From an ancient homily for Holy Saturday.
What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages. God has died in the flesh, and the underworld has trembled.
Truly he goes to seek out our first parent like a lost sheep; he wishes to visit those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He goes to free the prisoner Adam and his fellow-prisoner Eve from their pains, he who is God, and Adam’s son.
The Lord goes in to them holding his victorious weapon, his cross. When Adam, the first created man, sees him, he strikes his breast in terror and calls out to all: ‘My Lord be with you all.’ And Christ in reply says to Adam: ‘And with your spirit.’ And grasping his hand he raises him up, saying: ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.
‘I am your God, who for your sake became your son, who for you and your descendants now speak and command with authority those in prison: Come forth, and those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise.
‘I command you: Awake, sleeper, I have not made you to be held a prisoner in the underworld. Arise from the dead; I am the life of the dead. Arise, O man, work of my hands, arise, you who were fashioned in my image. Rise, let us go hence; for you in me and I in you, together we are one undivided person.
‘For you, I your God became your son; for you, I the Master took on your form; that of slave; for you, I who am above the heavens came on earth and under the earth; for you, man, I became as a man without help, free among the dead; for you, who left a garden, I was handed over to Jews from a garden and crucified in a garden.
‘Look at the spittle on my face, which I received because of you, in order to restore you to that first divine inbreathing at creation. See the blows on my cheeks, which I accepted in order to refashion your distorted form to my own image.
‘See the scourging of my back, which I accepted in order to disperse the load of your sins which was laid upon your back. See my hands nailed to the tree for a good purpose, for you, who stretched out your hand to the tree for an evil one.
`I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side, for you, who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side healed the pain of your side; my sleep will release you from your sleep in Hades; my sword has checked the sword which was turned against you.
‘But arise, let us go hence. The enemy brought you out of the land of paradise; I will reinstate you, no longer in paradise, but on the throne of heaven. I denied you the tree of life, which was a figure, but now I myself am united to you, I who am life. I posted the cherubim to guard you as they would slaves; now I make the cherubim worship you as they would God.
“The cherubim throne has been prepared, the bearers are ready and waiting, the bridal chamber is in order, the food is provided, the everlasting houses and rooms are in readiness; the treasures of good things have been opened; the kingdom of heaven has been prepared before the ages.”
For reference, the OP is from the Homily on Holy Saturday: The Lord Descends into HadesSt. Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus (403 A.D.) Thank you to commenter Oblio for this attribution.
The Angels Hovering Over the Body of Christ in the Sepulcher” (1805)
Medium: pen, ink, and watercolor on paper, 42.0 x 32.4 cm
Artist: William Blake (1757-1827)
Location: The Victoria and Albert Museum, London
h/t Lucille at Stella’s Place
Praise Jesus! 🙏👑✝️
Thank you!
I offer the following piece with the caveat that it will (probably) not be what you might expect.
Polish composer Krzszytof (Christoph) Penderecki died 4 years ago on this day.
He was part of the 1950’s Polish School of experimental composers using “walls of sound” rather than traditional or even untraditional scales, modes, or harmonies.
Utrenja, The Entombment of Christ, is the epitome of this style: the choirs and orchestra will play and sing masses of notes at times, giving you an impression of the entry into Jerusalem, the Crucifixion, and the Descent into Hell.
Quarter-tones (e.g. the note between C and C# ) are used at times to change the nature of the clusters, and are also used in the solo chanting.
Some will find it not to their taste: that today is the day of the composer’s death seemed to me a fitting time to offer this work composed for Good Friday/Holy Saturday. The text I could not find: it is in Old Church Slavonic.
Penderecki’s later style, starting in the late 1970’s with the Symphony #2 (Christmas) , gave rise to Neo-Romanticism, in which he proved, yes, he can use traditional scales and harmonies and put his own individual spin on them, an heir to Bruckner, Mahler, Szymanowski, et al.
I have just Begun to listen to this dirge. Thank you for sharing, silent. Saturday has always been meaningful although empty. Thank you and God bless you all and God bless you for sharing this.
Very unusual.. thanks for posting.
You are quite welcome: I should mention that parts of the work have been used for movies, e.g. The Shining by director Stanley Kubrick.
Thank you. it kind of puts meaning of this day into the exact perspective of great sorrow and mourning for Our Beloved Lord and Savior Jesus. Thank you Lord Jesus for this Day, and for opening the door of salvation to everyone.
