Holy Saturday
Today is a day of great sorrow, Jesus lay dead in the tomb and all of creation laments Him. Mary, Jesus’ Mother stands in for us as Our Lady of Sorrows, grieving for the whole Church as Mother of the Church and of Christ Crucified. At the Cross Jesus gives Mary as our Mother when He tells St. John, “Behold your Mother.” This day is dedicated in private devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows and is also a good time to meditate on the burial shrouds (the Shroud of Turin, the Veil of Manoppello and the Sudarium of Oviedo as well as Our Lord’s funeral cap.) Although many cultures prepare for Easter today, it's important to not jump from the sorrow of yesterday to the joy of this evening before the Vigil Mass. It is important to unite our hearts to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as we reflect on the burial of Christ and the harrowing of hell. This event is the second part of the Paschal Mystery as Jesus liberates the dead who died in God’s friendship before the Messiah came. This post that follows refers to the day of Holy Saturday before the Vigil and the Easter Vigil itself. Sorrow and penitence are the reigning sentiments until the Easter Vigil when the Easter season begins and the penance of Lent officially ends.
On the Feast of Mary's Sorrows in September some cultures eat a soup of bitter herbs to recall Mary's bitter sorrows today would be a good day to do likewise.
Posture Note: Before the Vigil, genuflect at the Cross and bow at the altar, do not genuflect in reverence to the Eucharist until after Mass. At the Sprinkling Rite, genuflect and bless yourself.
Indulgences: Pray for the intentions of the Pope and an indulgence can be gained for renewal of baptismal promises.
The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows
The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows
Christ’s Descent from the Cross- A Mystical Vision (Chapter 60 begins this section and continues through to the Descent into Hell)
Christ’s Descent from the Cross in Art (on the main page of this site underneath the “Jesus” tab the pages from “Christ’s Death”- “The Harrowing of Hell” relate to today’s feast.
Paschal Candle Symbolism: The flint to light the candle tonight is believed in some cultures to be from Christ's tomb. It is reflective of jewish ceremonies as well as Jesus being the cornerstone and it recalls the pillar of fire that held off Pharaoh’s army in Exodus. The uniqueness of the light shining in the dark on this most Sacred Night is representative of the miracle of life emerging from death. The Paschal candle remains lit throughout Pentecost because that's how long we honor the formal Easter season and the Resurrection of Christ. This is opposed to being extinguished on the feast of the Ascension in previous times. This custom was because as Jesus disappeared from our sight into Heaven so does the light of the Paschal Candle but this has changed to remain lit to honor the whole of Easter.
HOLY SATURDAY AROUND THE WORLD
Customs: In some cultures there are boat races that represent who can reach our Lady the fastest to tell Her that Her Son is Risen.
At Midnight horns will honk, bells will toll and loud noises will announce the good news that Christ is risen!
Some cultures would extinguish all light and fires to make way for the Easter light to be the first light in their homes. Some supersition says this fire burned with bark from 9 different trees will prevent witches in your chimney. In Finland, the Holy fires of Holy Saturday evening scare away trolls. Today is a good day to plant rye seed as a sign of spring and the Czech say today is a lucky day to sow seeds, because Jesus is "in the ground". Today is a day that folklore states is for predicting upcoming weather for the year.
Today is a day to visit the poor, the bereaved and cemeteries and to give new shoes and a candle wrapped in white and pink ribbons to your betrothed as a means to prepare for Easter and honor the departed on the day that Jesus appeared to the dead.
In Greece, Godparents would buy Easter candles for the vigil for their godchildren and jewelry shops would sell egg pendants to honor Easter that year.
Superstitions: For one instant, rivers will flow with wine tonight, similar to Christmas Eve.
Crockery is sometimes broken today to symbolize Jesus’ tomb breaking open and legend says the sharp edges will cut Judas.
Some superstitions believe Jesus' Second Coming would occur on Holy Saturday. This is unlikely since Scripture tells us no one knows the day of Christ's coming so a highly speculative day seems implausible.
Thanks to: https://aleteia.org/2018/04/24/when-should-catholics-genuflect-in-a-church/amp/ for Posture notes and the Encyclopedia of Carnival, Lent and Easter for most of this post.
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