23 April 2011: Holy Saturday

Admire the providence of God in all these circumstances: in the new sepulchre, near where our Lord was crucified, hewn out of a rock as well as the sealing of the stone and placing a guard; the precautions taken by his enemies making it impossible even to approach him in his grave. Our Lord permitted it, to place the truth of his resurrection beyond dispute -- a truth which is the basis of his Gospel.

We believe in an ever-working Providence. We must not look on events in life as accidents; that despondency overpower us at beholding the temporary triumphs of impiety.

It was when the disciples of Jesus thought all was lost that their Master overcame the grave and confounded his enemies forever. Let us also avoid that melancholy which a funeral sometimes produces; but conquer it by the consoling thought of the resurrection, from which we shall pass, as did our Lord, from death unto life eternal.

Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp184-6

The Apostles beside Our Lady

The Body of Christ lay in the tomb. The world was in darkness; Mary, the only light still burning. “The Mother of Our Lord, my Mother, and the women who have followed the Master from Galilee, after taking careful note of everything also take their leave. Night falls.

“Now it is all over. The work of our Redemption has been accomplished. We are now children of God, because Jesus has died for us and his death has ransomed us. ‘... you and I have been bought at a great price.’ (1 Cor 6:20)

“We must bring into our own life, the life and death of Christ. We must die through mortification and penance, so that Christ may live in us through love. And then follow in the footsteps of Christ, with a zeal to co-redeem all mankind. We must give our life for others. ... the only way to live the life of Jesus Christ, to become one and the same with him.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way of the Cross”, 14th Station)

We don’t know where the Apostles were that evening. Perhaps they were hovering around, disorientated and confused. We see them united once more on the Sunday (cf Lk 24:9) because on this Saturday or perhaps on Friday evening, they had turned to Our Lady. With her faith, hope and love, she protected the nascent Church, still weak and startled.

Thus was the Church born under the mantle of Mary. From the beginning she has been the ‘Comforter of the afflicted’, of those under pressure. This Saturday, when everyone fulfilled the festival day of rest ‘as the law required’ (Lk 23:56), was not a sad day for Our Lady. Her Son had stopped suffering. She serenely awaited the Resurrection. Thus, she did not go with the holy women to embalm the Body of Jesus.

“Our Lady is rest for those who work, consolation for those who weep, medicine for the sick, a harbour for those assailed by tempests, pardon for sinners, sweet relief for the sad, succour for those who implore.” (St John Damascene, “Homily on the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary”) Beside her we live the immense joy of the Resurrection.

Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:291-2

The Cross Reveals All of Christ

Glory to you, Word of God!

This greeting is repeated day by day in the liturgy of Lent. It precedes the reading of the Gospel and testifies that the season of Lent is, in the Church, a period of particular ‘concentration on the word of God’. Such concentration was, especially in the early centuries, linked with preparation for Baptism on the night of the eve of Easter. The catechumens prepared themselves for that with increasing intensity.

However, it is not only in consideration of Baptism and the catechumenate that Lent raises us to such intense concentration on God’s Word. The need arises from the very nature of the liturgical period, that is, from the ‘depth of the Mystery’, which the Church enters from the beginning of Lent.

The mystery of God reaches the hearts and minds above all through God’s word. We are actually in the period of ‘initiation’ to Easter, the central mystery of Christ as well as of the faith and life of those who confess Him. Praise be to you, Word of God! This ‘word’ in the penultimate week of Lent becomes ‘particularly intense; dramatic’. The readings taken from St John’s Gospel bring this out.

Christ says ever more clearly, when talking with the Pharisees, who He is, who sent Him; and His words do not meet with welcome.

Who are you? “When you lift up the Son of Man, you will come to realize ...” (Jn 8:28): you will know, you will find the answer to this question which you put to Me now, without trusting to the words I say to you.

‘Lifting up’ by means of the Cross ‘in a certain sense’ constitutes ‘the key to getting to know the whole truth’, which Christ proclaimed.

Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p155

Fortitude in difficult circumstances

In our circumstances, when attitudes draw people away from God, we must feel a call from Our Lord to show with the example of our lives that the Risen Christ is among us; for without him, man and this world will always be disoriented. If darkness is great, need for light is greater.

We must struggle against the current, relying on a life of personal prayer, fortified by the presence of Jesus Christ in the Tabernacle. Our interior struggle to reject worldly values must be more meaningful. Among the greatest fruits we must draw from difficulties, whatever they are, is to be more aware of Our Lord, to be more generous in prayer and sacrifice.

We cannot forget that our supernatural objective is an arduous good which demands a vigorous response full of fortitude, a cardinal virtue which helps remove obstacles and the fears which can hinder the will from resolutely following Our Lord. (cf St Thomas, “Summa Theologiae”, II-II, q122, a3) God always gives the necessary graces at every moment and in all circumstances.

When we face contradictions in our environment we should be nonetheless serene and cheerful. It will be the same joy as the Apostles had, “because they had been worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus” (Acts 5:41). St John Chrysostom points out: “... it does not say that they did not suffer, but that the suffering caused them joy. ...

“We can see this in the account of the freedom which they immediately put to good use; immediately after being scourged they gave themselves up to preaching with admirable intensity.” (St John Chrysostom, “Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles”, 14)

Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:401-2

• Grant of indulgences by Pope Calixtus III in the year 1455, to whoever visit the cathedral of Arras where a veil and girdle of Our Lady are preserved. — Andreas Herby, from the Manuscripts of the Church of Arras.) (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Pope Calistus III grants Indulgences to visitors of the Cathedral of Arras, which holds a Marian veil and cincture (sash). 1455. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Pope Calixtus III grants indulgences to those who visit the Cathedral of Arras, where a veil and cinture of Our Lady are kept (1455). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
• Indulgences granted to whoever visit the Cathedral of Arras where a veil and a cincture of Our Lady are preserved. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Our Lady of Mende, Africa (16th Century). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Good Counsel. (Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1907)