Also, when I heard the first few seconds of Penderecki’s Utrenja, it reminded me of the Van Halen song The Seventh Seal (From the Album Balance) . I checked the first 15sec of VH song and Pedrecki’s Utrenia, they sound almost identical… That album with Sammy and Eddy is great. Amazing all these years later, these two sounds would intersect in my brain today…
Happy Easter Everybody,
Jesus has Risen
“I checked the first 15sec of VH song and Penderecki’s Utrenia, they sound almost identical…”
It would not be the first time that a classical composer’s music has been “appropriated” by a rock-‘n’-roll or jazz band. 😉
e.g.
All By Myself is stolen from the Second Movement of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto #2.
Memories by Maroon 5 uses Johann Pachelbel’s famous Canon in D with a line chanted above it. 😉
My gratefulness to you for sharing this cannot be verbalized. Have listened to this in its entirety while reading The Tenebrae for Holy Saturday, in the Liturgical Year. The depth of this matches the profound depth and beauty of our Holy Mother Church and our priceless Holy Apostolic Catholic faith. Christus factus est pro nobis obediens usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis.
Oh my, I am quite honored, you are very welcome!
If you are interested, Penderecki’s Polish Requiem may be recommended. It began as a Lacrimosa to the dedication of anti-Communist protestors in Gdansk (Danzig), and later was expanded into a Requiem Mass, more for the concert hall than an actual funeral.
Thank you.
“We focus on Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, but we forget to pause in the stillness of the days between. Find time today to be present in that place of waiting. There is treasure to be found in the sacred peace that comes as you breathe in that place of quiet surrender. Don’t rush through the space called Between.”
Katherine J Walden
thank you, mom. I felt this very thing today when I woke up.
“Be still, and know that I am God…”
Psalms 46:10
todays verse of the day!!!
Amen
This poll shows we are still Christian nation.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/03/28/most-believe-jesus-christs-resurrection-new-poll-finds/
THe problem is politicians don’t mention God, put his name up there first and these demons will reveal themselves and the country will see.
Magnificent!
Our true King Jesus has risen.
Sometimes all I can pray is “thank you”, and that seems enough.
Morning Treepers,
I would like to share this book that I recently read. I’ve been a Christian for almost 30 years, but this book opened my eyes to a deeper revelation of Christ.
On Amazon the name of the book is:
From Eternity to Here: Rediscovering the Ageless Purpose of God by Frank Viola (Author)
Quotes on “From Eternity to Here”
https://raychoi.org/2011/08/04/quotes-on-%E2%80%9Cfrom-eternity-to-here%E2%80%9D-by-frank-viola-ch-1-4/
Good stuff!
Oh my God, I am most heartly sorry, for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of your just punishment. I firmly resolve to send no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin, Amen.
Amen
For reference, the OP is from the
Homily on Holy Saturday: The Lord Descends into HadesSt. Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus (403 A.D.)
Thank you so much. I added this in the post.
Praise the Name of Jesus. Thank you, oh God Almighty. Glorious hallelujah.
Pray for all unbelievers. The truth is powerful and full of hope.
One of C. S. Lewis’ lesser known works is The Great Divorce. It has nothing to do with marriage, but was written as a response to William Blake’s poem, “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.” Lewis did not believe there could be any co-existence between good and evil. The book might be considered a companion to The Screwtape Letters, as both are written as fantasies.
In The Great Divorce, a young student dreams of being in a gray, dreary town in which a bus pulls up for an outing. The riders are taken up out of the gray town to a beautiful meadow, which is eventually revealed as the edge of Heaven.
They can cross over into Heaven if they will give up one last sin to which they have been clinging – lust, pride, vanity, an unforgiving nature, etc. (The liberal theologian is particularly amusing.)
The blessed come out from Heaven to encourage them. Some bus riders will cross over, while others insist there’s nothing wrong with themselves. The gray town is a kind of Purgatory that they can leave if they will allow themselves to be completely cleansed – if not, they are there for eternity, and it’s worse than Purgatory
Good to collect original unabridged hard copy of literature. This has always been a favorite.
Excellent
(Thank you, Menagerie, for these special threads. You’re a blessing.)
Good Friday is emotionally and spiritually exhausting for Christians…
Yet often we aren’t sure how to process the day after.
