FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Deacon Nicholas Monnin, a seminarian of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend studying for the priesthood at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, vividly remembers the first time he sang in front of people. It was as a student at St. Matthew Cathedral School in South Bend.
Fortunately, he was singing with the choir, but he still felt nervous, he recalled, saying, “I still sang my part, but I tried to blend into the background as much as possible.”
Since then, Deacon Monnin has grown in confidence in his voice and, consequently, has become accustomed to singing in front of many people. This is fortunate, as there will be nowhere to hide when he sings solo during one of the most solemn liturgies in the world’s largest church: the Easter Vigil Mass.
The Most ‘Poetic’ Hymn of Praise
Deacon Monnin is scheduled to chant the “Exsultet” during the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on April 19. According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website, it is “among the most ancient, solemn, and poetic hymns of praise in the entire liturgy.”
“The ‘Exsultet’ is basically a song that praises what the Paschal candle symbolizes,” Deacon Monnin told <Today’s Catholic>, the diocesan news outlet, in a phone interview from Rome. “It invites all of creation, saying, ‘Let the angelic hosts of heaven rejoice, let God’s mysteries resound, and let triumph sound aloud for the victory of so great a King!’” He added, “This chant points to Christ’s definitive victory over death, which is a cause of great joy and exultation for all of creation.”
Deacon Monnin, who was ordained a transitional deacon last October, is the second seminarian from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in the past three years to receive the honor of chanting the “Exsultet” at the Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.
In 2023, then-Deacon Ben Lengerich, now a priest serving as parochial vicar at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Fort Wayne, chanted the solemn Easter proclamation at St. Peter’s.
Deacon Monnin said he texted Father Lengerich for advice.
‘With Gratitude and Prayer’
“I passed on the advice that our choir director gave me at the time: ‘Practice often, practice briefly, and don’t hurt yourself!’” Father Lengerich told <Today’s Catholic>. “I also told him to approach it with gratitude and prayer. And I asked him to say hello to the Holy Father for me!”
When asked if the invitations to chant the “Exsultet,” both for Deacon Monnin and himself, meant that the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend had a pipeline of seminarians with world-class vocal abilities, Father Lengerich quipped, “At least in Rome, I guess so!”
He continued, “In all seriousness, we should be humbled and honored. Not only to have someone from our diocese witness the ‘Exsultet’ being chanted in St. Peter’s Basilica, but even more so that it will be one of our own men proclaiming it who will then come back to serve as a priest in our diocese. The Lord has blessed us richly.”
Exsultet: The solemn chant proclaimed at the beginning of the Easter Vigil Mass, also known as the Paschal Proclamation or the Easter Hymn. It sings of the symbolic meaning of the Paschal candle and the history of humanity's salvation through the resurrection of Christ, expressing joy and gratitude. The Latin word "Exsultet" means "Rejoice." This chant is a venerable prayer dating back to the early Church. Easter Vigil Mass: One of the most important liturgies commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, celebrated on the night before Easter Sunday. It proceeds in the order of the Service of Light, the Liturgy of the Word, Baptismal Liturgy (or Renewal of Baptismal Vows), and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, revealing the mystery of salvation as a transition from darkness to light and from death to life. St. Peter’s Basilica: The largest church in the world, located in Vatican City and the center of the Catholic Church. It is traditionally believed to be built on the tomb of Saint Peter the Apostle and is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance and Baroque architecture and art. Major papal liturgies and events are held here. Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend: A Catholic diocese located in northeastern Indiana, USA. It encompasses the cities of Fort Wayne and South Bend and plays an important role in the faith life and evangelization of the local community.
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