Easter Week is an extension of Easter Day. The whole week is considered one day. Risen from the dead, Jesus made us one with him this day. We remember this week the signs of our union with him, baptism, the Eucharist and the other sacraments.  

As he did with the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, Jesus walks with us and breaks bread with us. The Paschal Candle next to the scriptures are a sign his light never fails.  The water blessed for baptism on the side of the altar reminds us we have been reborn of water and the Holy Spirit. 

The water has been blessed by Christ himself, for it comes from his pierced side when the soldier’s spear pierced his heart. It was blessed at the Easter vigil  with the sign of the Cross.

This week the those newly baptized are led into the mysterious world of sacraments and saints This week St. Cyril of Jerusalem and  St. Ambrose of Milan, preaching on the sacraments, often pointed out how insignificant the signs seem to be.  Only faith reveals their power.  

We need to remember newly baptized Christians, for we received the same gift as they have. An early sermon describes the gift given to the newly baptized at Easter: 

“Remember the newly formed: children born from the life-giving font of holy Church… As they emerge from the grace-giving womb of the font, a blaze of candles burns brightly beneath the tree of faith. The Easter festival brings grace from heaven to us. Through the repeated celebration of the sacred mysteries we receive the spiritual nourishment of the sacraments. We worship  the one God, adoring the triple name of his essential holiness, and together with the prophet sing the psalm which belongs to this yearly festival: This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. 

And what is this day? It is the Lord Jesus Christ himself, the author of light, who brings the sunrise and the beginning of life, saying of himself: I am the light of day; whoever walks in daylight does not stumble. That is to say, whoever follows Christ in all things will come by this path to the throne of eternal light.” (Office of Readings, Wednesday of Easter Week.)