All: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Mothers: Blessed are you, O Lord God, King of the universe, who has chosen each one of us out of all the people of the world and made us holy by Your Word, and in Whose Name we light these celebration lights.
Narrating Father: On your tables, you will see what is called the Seder Plate. On it have been placed the main symbols for this Service.
First, we have three MATZOS (pronounced MAT-zahs), commemorating the unleavened bread that the Jewish people were instructed to eat during their fleeing from Egypt. We use three Matzos to represent the three religious groupings of the Jewish people – Koshen (pronounced KOH-shen), Levi, and Yisroayl (pronounced yis-ROY-al). They are placed together to indicate the unity of the Jewish people. Another symbol for the three Matzos in one is the Trinity.
The second symbol is the ROASTED SHANKBONE which reminds us of the Paschal Lamb, a special animal sacrifice that the Jews were instructed to kill, smear blood on the wooden lintels and doorposts, cook, and eat all of as part of the Passover (that was the signal to the angel of the death that a house was Jewish, and not to kill the firstborn there).
The third symbol is the ROASTED EGG, which reminds us of a second offering brought to the Temple on Passover. The egg is also largely recognized by Christians everywhere as a symbol of rebirth and resurrection, which is why we also use them at Easter.
The fourth symbol is the MOROR (pronounced more-OR), or the bitter herbs, which reminds us of the bitterness of slavery, which the Jews were forced into by the Egyptians.
The fifth symbol is the CHAROSES (pronounced ha-ROE-set), made to look like mortar, which reminds us of the mortar that the Jews used for building the Egyptian cities.
The final symbol is the KARPAS (pronounced CAR-pahs), a green vegetable, used to remind us that Passover coincides with the arrival of spring and the gathering of the spring harvest.
(Parents pour wine and juice, but please wait to drink; refill as needed during meal for the four cups – each time we drink from the cups, everyone is meant to drink all that is in the cup, so keep that in mind as you fill them)
Narrating Father: In Exodus chapter 6, God told Moses, “Now you will see what I will do, and He made four promises about how He would save his people.
All: I will bring you out of Egypt…
I will free you from slavery…
I will save you by my own hand…
I will take you to be My own people, and I will be your God…”
Narrating Father: To remember these four promises, we will drink from our cups four times.
We take the first cup, the Cup of Sanctification, and proclaim the holiness of this day of freedom. Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Who has preserved us, sustained us, and brought us to this season.
All: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
(All drink; sing “We Remember”)
We remember how you loved us, to your death, and still we celebrate, for you are with us here; and we believe that we will see you when you come in your glory, Lord. We remember, we celebrate, we believe.
Narrating Father: Scripture says only the person who has clean hands and a pure heart can stand in God’s presence (Psalm 24:3-4). When we wash each other’s hands, we remember how Jesus, on the night of His last Passover supper, poured water into a bowl and washed the disciples’ feet for them, like a servant.
(With washcloths provided, parents will wash the hands of their children, and children will wash the hands of their parents)
Narrating Father: The parsley represents life. We are filled with joy at the goodness of God in loving us and caring for us. And yet as good as God intended life to be, it is often mixed with tears. Tonight, we are celebrating the freedom God brought our forefathers as slaves in Egypt. But we do not forget that life in Egypt was hard and filled with tears. As we dip our greens into the salt water, we pray:
All: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the earth.
(All eat parsley dipped in salt water)
Narrating Father: At this time, the children will ask the traditional questions of the Seder meal. The Haggadah, or “the telling” will follow.
Children: Why is this night so different from all other nights?
Narrating Father: In every generation we must celebrate the Passover as if it were ourselves who came out of Egypt. Therefore we are bound to give thanks. We who are followers of Christ know that as God rescued the Israelites through Moses from the slavery of Egypt, so he redeemed us through Christ from our slavery to sin. Christ passed from this world to his Father, showing us the way and preparing a place for us, as he said: No one can come to the Father except through me (John 14:6).
Children: Why on this night do we eat only unleavened bread?
Narrating Father: When our ancestors left Egypt, they were in such a hurry they didn’t have time to let their dough rise. Instead, they baked it flat (hold up the matzo). This is the bread of suffering that our ancestors ate. But it is also a symbol of the promised Messiah, Jesus, our Bread of Life. Parents, take the middle matzo on your table and break it in half. Wrap one half in white linen. This matzo is hidden and will be taken out and eaten later in our meal. It represents Christ being broken for us, and then rising and coming to take us to heaven when our lives on earth are complete. Parents, please break the remaining broken matzo half into pieces for your family.
All: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
(All eat matzo)
Children: Why on this night do we only eat bitter vegetables?
Narrating Father: Tonight we eat bitter vegetables to remember how bitter life was for our ancestors in Egypt. We who are followers of Christ do not hesitate to taste of this bitterness as a reminder of His passion and death or to recall that He said, “Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27).
