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The Paschal (Easter) Mystery is the heart of the liturgy and the centre of the liturgical year of the Latin and Syro Malabar Rites. In various texts, the Second Vatican Council speaks repeatedly of the mysterium paschale or Paschal (Easter) Mystery, which signifies the passion, the death, and the resurrection of Christ. It is the accomplishment of the redemptive work that had been foreshadowed in the Old Testament. It is also said to be the fount from which all the sacraments, especially baptism and the Eucharist (SC 5 and 61; cf 10 and 47). The Christian life also gets its paschal character when it participates and incorporates into this paschal mystery through Baptism and the Eucharist (SC 6). Therefore, the council documents not only give the uppermost importance for the Easter Mystery, which is celebrated in the Paschal vigil liturgy, the Mother of all holy vigils, but also remember that it is the first and most important task of bishops and priests to help the faithful to know and to live this mystery (OT 8; CD 5; cf. AG 14) in their ordinary lives.

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