Reflection for Holy Week  (Last of three parts)

Holy Week:

The Catholic Church celebrates during the Holy Week the mysteries of salvation accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ in the last days of His earthly life. It began last Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, commemorating our Lord's messianic entry into Jerusalem, until His blessed Passion and glorious Resurrection.

With the easing of restrictions on the pandemic, the traditional observance of Holy Week is likely to proceed, although with certain basic protocols to keep everyone safe from the COVID-19 virus.

The faithful are encouraged to reflect more deeply on the Passion of our Lord during the Holy Week.

The Paschal Triduum:

The last three days of Holy Week, April 14-16 of 2022, are called the Sacred Paschal Triduum.These are the most holy days of the liturgical year: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. On these days the Church celebrates the Paschal Mystery, meaning the passion, suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, followed  by His Resurrection, the triumph of the holy cross and Christ's decisive victory over sin and death.

The Paschal Mystery, or Triduum is a single feast, but celebrated over three days.  We must attend the entire three days of the Triduum to complete the celebration.

Holy Saturday (April 16, 2022) - Day 3

Holy Saturday is the last day of Holy Week, and the last day of the Easter Triduum.  It commemorates the day that Jesus Christ's body is laid into the tomb.  

Christ lies in the grave, the Church waits at the Lord's tomb, mourning and meditating on His suffering and death. After the great battle, He is resting in peace, but upon Him we see the scars of intense suffering. The mortal wounds of His body remain visible to us.

The whole day we keep our spiritual silence to reflect on God's redeeming love who gave up His only Son to save us from sin.  Holy Saturday is and should be the most calm and quiet for the entire Church year. The altar remains stripped and completely bare to reflect our deep sorrow and contrition for Jesus' death.

But although we are in mourning, there is much preparation during the day for the Easter celebration. Liturgically, Holy Saturday lasts until 6 o'clock in the evening or dusk, after which the Easter season begins.

Easter Vigil

The Easter vigil service begins around 10 o'clock in the evening with the blessing of fire and the lighting of a new Paschal Candle.

Nine readings are assigned to the Easter vigil: seven from the Old Testament, and two from the New Testament.  (If necessary, the number of readings may be reduced. But at least three selection from the Old Testament should be read before the Epistle and the Gospel.)

After the last reading from the Old Testament, the priest intones the "Gloria". At that moment the candles at the altar are lit, the lights are switched on, and the church bells are rung again. The statues and icons, in places where they are covered with purple veils during Passiontide are dramatically unveiled.

The liturgy of baptism and renewal of baptismal promises are done after the homily. The rest of the liturgy proceeds like a regular Mass.

The entire celebration of the Easter vigil should begin after nightfall and end before dawn of Sunday. Those who participate at the Easter vigil Mass fulfill their Sunday obligation. However, they may still attend regular Easter Sunday Mass and receive Holy Communion.

The entire Liturgy of the Easter Vigil speaks of our eager expectation of the Resurrection and its exultant occurrence. The darkness of death has been overcome, the glorious light of Christ has appeared. Christ is Risen!  Alleluia! Alleluia!

The Conclusion of the Paschal Triduum:

Finally, the Paschal Triduum is just one great liturgy, which began with the Mass of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, and ends with the final blessing of the Mass on Easter Vigil.  That is why the Mass on Holy Thursday began with the usual "In the name of the Father...." and the priest's greetings but at the end of the Thursday ceremony the presiding priest just departed silently without any final blessing; it is the same "silent" departure for the ceremony on Good Friday. Also, there is no usual greeting by the priest at the beginning of the liturgy on Good Friday and the Easter Vigil.  The final blessing is given at the end of the Mass on Easter Vigil.  The faithful are encouraged to walk with our Lord to His Calvary from Holy Thursday to His final victory on Easter Vigil... one great Paschal Triduum indeed!

"Salubong"

In most parishes in the Philippines, the traditional "Salubong" is done.

"Salubong" (or the meeting) is a celebration of Christ's resurrection where two processions proceed from opposite ends of the parish towards the church in early morning (4 or 5 in the morning usually, just before dawn).

One procession is a statue of the Risen Lord, and the second procession is of the Virgin Mary wearing dark clothes (black or dark purple) and a black veil, in mourning, and traditionally accompanied by the women faithful.

The two processions meet up in front of the church, where there is a high platform where usually a child dressed as an angel  would lift the veil of the Virgin Mary as soon as she meets up (Salubong) with the Risen Christ. Then the procession heads into the church for Mass.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!