Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Rome - Fri, Apr 15th 2022
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Guide: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: praise and glory be to him forever!
All: Amen!
In his mercy he regenerated us to a living hope with the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
GREETING AND ADMONITION
Guide: Brothers and sisters, yesterday we celebrated with moved piety the mystery of the Passion and Death of the Lord. Today Christ rests in the heart of the earth, after having entirely fulfilled the Father's will.
But not everything is accomplished yet: the Passion of Christ the Head will continue until the end of time in his members, until Easter which will arise eternally when he returns in glory. Every Christian is called to complete in his flesh what is missing from the sufferings of Christ, for the benefit of his body which is the Church (cf. Col 1, 24).
In this journey of passion and fulfillment, Mary has first place: she is the Woman of faith and Love, she is the Mother of all living things. Holy Saturday, the day of Christ's "rest", is the "Hour" of the Mother, in which the whole Church has mystically gathered, suffering and hoping, imploring and loving: the only light on the darkness of the world, a vivid flame on fumigate of hearts: because neither Apostles, nor disciples, nor faithful women knew how to believe that the Master would rise again in glory after three days. Mary watches by believing, praying. Tortured by doubt, tempted by Satan, she alone resists, carrying the weight of her supreme participation in the saving mystery of the Son, in obedience to the Father's plan. A woman, Eve, began our ruin with her disobedience; a woman, the Virgin Mary, completed our redemption with her obedience. All the expectations of the world and of humanity become in her soul a powerful cry of hers, to recall the murdered Son, the author of Life, from the dead. Because, if Christ had not risen, all faith would be in vain, our earthly existence would have no meaning (cf. 1 Cor 15, 17-19).
On this "great Saturday", the faith of the whole Church, the hope of every creature lies in the heart of the Mother: she is the "Church" who believes against all evidence, who hopes against all hope, who loves to the point of the supreme holocaust. In order to be able to live with Mary her and our "Hour of faith" we humbly ask God to wash our sins in the Blood of Christ and to revive our hope in the redemption that has been freely given to us.
PENITENTIAL ACT
Once the admonition is over, the Soloist intones the Kyrie, eleison; the Assembly repeats it. After a period of silence, the reader reads the petition; the Assembly responds with the song of the Kyrie, eleison.
Reader: Holy Father, who did not spare your only-begotten Son the passion and death to reach the Resurrection, nor did you soothe his Mother whom you loved from the abyss of pain and the torment of trial, have mercy on us.
All: Kyrie, eleison!
Reader: Christ, placed with his body in a tomb and descended with his soul into hell, who left your Mother at the mercy of supreme temptation, but you felt her faith and her love follow you forcefully beyond the tomb, to cry out in advance of your Resurrection, have mercy on us!
All: Kyrie, eleison!
Reader: Spirit of the Father and of the Son, Love of eternal Love, who consumed the Victim on the altar of the Cross in a divine pyre of Fire and mysteriously fertilized the long painful labor of the Virgin, so that she might become the Mother of redeemed humanity and calls the buried Son back to imperishable life, have mercy on us!
PRAYER
Let us pray! (pause of silence)
O God, infinite wisdom and mercy,
who loves men so much
to want them to share with Christ
of your eternal plan of salvation:
let us live again with Mary
the vital force of faith,
who made us your children in baptism,
and with her we wait anxiously
the dawn of the resurrection.
Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
HYMN
1. A dark silence on the world,
grave night loomed over the hearts:
the light and faith had gone out,
now the Word was silent and buried.
2. And the Apostles wandered lost,
what ship carried by the winds;
and the women mourning the Pierced One
they prepared death rites.
3. «I will rebuild my Temple in three days!»:
the solemn promise of Christ
they remembered, attentively, their enemies,
who placed guards at the tomb.
4. Only you, Desolata, believed:
only you waited begging
that Life would return from the dead,
new Day, eternal hope.
5. Of believers you Mother, and of Easter
bright path to the Church:
let us renew with joy
your "yes", professing faith.
6. To you, mighty Father, be glory,
to you, Son, who conquers death,
to you, Spirit, source of life:
from the redeemed may praise rise to you. Amen.
II. LITURGY OF THE WORD: part one
«It is finished» (Jn 19, 30)
Reader : The Byzantine liturgy of Holy Saturday alternates Psalm 118 with short chants, called «troparia». The psalm expresses the unconditional obedience of the Son and the Mother to the salvific will of the Father: promises, prefigurations, prophecies find their fulfillment in the immolation of Christ, their ecclesial extension in the pain and sharing of the Mother. The troparia want to interpret the lament that the Virgin with the pious women uttered at the tomb of Christ, mourning - as Zechariah predicted (Zc 12, 10) - the pierced Firstborn.
