are punctuated by sudden flashes of light. Alone, he is not strong enough. He needs God's help.
A reader speaks Jeremiah 17:5–8, followed by the assembly's response: «Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord».
God Sets Us Free From Evil
Until now the church has been silent. Now soothing music fills it—the finale of Fauré's Requiem. The light grows gradually.
A person dressed in white (Jesus) walks through the basilica and approaches the platform as a voice reads John 15:4–5.
The Lord sets us free from evil. He takes us by the hand. He gives us the strength to face our fears and overcome them. This light transforms our lives. It lets us shine light for our brothers and sisters. Now some of the phrases that expressed human fear are read again—and each receives an answer from the Old or New Testament.
«Jesus,» taking the figure by the hand, helps move the figures around the brazier, one by one. Each removes the poncho—a sign of freedom and rebirth.
We had planned to end the vigil with a rite of light: «Jesus» and the figure would take the flame from the brazier and light candles that had been given to pilgrims beforehand. This would have created a great sense of celebration and brightness, making the gift of Jesus and the meaning of the reconciliation vigil more visible. A technical difficulty made this impossible inside the church. Instead, we simply sang «I've Got Peace Like a River» and embraced one another in peace.
- Marta De Rino, 1995 ===FINE===