This is the day of Holy Week that Jesus was in hell preaching the Gospels to those that were just, also known as the Harrowing of hell.
Holy Saturday (Latin) “Sabbatum Sanctum” also known as the Saturday of Holy Week, also known as Holy and Great Saturday, the Great Sabbath, Black Saturday, Joyous Saturday, Hallelujah Saturday, Glorious Saturday or Easter Eve, and called "Joyous Saturday" or "the Saturday of Light" among Coptic Christians, is the day after Good Friday
What happened on the first Holy Saturday?
Here on earth, Jesus‘, disciples mourned his death, and since it was a Sabbath day, they rested. This just proves that the Holy Sabbath Day is really on a Saturday rather than the traditional Sunday that churches usually observe it. Jesus spent this day in hell preaching to those who were deprived the vision of God, as stated in (1 Peter 3:18-20) and the Apostle's Creed which says;
"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. Do you believe in Jesus Christ? I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended inro hell..."
Jesus did not descend into hell to deliver the damned, nor destroy the hell of damnation, but to free the just who had gone before him. While Jesus was in hell, his tomb was guarded to make sure that the disciples wouldn't steal his body.
How can we observe Good Saturday?
1. Fast & Pray
As it is written in the Liturgy Documents Volume 2:73 - "On Holy Saturday the Church is, as it were, at the Lord's tomb, meditating on his passion and death, on his descent into hell and awaiting his resurrection with prayer and fasting."
Mary represents the entire body of the Church. As she awaited in faith for the victorious triumph of Her Son over death on the first Holy Saturday, so we too wait with Mary on the present Holy Saturday. This faithful and prayerful symbolic waiting has been called the "Ora della Madre" or "Hour of the Mother."
On this day you can abstain from food completely or just eat 1 small meal. Tomorrow will be the Easter feast!
2. Celebrate the word of God
There should be some act of devotion to commemorate the mystery that is celebrated today
3. Holy Communion
This can be taken at any point in the day and can only be done twice in a 24 hour period
Read Scripture (1 Corinthians 11) as you prepare the bread and wine, and ask to be forgiven of any sins you haven't yet repented for
Before you consume the blood and body of Christ, say the Lord's prayer together.
- Partake of the bread, which symbolizes the physical and spiritual torment Jesus bore to redeem us from all areads of the curse. With this in mind say:
"Lord, it's not right that I suffer from sickness or disease. I judge it now as being from Satan, and I reject it. I refuse to receive it any longer. I partake of the sacrifice of Your Son's bod, and I receive the abundant life that You have provided in Jesus' Name."
- Partake of the cup and make this confession:
"Father, I give You thanks for all You have provided for me through the New Covenant in Jesus Christ. I partake of those promises now! I am healed. I am redeemed. I am the head and not the tail. I am above and not beneath. I take the healing You sacrificed to give me, and I thank You and praise You for it, in Jesus' Name."
4. Watch Biblical movies
I have 4 full length movie links in my most recent post "How to observe Good Friday" about the life of Jesus. They are very long so plan some time out to watch each one.
5. Stream an Easter Vigil
This celebration usually happens the night before Easter. Due to the coronavirus, churches aren't open during this Holy Week so thankfully YouTube and many other sites, stream services LIVE and recorded. Click on the link below to watch with me on YouTube!
Great Vigil of Easter LIVE Stream (April 11th @ 10:30pm) Christ Church in Waco - I'll be watching this service!
Additionally, this is the day when Jesus’ disciples waited together in a “vigil” after Jesus’ crucifixion
6. Light a Paschal candle with Alpha & Omega letters from the Greek alphabet. This candle is an important symbol of celebrating Holy Saturday at an Easter Vigil or at home. The white wax is said to symbolize leading people from darkness into the Easter's celebration, while the Greek letters symbolize humility in Jesus. The first and last letter of the Greek alphabet is also thought to represent a symbolic display of the fact that Christ is "the beginning" and he is "the end".
Traditions of Easter Eve
Blessing of Easter Foods
Preparing for Easter
Decorating Easter Eggs
Observing the Ora della Madre
I pray that you all have had a great Holy Week, and that you continue to celebrate the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ! God Bless.
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