EASTER TRIDUUM : HOLY SATURDAY... KEEPING VIGIL WITH JESUS BURIED IN THE TOMB AS WE AWAIT THE NIGHTWATCH OF THE RESURRECTION..........

In accordance with the liturgical practice of the early Church the most solemn of vigils, the mother of all vigils is kept on Holy Saturday in commemoration of Christ's laying in the tomb, bringing us tonight to the nightwatch of the dead and the Easter Vigil culminating in the glory of the Resurrection. Following our Sacred Tradition this is the night the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults,(RCIA) is celebrated. Acordingly, preparatory rites were held this morning with the Catechumens, Candidates, and their Sponsors, to finalize their readiness for initiation at the Easter Vigil. All is quiet in Catholic-Christian churches today, as we make ready to celebrate the Easter Vigil after dark tonight, sometime after 8 pm. The Easter Vigil Service has four parts, the Service Of Light - the Blessing of the Fire and the Lighting of the Easter Candle; which includes the lighting of individual candles from the newly blessed and lit Paschal Candle, and the singing of the Easter Proclamation, the 'Exsultet'; the Liturgy Of The Word - which is an expanded Proclamation of as many as 7 Readings and Responsorial Psalms, and Prayers, detailing the sweep of Savation History, on this most sacred night; culminating in the Gloria, Opening Prayer, Epistle, Psalm Response, Alleluia Verse, Gospel, and Homily; followed by the Celebration Of The Sacraments of Initiation - with the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, and the Rite of Reception into the Catholic Church; and finally the Liturgy Of The Eucharist - through which Christian Initiation is completed and the Easter Vigil Mass, the Paschal Mystery of Jesus the Christ is fully celebrated by the neophytes and all the faithful who are present and participating. It is a lengthy liturgy but well worth attending, as perhaps the most beautiful and meaningful Liturgy of the entire Church Year. If you can, I ask you to take part in it and experience the richness of our spiritual and sacramental history and heritage, in the vigil of all vigils, that takes us to the Gloriousness of Easter Sunday and, The Resurrection Of Christ Jesus Our Lord And Savior..........EASTER PEACE, Fr. Troy