Silence is medication for sorrow

Do not, I beseech you be troubled by the increase of forces already in dissolution. You have mistake the hour of the night: it is already morning. --G.K. Chesterson

Yesterday, there was no Mass anywhere in the world; however, we were able to receive Holy Communion. During the day today, there is no Mass or Communion on this planet earth. We are identifying with the burial of Jesus by being deprived of His Eucharistic presence. The primary presence of Jesus in the world on Holy Saturday is not the Word-made-Flesh in Communion (see Jn 1:14), but simply the Word.

This day, more than any other during our year, is the forefront of the clash of belief and unbelief. Today, modern day atheism writes books claiming “God is not great” and “God is a delusion;” it claims “God is dead.” Such claims are centered around the age-old argument: how can an all-loving, all-powerful God allow such evil and despair in our world? It is on this sorrowful day where this question is ultimately resolved with utter awe and glory.

Today is also the day to be by Mary, his mother. We have to stay by her to be able to understand a little of the significance of this tomb we are watching over. She, who with loving tenderness was keeping in her motherly heart those mysteries she did not quite understand is now sad and hurt: «He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him» (Jn 1:11). It is also the sadness of the other mother, the Holy Church, that suffers the rejection of so many men and women that have not sheltered Him, who was Light and Life for them.

Today, while praying together with these two mothers, Christ followers ponder and repeat the antiphon of the prayer of Laudes: «He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name» (cf. Phil 2:8-9).



We mourn today with great hope.

“This is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave. Tonight, be not unbelieving, but believe. Allow the gift of his life, death, and resurrection to be your purpose and endurance.

"O death, where is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:55) Rejoice! He is risen! Alleluia!