All: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has set us apart by His Word and commanded us to eat bitter herbs.
(Parents pass the Seder Plate; all take a small helping of horseradish to eat with matzo)
Children: Why on this night do we dip our vegetables twice?
Narrating Father: We’ve already dipped our parsley in salt water to remember our ancestors’ tears. In slavery, the Israelites worked very hard to make bricks to build cities for Pharaoh. We remember this in a thick mixture called charoset, made from apples, cinnamon, honey, walnuts, and wine. Our fathers were able to withstand the bitterness of slavery because it was sweetened by the hope of freedom. We who are the followers of Christ are reminded that by sharing in the bitterness of Christ’s sufferings, we strengthen our hope. Now again, scoop some bitter herbs onto a piece of matzo, but this time, also dip it into the sweet charoset.
All: We dip the bitter into the sweet to remember that even the bitterest things in life can be sweetened by our hope in God.
(Parents pass the Seder Plate again for all to take horseradish and charoset; all eat these with the matzo)
Children: Why on this night do we recline in our chairs?
Narrating Father: This night is different to remind us that we were once slaves in Egypt and that God helped us to be free. We lean or recline on this night because we relax as free people.
Narrating Father: The Lord had promised the land of Israel to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Yet here were their children in Egypt. The Pharaoh who had come to power feared them. Pharaoh decided to impose harsh and bitter slavery upon the Israelites. Still, God blessed His people in strength and number. Pharaoh grew more frightened and ordered every baby boy among the Israelites to be drowned in the Nile River. One Israelite couple hid their little boy for three months. Finally, entrusting his future to God, they set him in a basket and placed him upon the river. His sister, Miriam, watched as he floated upstream. Coming upon the basket, Pharaoh’s daughter took pity on the child and chose to raise him as her own son. She called him Moses, which means drawn out of the water. Moses grew and became aware of the sufferings of his people. The Lord, however, saw the affliction of the children of Israel and heard their groaning. It was then that he appeared to Moses in the midst of a bush that burned with fire, yet was not consumed. Moses drew close and listened as God commissioned him to go to Pharaoh. Fearful and reluctant, still Moses agreed to bring God’s message to the king of Egypt, Let my people go! But God warned Moses that Pharaoh wouldn’t easily agree. The Lord sent plagues, one by one, but with each plague, Pharaoh refused and made his heart harder against God. With the tenth and most awful plague, God broke through Pharaoh’s hard heart, and he released the Jews.
All: The Lord said, “On that night I will pass through Egypt and every first born person and animal will die… for I am the Lord.”
Narrating Father: We fill our cups a second time. This is the Cup of Deliverance. A full cup is a sign of joy, and we are filled with joy that God has set us free. But we should also remember the joy lost as we remember the cost of our ancestors’ freedom. When we say the name of each plague, dip a finger into your cup and let a drop fall onto your napkin, making the cup of joy a little less full as we remember the cost of our freedom.
All: Blood. Frogs. Lice. Wild Animals. Disease. Boils. Hail. Locusts. Darkness. Death of the Firstborn.
Narrating Father: An even greater price was paid to save us from slavery to sin- the death of Jesus, God’s only Son.
DAYENU (“It would have been enough”)
All recite:
If He had merely rescued us from Egypt, but had not punished the Egyptians DAYENU
If He had merely punished the Egyptians, but had not slain their firstborn DAYENU
If He had merely slain their firstborn, but had not given us their property DAYENU
If He had merely given us their property, but had not opened the sea for us DAYENU
If He had merely opened the sea for us, but had not brought us through on dry ground DAYENU
If He had merely brought us through on dry ground, but had not drowned our oppressors DAYENU
If He had merely drowned our oppressors, but had not supplied us in the desert for forty years DAYENU
If He had merely supplied us in the desert for forty years, but had not fed us with manna DAYENU
If He had merely fed us with manna, but had not given us the Sabbath DAYENU
If He had merely given us the Sabbath, but had not brought us to Mt. Sinai DAYENU
If He had merely brought us to Mt. Sinai, but had not given us the Law DAYENU
If He had merely given us the Law, but had not brought us to the land of Israel DAYENU
If He had merely brought us to the land of Israel, but had not built us the Temple DAYENU
If He had merely built us the Temple, but had not sent us a Messiah DAYENU
If He had merely sent us a Messiah, but He had not given His Life for us DAYENU
If He had merely given His Life for us, but had not given us His Body in the Eucharist DAYENU
All sing 3 times:
Da, Da, Dayenu
Da, Da, Dayenu
Da, Da, Dayenu
DAYENU!
All: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
(All drink; sing “We Remember”)
We remember how you loved us, to your death, and still we celebrate, for you are with us here; and we believe that we will see you when you come in your glory, Lord. We remember, we celebrate, we believe.
