Already in the church Holy Saturday was no longer called Glory Saturday. It is Holy Saturday and a day of great mourning because Jesus is in the tomb.

On this day of Holy Week, the Church does not allow the celebration of marriage, nor the administration of other sacraments, with the exception of penance and anointing of the sick.

That is the “third day of the Pascual Triduo”, which includes Thursday, Friday and Holy Saturday. “That is the center of the liturgical year”, as Catholics remember the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the foundation of their faith.

It used to be called Glory Saturday, because that day in the morning the celebration of the Vigil of the Resurrection, which symbolizes the opening of the glory, was held.

But that is already done in the afternoon or night.

This is a day of mourning and silence, so there is no celebration of the Eucharist.

What is done on Holy Saturday

On that day “the Soledad of Mary is commemorated, accompanied by the apostle John,” says Prodavinci.

“It is customary to pray the Rosary as a symbol of the companionship of the Virgin in her mourning. It also commemorates the Descent from the Cross and the burial and burial of Jesus,” he adds.

This daily communion can only be given as a viaticum, Christian couples cannot be married and no other sacrament can be administered, with the exception of penance and anointing of the sick.

In Aleteia they indicate that “everything done on this day should be sober”.

On Holy Saturday “there is not really an official liturgical cult, it is a day of meditation and silence, we pray in silence to deepen and contemplate”.

Holy Saturday “is officially an aliturgical day, all the Church does is focus on the Liturgy of the Hours”

* Liturgy of the Hours for Holy Saturday, April 8, 2023

On this day, it is recommended that the parish priests pray Lauds with the community in the morning, including the reading office.

When this is not possible, there may be a celebration of the Word or an exercise of piety that “lights up” this day.

In the afternoon, they explain, “an act of Marian prayer may be included (normally Saturday is a Marian day), internalizing Mary’s pain as she watched over her Son’s cross.”

That like you of ecclesial themes, he points out that “it could be done, for example, the prayer of the « Stabat Mater », the prayer of the painful mysteries of the Holy Rosary and/or related readings, prayers, songs.

In some parts, such as cities in Spain, “it will be possible to participate in the procession of solitude”.

Easter Vigil

In the afternoon or evening of Holy Saturday, liturgically speaking, it passes into Easter Sunday through the solemn Pascual Vigil.

They emphasize that this is a “very solemn” celebration of the triumph of God and of life over sin and death, just as Jesus announced to his apostles before entering Jerusalem.

What is the true meaning of the Easter Vigil?

During the Pascual Vigil, the ritual of the blessing of water and fire is performed, which transitions into the songs.

“These two elements symbolize Jesus’ transition from death to life,” says Prodavinci.

They delve into the ritual as follows: the priest lights a candle and the faithful candles, then the temple, which remained in the dark, is illuminated.

At this time, the baptismal font is blessed with a prayer and the litanies of the saints are sung.

In this act, the faithful can renew their baptismal vows and usually carry containers of water to be blessed and kept at home.