Today – the day before Resurrection Sunday – summons us to deep meditation.
Thankfully, Christians celebrate the Easter season for three days.
And then most move on to everyday life.
But many are stuck between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Although we hear the good news, “Sunday is coming!” – some people are waiting a lifetime for arrival of Sunday.
Those who are going through severe loss, calamity, accidents, illness, etc. need hope.
How can we comfort those who are living between pain and promise?
Jesus gives us His Word that one day He will make all things right.
He wants us to hold on for a little while longer.
And He promises: “ … And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20.b. (Berean)
For those who are spiritually strong now, let’s help our brothers and sisters carry their burden.
Long after the Easter celebration is over, they are still between the Crucifixion and Hallelujah…
For Christ’s sake.
‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:4 (Berean)
We Catholics celebrate Eastertide 50 days, until Pentecost. Also, we celebrate Easter for an Octave, eight days. Next Sunday will be Octave Sunday, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday.
That’s interesting, Menagerie, and appreciate hearing about your traditions!
“Divine Mercy” Sunday sounds wonderful.
I was raised in Protestant church and unfamiliar with Catholic ways.
Recently I received a liturgical book, “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” by Jonathan Gibson.
The daily devotions cover the days from Pascha to Pentecost.
This is new to me, but excited for the additional meditation in my quiet time with God.
Regardless of the various ways Christians participate/acknowledge our beliefs – all of us – and all creation are eagerly awaiting and groaning until our redemption!
We will finally, and eternally, be with Christ!
Thanks be to God!
Blessed Easter, Menagerie…
Menagerie,
😄 You taught me about
Advent, and now an Advent
calendar is a Must during
Christmas .
Since I am ignorant..
how do you celebrate
Eastertide?
I want to know, too, please.
I celebrate first with attempting to have a prayerful, sacrificial Lent. That’s why I do these posts starting on Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is not a day of obligation for us Catholics, but I just need to start my Lent that way, and by observing the restriction on meat, and the fast.
Of course I don’t eat meat on Fridays, and I give up something, like sweets this year. But I make extra prayer time as important. We Catholics try especially to give alms during Lent, and this year there was a very special circumstance the Lord gave me that taught me such a great lesson.
This prepares me to enter the Triduum, the period from Holy Thursday evening until Easter. I start that with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, a heart wrenching and beautiful celebration of the beginning of the priesthood. After, the altar is stripped, the Eucharist removed. The church is empty, and you can feel it.
On Good Friday I go to Stations of the Cross. Heartbreakingly empty sanctuary. Then, watch and pray on Saturday. All this prepares one for Easter joy.
To go to Easter Vigil is especially rewarding and joyful. Lighting candles from the Paschal Fire, which the priest lights outside, then lights the blessed Easter candle, which is used to begin the lighting of all our candles. We process into a dark church, the light of Christ, us, his faithful.
more later!
On Good Friday, I start the Divine Mercy Novena, which ends on Easter Sunday. It is a particular favorite devotion, the Divine Mercy chaplet, which I always try to pray daily for those who are dying. The origin of this has a fascinating history, culminating in an amazing way with the election, out of the blue, stunning the world, of a certain Polish pope, bringing to fruition the writings of a Polish nun in the pre WWII era, and this painting, a portrait of Jesus painted by an artist at the direction of St. Faustina, who was canonized by pope JPII, after having been all but forgotten. It’s a heck of a story!
So, I continue prayer, praise, Bible reading, and reflection through the Octave, and end on Divine Mercy Sunday, the eighth day.
Many Catholics will have special meals. On the Friday after Good Friday, during the Octave, we aren’t required to give up meat on Friday, for it is a feast day, part of Easter. We are still partying!
Eastertide is a time of special readings, gratitude, praise. On Easter Sunday, all the things we have sacrificed from the Mass come back to us, given up during the somber days of Lent.
The statues and crucifix are unveiled, the holy water fonts refilled, the Gloria is sung with gusto and joy.
Did you know that Judah means praise? Judah led the tribes when marching, and in war. Let Judah go up first! So, with Eastertide. Let praise go up first.
At Pentecost this year I plan to have a Pentecost fire for my family. We will burn last years palms from Palm Sunday, and let the grandkids make s’mores. I’ll read them the story from the Bible.We will invite neighbors.
