Catholic churches have a sanctuary lamp burning near the tabernacle to signify the presence of Christ. That candle is extinguished on Good Friday and Holy Saturday as the tabernacle remains empty. There is an eerie sense of sadness and isolation in my mind as I absorb the church environment with no decorations or flowers adorning the sanctuary. The open tabernacle door reveals the absence of Christ. We await the glorious celebration of the Easter Vigil.
In modern society Holy Saturday is a day like most other Saturdays. That is very unfortunate. There is a process during the Paschal Triduum as we move from Holy Thursday through Good Friday and onto the Easter Vigil which demands our attention. We don't simply commemorate Good Friday with an hour long service and then call it good. We continue to watch and pray, keeping a fast proper for these hours until nightfall on Holy Saturday. The daytime hours of Holy Saturday are not designed for Easter egg hunts and lavish banquets. These hours are filled with anticipation and prayer awaiting the celebration of the Lord's resurrection. We each have a responsibility to adequately prepare ourselves for this sacred celebration. It cannot be done by engaging in secular activities at the expense of ignoring our spiritual pilgrimage. The Church is called to be counter-cultural. That requires us to stand apart from the secularism which has hi-jacked our religious holy days.
The Light of Christ will fill our churches and cathedrals tonight. May this Light penetrate deep within our hearts and fill us with sanctifying grace!
In modern society Holy Saturday is a day like most other Saturdays. That is very unfortunate. There is a process during the Paschal Triduum as we move from Holy Thursday through Good Friday and onto the Easter Vigil which demands our attention. We don't simply commemorate Good Friday with an hour long service and then call it good. We continue to watch and pray, keeping a fast proper for these hours until nightfall on Holy Saturday. The daytime hours of Holy Saturday are not designed for Easter egg hunts and lavish banquets. These hours are filled with anticipation and prayer awaiting the celebration of the Lord's resurrection. We each have a responsibility to adequately prepare ourselves for this sacred celebration. It cannot be done by engaging in secular activities at the expense of ignoring our spiritual pilgrimage. The Church is called to be counter-cultural. That requires us to stand apart from the secularism which has hi-jacked our religious holy days.
The Light of Christ will fill our churches and cathedrals tonight. May this Light penetrate deep within our hearts and fill us with sanctifying grace!
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