SYMBOLISM OF THE NEW LIGHT
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rituals are quite explicit in pointing out these numerous themes.
Describing the Easter candle, Abbot Guéranger says:
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It is of unusual size. It stands alone, and is of a pillar-like form. It is the symbol of Christ. Before it is lighted, it typifies the pillar of cloud, which hid the Israelites when they went forth from Egypt; under this form, it represents our Lord, lying lifeless in the tomb. When lighted, we must see in it both the pillar of fire which guided the people of God, and the glory of the risen Christ.25
The text of the Exsultet, however, is even more explicit;
For this is the Paschal feast, in which the true Lamb was slain, with whose blood the doors of the faithful are consecrated.
This is the night wherein of old thou didst bring forth our forefathers the children of Israel from Egypt, leading them dry-shod through the Red Sea. This is the night which cleansed away the darkness of sin, by the pillar of fire. This is the night which now delivers, throughout the world, the faithful of Christ from the wickedness of the world and darkness of sin, restores them to grace, and to the fellowship of sanctity. This is the night in which Christ snapped the chains of death, and rose conqueror from hell.26
3. Points of Comparison and Contrast
After studying one by one the Taoist and the Christian rituals, it is difficult to cast aside the impression of great similarity.27 Since the "striking of new fire" is possibly like an archetype, found in many different societies, the question of historical links between the two traditions studied here should not normally arise. There are, however, in the two traditions some characteristics that go beyond archetypal similarity and can perhaps only be explained by a process of direct influence. It is worthwhile to further analyse these analogies, even if at the end of such a study any positive conclusion remains uncertain.
The similarities which I am able to point out relate to five aspects of the 'new fire' ritual: the name, the method of striking new fire, the trinitarian formula, the light procession and the liturgical context.
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