Easter vigil held tonight

source: mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines — Black or Holy Saturday marks the last day of the Holy Week, and is known as the day of the entombed Christ

Tonight, the Easter vigil, the third and final day of the Paschal triduum, will also be held.

Meditations and reflections are focused on the Passion and death of Christ, and His descent into hell before His glorious Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

No masses will be held in all Catholic churches today, instead the faithful are encouraged to venerate the image of Christ lying in the tomb as well as to reflect on the Seven Sorrows (Dolors) of Mary: The Prophecy of Simeon in the Temple, the Flight into Egypt, the Disappearance of the Child Jesus in the Temple, the Carrying of the Cross on Mount Calvary, the Crucifixion, the Taking Down from the Cross, and the Burial of Jesus.

Observed as the second day of the Paschal triduum, church sanctuaries will remain completely draped in purple. The administration of sacraments is severely limited. Holy Communion is given only as a viaticum or to a dying person.

Archbishop Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales will celebrate the Easter vigil mass at 8 p.m. at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila.

At the Quiapo Church, the Easter vigil mass will be celebrated at 9 p.m. and because of the long liturgy, it is expected to last until midnight. After which, the “salubong” or the re-enactment of the meeting of the Blessed Mother and the risen Christ will be held. The Paschal candle will be lighted during the mass to symbolize the dawning of the resurrection of Christ, our Savior.

The Easter vigil is a time of joy and is considered as the Mother of all Holy Vigils and the Great Service of Light. St. Cyril of Jerusalem said, “The Easter vigil, although celebrated at night, is always as bright as day, symbolic of the Risen Christ.”

Father Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (CBCP-ECFL), said Black Saturday is also a day for the Blessed Virgin Mary.

He said Black Saturday is also offered to the Blessed Mother because at a time when Jesus Christ’s body is still laid in the tomb, it was she who accompanied the Apostles.

“During that darkest chapter, the Blessed Virgin Mary was there to encourage them,” he said.

The CBCP official said this may also be the reason Filipinos also run to Mother Mary in times of sorrow and pain.

“They know that the Blessed Virgin Mary is there to help them because she also went through great pain when her son, Jesus died,” said Castro.

“This is the reason why Filipinos can identify so easily with the Blessed Virgin Mary,” he added.

Meanwhile, the founder and director of Shalom Catholic Charismatic Foundation, will reenact the resurrection of Jesus Christ Saturday, in anticipation of Easter Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

“The Resurrection represents the Triumph of Live over death by our Lord, Jesus Christ, and all those who believe in him, pray to him and over all his teachings,” Father Archie Guiriba said.

“Easter is the most joyous event in all Christendom, because it means that all of us who believe in and follow God’s words are destined to share with Jesus life after death in Heaven,” he added.

The “Anticipated Easter” ceremony of Father Guiriba will be performed at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City, from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. It will be highlighted by the “Salubong,” the traditional Filipino Easter play of the meeting of Jesus and three Mary, including his mother, following his Resurrection.

The Saturday observance will culminate the three-day Lenten Retreat of Father Guiriba at the Araneta Coliseum on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday.

The theme for the three-day Retreat is: Jesus’s Healing Power.

source: mb.com.ph