April 9

Easter Sunday

Most glorious Lord of life that on this day

Didst make Thy triumph over death and sin,

And having harrowed hell didst bring away

Captivity thence captive us to win;

This joyous day, dear Lord, with joy begin

And grant that we, for whom Thou didst die

Being with Thy dear blood clean washed from sin,

May live forever in felicity.

And that Thy love we weighing worthily,

May likewise love Thee for the same again;

And for Thy sake that all like dear didst buy,

With love may one another entertain.

So let us love, dear love, like as we ought,

Love is the lesson which the Lord us taught.

–“Easter”, Edmund Spenser (1553-1598)