Then, with the return of “Ordinary Time” (not what is sounds like, exactly) in the liturgical calendar, we will begin the journey of the Church, watch the unfolding of the mighty works accomplished by the Trinity. Then before you know it, Advent begins our year again.
The seasons of the liturgical year take me on a walk through the life of Christ and the establishment of his Church.
Oh Blood and Water which gushed forth from the heart of Jesus, I trust in you.
Thank you for sharing this with us, Menagerie!
I thoroughly enjoyed the journey as described – especially the part about the grands.
Bless you (and them) for passing on faith in Christ to next generation.
Couldn’t help but wonder if you’re making some of that homemade bread for your time of feasting – ha!
This is breakfast!
https://madeinmotherhood.com/sourdough-blueberry-brioche-tarts/
Looks scrumptious!
Can taste it through the screen!
Enjoy, Menagerie – every bite – and every holy moment!
May you and your loved ones be divinely blessed during this time.
You and yours also. I’m always praying for my Treepers. Love you guys!
We love you, too, Menagerie.
You’re special – and so appreciated!
🙏🏻
When I first heard of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, it was before the feast was made official. In fact, in many countries, including the US, it was forbidden to say the Chaplet. I have a CD of it and played it non-stop during the deaths of my parents. We are told there is a battle between Satan and Heaven for every soul, and the Chaplet is a powerful prayer to help the soul escape the final torment of Satan on the earthly body. I can attest that both of my parents had peaceful deaths, which I attribute to the Chaplet. Also, the novena, I’ve heard, is supposed to release a soul from purgatory if the conditions are met. The beginning of the prayer: “Eternal Father, I offer you the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atone for our sins and those of the whole world.” Followed by 10 repetitions of “For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” It’s a lovely meditation.
Spy Wednesday, St. John Cantius in Chicago. (A saint from Krakow.)
On Holy Saturday we get our Easter Baskets blessed- or, all the food that is in it. All the food in the Easter basket symbolizes some aspect of the resurrection story. Eggs representing new life. We have an Easter Breakfast feast. We put horseradish on boiled eggs- the horseradish symbolizing the bitters given to Jesus on the cross.
When I started going to Catholic Church, 26 years ago, the fire for the Easter Vigil used to start in the center of the dark church- but I believe that was forced outside about twenty years ago by insurance requirements and safety reasons.
Well, that’s wrong. The fire was started inside because of rain. The Paschal candle is brought into the church representing the light of Christ. Should of read the Missal before posting that.
TY
Menagerie,
Thank you so much
for sharing.
You are a wonderful
teacher.
Where can I read about
the writings of the nun
and the story?
Prayers and Blessings
for you and your
wonderful family.
🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️
I found the story!
Chastised myself for
being lazy and not
finding the story
on my own.
Busy reading now👩🏫👩🏫👩🏫
I meant to make the point that for me, to be able to truly feel the joy of Easter, I have to break open my hard heart during Lent.
One way to celebrate Easter tide is with a prayer called the Regina Caeli. It is usually prayed at noon or as part of your evening prayers.
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/regina-caeli-o-queen-of-heaven-375
Thank you!
Thank you for posting this Menagerie. I had never seen it before. It will now be part of my Easter traditions. May you and you family have a very blessed Easter.
I appreciate you so much, Val …
Thank you!! It’s mutual, Miss Della!
RING, RIng!
Stephen, it’s time to rejoice!
Today – and now!
The Lord Jesus is NOT disappointed with you …
Rather, He offers you an invitation to come to Him.
By way of the Cross, accepting His forgiveness and abundant life.
I pray that you will hear His voice and trust the Lord.
I’ve been where you are, but Jesus Christ makes all things new!
>>
(Jesus)
28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
Prayers for you, my friend. Do not despair! Joy will come in the morning. Trust and believe…and pray!
Holy Saturday Prayer, Sabbatum Sanctum
In the silence of this day, my heart is stilled
The man I knew is now divine
He has left this world to rescue those before
In the silence, I wait ……. for His return
while old friends go home with Him
In the silence, I pray that all of us
can be with You
in paradise.
Amen.
Beautiful, kf.
The Lord is NOT against you; He is for you. He proved that when He went to the cross for us, not after we’d cleaned ourselves up, but while we were still in our filth.
