Catholic Article, Catholicism

HOLY WEEK (THE PASSION WEEK) – EASTER TRIDUUM: PART 3 – HOLY SATURDAY & EASTER VIGIL

April 13, 2022
8 min read
Dear friends, after celebrating the passion, suffering, and death of Christ on Good Friday, on Holy Saturday, the Lord Jesus takes his “rest” after the work of redemption he had done; just as God the Father rested on the seventh day after completing the works of creation (cf. Gen. 2:2). For this reason, in some traditions, this day is called “The Great Sabbath”. It is also called “Black Saturday” because it commemorates Jesus lying in the tomb until his resurrection on Easter Sunday. It is a day of great mourning. Black is a symbol of death and mourning. That is why the Church begins with what is known as “Service of Light” on the evening of this Saturday in order that Christ, the true Light would disperse the darkness that connotes that day and bring the light of his resurrection. For this reason, the Coptic Christians call it Joyous Saturday” or “the Saturday of Light.”
Having said these, we understand that on Holy Saturday the Church meditates on the suffering and death of Jesus. Then the Church gathers to celebrate the Easter Vigil. The celebration of the Easter Vigil should take place at night, beginning after nightfall or ending before the dawn of Sunday. The Easter Vigil has four parts: The Service of Light; the Liturgy of the Word; the Liturgy of Baptism; and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
During the Service of Light, all the lights in the church are turned off and fire is prepared outside the church. Then the fire is blessed and the Paschal Candle is lighted from the new fire. The candle is carried into the dark church. It is a sign of Christ, the Light of the World, who has overcome the darkness of sin and death. The lighted Paschal Candle provides the only illumination. Then, from the flame of the Paschal Candle, members of the congregation light the small candles that they are holding. The flame is passed from person to person until everyone is holding a lighted candle. The light from the Paschal Candle and all the small candles provides the only illumination in the church during this portion of the liturgy. The light signifies Christ (the true light – John 1:1-18), the “Morning Star”, (Rev 22:16; 2 Peter 1:19), which in Latin is Translated as “Lucifer”. This is not a reference to the devil (as I explained in one of my posts, months back), however, in referring to Christ as the Morning Star (Lucifer), we recognize the fact that Christ is the True Light, just as Lucifer means “Day Star or Morning Star”. It was an honourable name given to the devil before his fall as an angelic being because he participated in the Light of Christ; but after his fall, he ceases to be Lucifer, and became known as devil/satan. Therefore, in the Easter Exultet, we sing to God, asking that the candle which is being lit will continue to burn until His Son (Jesus Christ), “The Morning Star” comes to reign for eternity. The Paschal Candle represents the light and new life of Christ’s resurrection.
During the Liturgy of the Word, the story of God’s great love for us is proclaimed in readings from the Old and New Testaments. There are seven Old Testaments texts. Although it would be preferable that all seven Old Testament readings be proclaimed, the number of readings may be reduced if the circumstances necessitate (in this case, at least three Old Testament readings should be proclaimed). The readings recall the great events of salvation, beginning with creation itself, and were selected to dispose people to celebrate the sacraments of Christian initiation with great faith. At the end of the seventh reading from the Prophet Ezekiel with its corresponding Psalm and prayer, the “Gloria” (Glory to God in the highest) is chanted and the faithful join in this joyful song as the Church bells are rung. At this point, the altar is quickly decorated with flowers etc. after this, a reading from the epistle of Paul is taken and the Celebrant chants a triple Alleluia before the gospel is read, and everyone present responds with a triple alleluia; THE LORD IS INDEED RISEN! This is later followed by the proclamation of the Gospel about the resurrection of Christ; then the homily.
During the Liturgy of Baptism, those who have been preparing for Baptism and their godparents are called forward. The priest and ministers then go to the baptismal font. After the candidates are baptized, all present stand with lighted candles and renew their baptismal promises as a sign that they share the new life of Jesus through his resurrection.
The Easter Vigil concludes with the celebration of the Eucharist. This is a joyous sharing in the sacrificial meal of Jesus Christ, Lord and Risen Saviour. At the end of the Mass, the Celebrant says: “Go forth, the Mass is ended, alleluia, alleluia! And everyone responds: thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia! The Lord is risen; the Kingdom has come; our joy is complete; and, in concert with the angels and saints, we greet the risen Lord with shouts of “Alleluia!”
Indeed, “What good would life have been to us, had Christ not come as our Redeemer?”

