Holy Saturday:
The Passover of the Lord
Holy Saturday is known as the Great Sabbath, when our Lord rested in the tomb. The day begins in the same kind of solemn quiet that characterized Good Friday. We gather in the morning for a simple Liturgy of the Word, letting ourselves feel the stillness and peace of the tomb.
Holy Saturday ends not with darkness but with fire: the lighting of the Paschal fire.
As the sun sets, we gather at the doors of the church to bless the new fire of the Paschal season. We consecrate the Pascal candle with incense and with holy water. We process the new Paschal candle into the church, chanting three times, “The Light of Christ!”
Carrying our own candles, we listen to the chanting of the Exsultet, the ancient text that tells of the miracle that happened in that darkened tomb long ago, when Death itself bowed before the might power of God, and the chains of Hell were broken forever.
How blessed is this night,
when earth and heaven are joined
and man is reconciled to God!
​So begins the holiest and most important service of the Church’s year: the Great Vigil of Easter. In this service we listen to the story of salvation from the creation of the world through the promises of the prophets. Finally the bells are rung, and the cry breaks out: Alleluia, Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed!
This is the night when early Christians would be baptized, and it is still the chief time for baptism in the Church year. We celebrate our own baptism this night, and renew our baptismal vows as we are sprinkled with holy water.
Finally, we receive Holy Eucharist, in the light and rejoicing of Easter. All our Lenten waiting and all our spiritual preparation finds fulfillment in the joy of our union with Christ on this “Queen of Feasts,” this holiest of all nights.
Sanctify this new fire, and grant that in this Paschal feast we may so burn with heavenly desires, that with pure minds we may attain to the festival of everlasting light.