Narrating Father: At the time of the liberation from Egypt, at God’s command, each family took a lamb, sacrificed it, ate it, and sprinkled its blood on the doorpost. And on that night, seeing the blood, the angel of the Lord passed over them, smiting the Egyptians and sparing the Israelites.
All: By the blood of the lamb was Israel redeemed.
Narrating Father: The Jews continued a memorial sacrifice in the Temple of a lamb for each family in Jerusalem at the time of the Passover. The lamb was brought home, roasted and eaten in a memorial meal. Since the destruction of the Temple there is no longer sacrifice, but the meaning of the Paschal Lamb is retold by Jewish people today. Followers of Christ know that Christ is our Lamb, who sacrificed Himself for us, and by His death and resurrection, enabled us to merit passing into eternal life with God. As St. Paul says, “Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). Since Jesus has become our perfect Passover Lamb, now no more lambs need to be sacrificed, and lamb meat is no longer eaten at the Passover; instead we partake in the supper of the Lamb each time we celebrate Holy Eucharist at Mass. At this time, however, please take a bit of lamb meat as a reminder of our ancestors’ Passover meals.
(Parents pass around the Seder plate for lamb)
Narrating Father: Before enjoying our meal, we will recite portions of the first two Psalms of the Hallel.
All: Praise the Lord…The Lord is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?....Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water. (Psalm 113-114)
All: Bless us O Lord and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from Thy bounty through Christ, Our Lord, Amen.
Narrating Father: At this time, we will enjoy our meal, but our ceremony is not complete. We will continue with final prayers towards the end of our meal portion. Please take your time with the meal, even as we conclude our ceremony with the final prayers. Thank you and enjoy!
(Towards the end of the meal)
Narrating Father: It is almost time to uncover the afikomen (pronounced ah-fee-KOH-men), or the hidden matzo. Afikomen means dessert in Hebrew. After we are finished with our Seder, the children will be invited to go search for another afikomen that we have hidden in the room. This is a traditional game played at every Passover. The child who finds the hidden afikomen will be rewarded with a small prize. For us, this is a symbol of the promised Messiah. Jesus was buried and rose from the dead. His rising (or being found) gives us the greatest reward: access to Heaven! Earlier, we called this the bread of affliction which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. And this is true. But it is also a symbol of the Bread of Life, which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
All: Blessed are you, O God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
Narrating Father: It was here that Jesus added the words “This is my Body given for you; do this in remembrance of me”.
(Children are now invited to uncover the afikomen; break it and share among your family)
(Narrating Father holds up extra cup of wine)
Narrating Father: This cup is the cup of Elijah the Prophet. Our ancestors hoped that Elijah would come at Passover to announce the coming of the Messiah. Later Jesus said about John the Baptist, “he is the Elijah who was to come” (Matthew 11:14). It was this John who announced “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). It was this third cup, the Cup of Redemption, the cup taken after dinner, that Jesus said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28). At this time, Jews typically have a child go open the front door to see if Elijah has come. I will now do this for us.
All: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
(All drink; sing “We Remember”)
We remember how you loved us, to your death, and still we celebrate, for you are with us here; and we believe that we will see you when you come in your glory, Lord. We remember, we celebrate, we believe.
Narrating Father: Remember God’s promise, “You will be my people and I will be your God.” Now let’s fill our cups for the fourth and last time, and give thanks to our great God. The traditional Passover is completed when the host drinks from the fourth cup, the Cup of Restoration, and announces, “Tel Telesti”, which means “it is finished”, or “it is consummated”. We as Christians remember in Scripture that Jesus refused to drink the fourth cup, leaving the Passover unfinished when He said “I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29). Jesus did not complete His own Passover until He proclaimed, “It is finished,” right before He died on the cross for our sins (John 19:30). We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
(Parents refill everyone’s cups)
Narrating Father: Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.
All: His love lasts forever.
Narrating Father: Lift up your cups and bless the Lord!
All: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
(All drink; sing “We Remember”)
We remember how you loved us, to your death, and still we celebrate, for you are with us here; and we believe that we will see you when you come in your glory, Lord. We remember, we celebrate, we believe.
Narrating Father: Our Seder meal is coming to a close as we recite portions of the second Hallel.
All: Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to Your Name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness…The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion…I will call on the Name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people…Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples…Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever…I will give You thanks, for You answered me; You have become my salvation.
(Psalms 115-118)
All: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
At the end of EVERY Passover, Jews all over the world now join together and say with one voice, “Next year, in Jerusalem”, as the goal of every Jew is to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem, so:
All say:
NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM!
(At this point the Seder has ended and the children are free to go find the hidden Afikomen. Whoever finds it brings it to the leader for a small prize or cash reward)
A Christian Passover Seder Haggadah for all participants- St. Alphonsus Liguori parish
Catholicculture.org
Christ in the Passover- Rose Publishing
Haggadah for the American Family: A new Seder Service by Rabbi Martin Berkowitz
www.the4thcup.com