—PAUSE FOR A MOMENT—

 

LITANY OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST – FOR HOLY WEEK

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us!
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us!
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us!
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us!

Jesus, eternal wisdom, have mercy on us! (repeat the response for the rest of the invocations)…
Jesus, hated by the world…
Jesus, sold by thirty silver coins…
Jesus, prostrate in prayer…
Jesus, reinforced by an angel…
Jesus, agonizing in blood sweat…
Jesus, betrayed by Judas…
Jesus, abandoned by His disciples…
Jesus, before Anás and Caiaphas…
Jesus, accused of false witnesses…
Jesus, declared worthy of death…
Jesus, spit in the face…
Jesus, wounded on his face…
Jesus, denied three times by Peter…
Jesus, delivered to Pilate…
Jesus, despised and ridiculed by Herod…
Jesus, wounded by our sins…
Jesus, covered with a purple robe…
Jesus, crowned with thorns…
Jesus, cruelly scourged by the whip…
Jesus, sentenced to death…
Jesus, delivered to His enemies…
Jesus, carried with the heavy cross…
Jesus, taken as a lamb for slaughter…
Jesus, stripped of his garments…
Jesus, stuck with nails to the cross…
Jesus, wounded by our iniquities…
Jesus, reputed with the wicked…
Jesus, who granted paradise to the thief…
Jesus, who delivered his Blessed Mother to St. John, as his mother…
Jesus, who committed his Spirit into his Father’s hands…
Jesus, obedient to the Father`s will unto death…
Jesus, pierced with a spear…
Jesus, taken down from the cross…
Jesus, placed in the sepulcher…
Jesus, rising gloriously from the dead…

Of all evil, free us, O Jesus.
Of all sin, deliver us, O Jesus.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world; Forgive us, o Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world; Hear us, o Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world; have mercy on us.

We adore you o Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world!

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, as we celebrate your suffering, death, and resurrection this Holy Week, we ask you this day for the blessing and conversion of our hearts. As we participate in the events of the chief mysteries of our salvation, may we come to fully appreciate the Father`s love for the world, and may we reciprocate this love by keeping your commandments, loving the Lord our God with all our heart, strength, soul, and might, and our neighbours for your sake. As we celebrate your glorious resurrection at Easter, may we come to continually share in the divine life which you have prepared for us. You who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

Blessing+

The Lord be with you….

May Almighty God bless you, + the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Peace be with you…

WATCH OUT FOR EASTER SUNDAY!!!

Shalom!

Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com
___________________________________
PS: Have you prayed your Rosary today?

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Chinaka Justin Mbaeri

A staunch Roman Catholic and an Apologist of the Christian faith. More about him here.

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Angela
Angela
2 years ago

I have also thought severally about our redemption through Christ Jesus and indeed if He had not come to die for us our lives would not have been in the first place because life without Christ is full of crisis. Thanks always for drawing us closer to this TRUTH which is Christ Himself

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Lawrence Okonofua
Lawrence Okonofua
2 years ago

Atimes, I wonder if Jesus had to die, is it possible that Judas was predestined to betray him or he was simply in the wrong disposition at the right time for salvation?

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Emmanuella
Emmanuella
2 years ago

Amen

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Adaeze
Adaeze
2 years ago

Lord by your passion and death, heal us, protect us, shield us, be our life and light. Amen.

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Lawrence Okonofua
Lawrence Okonofua
1 year ago

Jesus, still denied today by us each time we fail to love our neighbour, grant us Your mercies!?!!

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Adaeze
Adaeze
1 year ago

Amen

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Ugochukwu Oliver
Ugochukwu Oliver
1 year ago

Amen

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Nneka
Nneka
1 year ago

Thanks Padre

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