12 things you need to know about Holy Saturday

http://www.ncregister.com ^ | April 19, 2014 | Jimmy Akin

[NKP_Vet]

Every time we say the creed, we note that Jesus "descended into hell."

Holy Saturday is the day that commemorates this event.

What happened on this day, and how do we celebrate it?

Here are 12 things you need to know.

1. What happened on the first Holy Saturday?

Here on earth, Jesus' disciples mourned his death and, since it was a sabbath day, they rested.

Luke notes that the women returned home "and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment" (Luke 23:56).

At the tomb, the guards that had been stationed there kept watch over the place to make sure that the disciples did not steal Jesus' body.

Meanwhile . . .

2. What happened to Jesus while he was dead?

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

633 Scripture calls the abode of the dead, to which the dead Christ went down, “hell” - Sheol in Hebrew or Hades in Greek - because those who are there are deprived of the vision of God.

Such is the case for all the dead, whether evil or righteous, while they await the Redeemer: which does not mean that their lot is identical, as Jesus shows through the parable of the poor man Lazarus who was received into “Abraham's bosom”:

“It is precisely these holy souls, who awaited their Saviour in Abraham's bosom, whom Christ the Lord delivered when he descended into hell.”

Jesus did not descend into hell to deliver the damned, nor to destroy the hell of damnation, but to free the just who had gone before him.

634 “The gospel was preached even to the dead.” The descent into hell brings the Gospel message of salvation to complete fulfillment.

[NKP_Vet]

AMEN.

[Salvation]

**633 Scripture calls the abode of the dead, to which the dead Christ went down, “hell” - Sheol in Hebrew or Hades in Greek - because those who are there are deprived of the vision of God.**

BTTT!

[Salvation]

Interesting facrs:

**4. Are the sacraments celebrated?

For the most part, no. Paschales Solemnitatis explains:

75. On this day the Church abstains strictly from the celebration of the sacrifice of the Mass.

Holy Communion may only be given in the form of Viaticum.

The celebration of marriages is forbidden, as also the celebration of other sacraments, except those of Penance and the Anointing of the Sick.

The prohibition on saying Mass applies to the part of the day before the Easter Vigil Mass (see below).

Baptism in danger of death is also permitted.**

[cloudmountain]

A quiet time for prayer and reflection.

I go to daily Mass and it feels VERY, very strange NOT to be going these three days. VERY strange.

[M Kehoe]

“It is precisely these holy souls, who awaited their Saviour in Abraham's bosom, whom Christ the Lord delivered when he descended into hell.”

And satan wept.

5.56mm

[Former Fetus]

When the Passion of the Christ first came out, my pastor mentioned in church that at the end Satan was seen laughing at the death of Jesus. In the way out I corrected him, Satan was not laughing but screaming because he knew he was defeated! That's why throughout the movie you can see Satan trying to get Jesus to bail out.

[Biggirl]

Also for those who practice it, having Easter food blessed. But also this is a day to prepare for Easter.

[cloudmountain]

Also for those who practice it, having Easter food blessed. But also this is a day to prepare for Easter.

For YEARS we used to go to a friend's home--former co-worker of my mother--for Easter dinner.
His wife was of Russian descent and her mother lived up in northern California where there was a settlement a long time ago of Russians who came to northern California through the fishing industry. The Russians came so far east with their fishing boats that they settled for just a short while up north. The estuary is still called RUSSIAN RIVER.

Anyway this Russian-descendant always served a purely Russian FEAST. I don't recall most of the dishes, though LAMB was served because it was EASTER.
I do remember the Blini (Russian Pancakes). They WERE tasty!! YUMMERS.

======================

I always go to daily Mass at our parish but there are no Masses during the Triduum and it has felt VERY strange NOT going to Mass because there AREN'T any. Very strange.