But you have to receive His Gift of Life. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto rightousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)
And the stone was rolled away, not so Jesus could get out (He later enters a locked room), but so His disciples could see He is alive and His sacrifice was accepted by the Father. That’s it. There is no Jesus plus this or that. He said Himself on the cross, “It is finished.” Or, “Paid In Full”.
While in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, Our Lord Jesus saw the sins of all mankind from the beginning to the end of time. Because He is God, He exists and dwells out of time.
He sweat blood.
When we are at our worst, we can Plead this Precious Blood.
Thank you so much Menagerie! I have learned so much from your beautiful posts❣️
For me there is great sadness on this day. But also great anticipation of the glory of His rising on Easter Sunday. It is a time for great reflection and dedication
This day reminds of us the deep sorrow and hopeless despair felt in a world of darkness and rampant evil without our Divine Savior, Jesus Christ. Thankfully we know the story has a happy ending and we can rejoice that our Savior was Risen and He is with us in every hour, no matter how great our trials. This brings comfort and hope to all Christians and that is a Blessing no one can diminish, no matter how hard those embodied with the Dark One try.
This is what vexes them the most. They may persecute us, lock us down, freeze our bank accounts, etc etc, but ultimately they have no control over our hearts and who we are loyal to. Jesus is our King. Our country was founded on the right to religious freedom. The Fascists/Communists/Jihadists trying to take control of our country hate that. May God Bless America, the Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave. May we always strive to serve the Lord and may He have mercy on America and give us strength to fight our enemies.
Amen.
I went to our Catholic church this morning at 6:00 a.m to hear the Tenebrae sung. The first thing you see in the church… the most shocking thing… is that the tabernacle is open, and empty. I’ve been a Catholic convert thirty years and it’s a gut-wrench, every time. The tabernacle is where Christ resides in Catholic churches, in the form of a consecrated host. We’re “trads” so His tabernacle is on the altar, and everything that happens in mass has Him, there, as its single focus. Today, He’s gone. He’s not here anymore. He will return triumphant tomorrow, we know!! But just today… this world is empty of God.
Do you go to the Holy Thursday Mass? After they remove the Eucharist, strip the altar, take out everything, down to the last candlestick.
It’s a profound way to start the Triduum.
I read this and wept.
“But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” (Heb. 2:9)
Thank you, Menagerie and everyone. Such wonderful fellowship here today!
My Lord, today all is silent. You have given Your precious life for the salvation of the world. You died a horrific death, poured out all Mercy from Your wounded Heart, and now You rest in peace in the tomb as the soldiers keep vigil.
Lord, may I also keep vigil with You as You sleep. I know that this day ends with Your glorious triumph, Your victory over sin and death. But for now I sit quietly mourning Your death.
Help me, dear Lord, to enter into the sorrow and the silence of this Holy Saturday. Today no Sacraments are celebrated. Today the world waits in mourning in anticipation of the glory of new life!
Nope, you do not get to post political stuff here.
Menagerie
William Blake was an enigmatic artist in many ways. But he could do remarkable and innovative work in a great many mediums. And especially, he could depict light.
He suffered for us. He shook Hell to its foundations while he slept in the sepulcher. He rose in glory as king of kings. The savior of mankind.
Praise God.
“Together we are one undivided person.” I have always felt that truth of that.
Typically, the Catholic Church honors Saturday as a day to call attention to our Blessed Mother of Jesus.
At the Cross on Good Friday, Our Lord, barely able to speak, gave His Mother to St. John the Beloved to
care for her. “Behold your Mother,” is what He said to St. John.
St. John represents the whole of mankind.
Our Blessed Mother, Mary, began her motherhood of all of us on the day following Good Friday.
She is sometimes referred to as “Our Lady of Holy Saturday.” It was the day she began her mission.
Saint Pope John Paul II said of her, “She is the inestimable gift of God to humanity.”
She is also the Mother of Sorrows.
https://pjmedia.com/gregbyrnes/2024/03/30/the-great-silence-of-holy-saturday-n4927792
Happy easter
Happy Easter to you.
These readings are so very meaningful…I THANK YOU from deep in my soul!
“God slept in the flesh”. I am not sure about this statement.
Our priests emphasized that Jesus, after being crucified was truly dead. Not sleeping. Lazarus was sleeping and Jesus rose him from his sleep.
God rose Jesus from the dead, not from his sleep.
Only Jesus has been risen from the dead.
And dead he was.