A day of great contrast; Holy Saturday dawns with the tabernacles of the all the Catholic Churches across the world empty. The sanctuary lamps are not burning. We recall that on this day, Jesus was still in the tomb. But we are anxious with anticipation for tonight, the Church explodes in Easter glory with the Vigil Mass. Even as I sit to write this, on a quiet Holy Saturday afternoon, the Easter Vigil Mass from Rome is about to start on the TV.
On Holy Saturday I attended practice this morning and helped with some of the beind the scenes rituals of this day. First, the Church must be prepared for the glory of tonight. Down comes all the purple and red and up goes the Easter white and gold. The new oils are prepared and the old ones set aside to be tossed in the new fire of this evenings opening rites. The catechumens and candidates are in church on this morning preparing for their entry into the fullness of communion tonight.
The Easter candle is prepared as is the incense and the font.
Now it is time to rest, still mindful that this day is for remembering that our Lord lay in that tomb; the same tomb he emerged from with His Easter Resurrection.
I pray that every Catholic, dare I say every Christian, would attend and participate in the Easter Vigil. It is the liturgy of liturgies. I look forward to being present at Most Holy Trinity, my new parish, for this wonderful celebration!
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