Roman Propers: The Paschal Vigil: The Blessing of the Paschal Candle

THE BLESSING OF THE PASCHAL CANDLE

5. After the blessing of the new fire, an acolyte [or a server] brings the paschal candle to the middle, in front of the priest. The priest with a style inscribes a cross between the outer holes made to receive the grains of incense.  At the head of this cross he then traces the Greek letter Alpha, and at the foot Omega, and between the arms four figures, the date of the current year. At the same time he says the following words aloud :
1) Christus heri et hódie (he marks the vertical line),
2) Princípium et Fínis (he marks the horizontal line),
3) Alpha (above the vertical line he writes Α)
4) et Omega (below the vertical line he writes Ω);
5) Ipsíus sunt témpora (he writes the first figure of the year in the left upper angle of the cross)
6) et saécula (he writes the second in the right upper angle);
7) Ipsi glória et impérium (he writes the third in the left lower angle)
8) per univérsa aeternitátis saécula. Amen (he writes the fourth in the right lower angle).

8. At once the priest blesses the lighted paschal candle, singing to the ferial tone B [or ancient simple tone], with hands joined: