Our Lady of Guadalupe

Date: April, 4

Holy Saturday: The Easter Vigil, is the Holy Night of Easter. It is the third day of the Sacred Paschal Triduum and it is the Saturday before Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord. The Easter Vigil begins between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Sunday.  

The Easter Vigil Mass is held and is the first official celebration of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection from the dead.  This night’s vigil is the greatest and most holy of all solemnities in the Catholic Church.  

The Easter Vigil consists of four parts:

• The Service of Light

In a suitable place, a “blazing fire” ( rogus ardens) is to be prepared so that the people may experience the flames dispelling the darkness and lighting up the night. Thus do the beauty of the fire, its warmth and its light, draw the liturgical assembly together. As the celebrant blesses the fire he says a prayer with hands outstretched.

The Paschal Candle is brought forward.  The Paschal Candle is the symbol of the “light of Christ, rising in glory,” scattering the “darkness of our hearts and minds.”  Jesus is the light of the world. The priest lights the Paschal Candle from the new fire and says: May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.

• Liturgy of the Word

One of the unique aspects of the Easter Vigil is the recounting of the outstanding deeds of the history of salvation. These deeds are related in seven readings from the Old Testament chosen from the law and the prophets and two readings from the New Testament, namely from the apostles and from the gospel.

Thus, the Lord “beginning with Moses and all the prophets” meets us once again on our journey and, opening up our minds and hearts, prepares us to share in the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the cup.

• Liturgy of Baptism

After the readings, the liturgy of Baptism begins. Christ’s Passover and ours are given full expression when baptismal water is blessed in the font and when the Christian Initiation of Adults takes place at the Easter Vigil. 

While the new members of the community are baptized, the faithful join in renewing our promises as the whole community is sprinkled with the water as we remember our baptism.

• Liturgy of the Eucharist

Regarding the Eucharist, we are reminded “about the preciousness of so great a mystery, which is the climax of initiation and the center of the Christian life”.  The Easter Vigil comes to a climax in the sharing of the Eucharist.

My Lord, today all is silent.  You have given Your precious life for the salvation of the world.  You died a horrific death, poured out all Mercy from Your wounded Heart, and now You rest in peace in the tomb as the soldiers keep vigil.

Lord, may I also keep vigil with You as You sleep.  I know that this day ends with Your glorious triumph, Your victory over sin and death.  But for now I sit quietly mourning Your death.  

Help me, dear Lord, to enter into the sorrow and the silence of this Holy Saturday.  Today no Sacraments are celebrated.  Today the world waits in mourning in anticipation of the glory of new life!  

As I keep vigil, awaiting the celebration of Your Resurrection, fill me with hope.  Help me to look forward to the celebration of Your Resurrection and also to look forward to the hope of my own share in the new life You won for the world.  I entrust my whole being to You, dear Lord, as You lay lifeless and still.  May Your rest transform the brokenness of my own soul, my weaknesses, my sin, and my frailty.  You are glorious, and You bring the greatest good out of Your apparent defeat.  I trust in Your power to do all things, and I entrust my life to You.  Jesus, I trust in You.

PRAYER:

Almighty, ever-living God, whose Only-begotten Son descended to the realm of the dead, and rose from there to glory, grant that your faithful people, who were buried with him in baptism, may, by his resurrection, obtain eternal life.
(We make our prayer) through our Lord.
(Through Christ our Lord.)