The
blessing of the "paschal
candle", which is a column of wax of exceptional size, usually fixed in a great
candlestick specially destined for that purpose, is a notable feature of the service on
Holy Saturday. The
blessing is performed by the
deacon, wearing a white
dalmatic. A long Eucharistic
prayer, the "Pręconium paschali" or
"Exultet", is
chanted by him, and in the course of this
chanting the
candle is first ornamented with five grains of
incense and then lighted with the newly
blessed fire. At a later stage in the service, during the
blessing of the font, the same
candle is plunged three times into the water with the words: Descendat in hanc plenitudinem fontis virtus Spiritus Sancti" (May
the power of the
Holy Spirit come down into the fulness of this fountain).