Summary of comments of this office by Dom Schuster, in his work L'année liturgique.

The Mass has no Introit, as is the case, by the way, for other vigil Masses, for the Introit was introduced at Rome only much later, and only goes back to the time of Pope Celestine I (AD 422-32), when the Mass had ceased to be routinely preceded by a vigil. This explains why today, after the solemn chanting of the Kyrie, the priest immediately sings the Collect, which comes as the natural conclusion of the preceding vigil rite. What follows has, not a catechetical, but rather a formally Eucharistic character.

The Alleluia that the priest intones today so solemnly would logically and naturally be placed after the Gospel narrative of the Savior's resurrection rather than after the Epistle. That was undoubtedly its original, special place during the solemn Easter vigil, though now it follows the Epistle: "Alleluia [three times]. V. Give praise to the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever." Then the psalm verse follows (Ps. 116): "O praise the Lord, all ye nations: and praise Him, all ye people. V. For His mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever."

The Offertory is omitted because the Mass of the Easter vigil is much more ancient than the introduction of this chant into the Roman rite; but the corporal, the host and the chalice are arranged, and the customary ceremonies and incensation over the matter of the sacrifice are done.

The Agnus Dei and the Communion antiphon are also omitted, being of a later origin.

The absence of the versicle "Dona nobis pacem" must have contributed, during the lower Middle Ages, to the suppression, before Communion, of the kiss of peace which in the Roman rite was exchanged before approaching the holy table.

Shortened Lauds are inserted after the Communion of the faithful and the ablutions. The choir begins: "Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia"; Psalm 150 is chanted. The Alleluia is repeated.

Then, omitting Chapter, Hymn and Verse, the celebrant intones the following antiphon: "And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came to the sepulcher, the sun being now risen, alleluia."

The singing of the Benedictus follows, and then the antiphon is repeated.