PSALMODY AND TROPARIANS
The verses of Psalm 118 are proclaimed in two choirs.
Blessed is the man of upright conduct
who walks in the Law of the Lord.
Blessed are those who are faithful to his teachings
and seeks him with all his heart.
Let my ways be straight,
in keeping your decrees.
I won't have to blush
if I have obeyed your commands.
Mountains and valleys, and you children of men
and creatures of the cosmos, cry:
mourn with me, Deipara!
I keep your words in my heart
so as not to offend yourself with sin.
Blessed are you, Lord;
show me your will.
The whole world is troubled and shocked,
with you creation is subject to suffering,
Word, which holds and contains everything.
I want to meditate on your commandments,
consider your ways.
In your will is my joy;
I will never forget your word.
«Alone among all, in giving you birth
I did not know pain, my God:
now my soul is pregnant with trouble."
Be good to your servant and I will live, I will keep your word.
Open my eyes so that I may see the wonders of your Law.
Laments and tears poured out, O Lord,
the holy and heartbroken Mother said:
«How can I bury you, my Son?».
The powerful sit, they slander me,
but your servant meditates on your decrees.
Your orders are also my joy,
my counselors your precepts.
«Word of the Father, my life, my peace,
How can I think of you buried for three days?
I am torn, pierced to the core!
Let me know the way of your precepts and I will meditate on your wonders.
I cry in my sadness;
lift me up according to your promise.
«For me to cry for my beloved Son, who will give me a source of tears?» moans the Virgin Bride of God.
I am prostrate in the dust;
give me life according to your word.
I have revealed my ways to you, and you have answered me; teach me your wishes.
«Life, are you dying? and dwell in a mound,
you who destroy power with death,
you who raise the dead from Hades?".
May your grace come to me, Lord,
and your salvation according to your promise;
I will give an answer to those who insult me,
because I trust in your word.
«Jesus, my joy, you my beloved light,
why did they place you in a dark tomb?
Oh, mysterious humbling of God
I will be safe on my path,
because I have sought your wishes,
I will speak of your Alliance before kings
Burning torch hidden underground
the flesh of Christ shines over Hades:
light of life that dispels the darkness.
The proud insult me bitterly,
but I do not deviate from your Law. I remember your judgments of old, Lord, and I am consoled by them.
Jesus, my God, and King of the universe,
why do you descend into the kingdom of the dead?
You want to save Adam's lineage!
I remember your name throughout the night
and I observe your Law, Lord. All this happens to me because I have kept your precepts.
«Light of the world, my light, Jesus,
Longed-for son, my only good!»,
the Virgin bitterly calls you.
GOSPEL
Reader : The Gospel of John recalls the Mother at the foot of the Cross, the deposition and burial of Christ: it is the prelude to Easter. The Lord will emerge from a new tomb, as he was born from the womb of his Mother, keeping it intact.
From the Gospel according to John (19, 25-42).
At that hour, his mother, his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas and Mary of Magdala, were near the cross of Jesus. Jesus then, seeing her mother and the disciple whom he loved there beside her, said to her mother: "Woman, here is your son!". Then he said to the disciple: «Here is your mother!». And from that moment the disciple took her with him. After this, Jesus, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, said to fulfill the Scripture, “I am thirsty.” There was a jar full of vinegar there; they therefore placed a sponge soaked in vinegar on the top of a reed and held it to his mouth. And after receiving the vinegar, Jesus said: "It is finished!". And, bowing his head, he expired.
It was the day of Preparation and the Jews, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross during the Sabbath (that Sabbath was in fact a solemn day), asked Pilate to have their legs broken and taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other who had been crucified together with him. However, when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one of the soldiers struck his side with the spear and immediately blood and water came out.
He who has seen bears witness and his testimony is true and he knows that he speaks the truth, so that you too may believe. In fact, this happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: Not a bone of his will be broken. And another passage of Scripture says: They will look at him whom they have pierced.
After these events, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to take the body of Jesus. Pilate granted it. Then he went and took the body of Jesus. Nicodemus also went there, he who had previously come to him at night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds.
They then took the body of Jesus, and wrapped it in bandages together with aromatic oils, as is the burial custom for the Jews. Now, in the place where he had been crucified, there was a garden and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been placed. Therefore they laid Jesus there, because of the preparation of the Jews, since that tomb was nearby.
Word of the Lord.
PATRISTIC READING
Rise again, Son, and illuminate the world!
Reader: A famous Byzantine author of the 9th century, George of Nicomedia, in his homily on Holy Saturday, presents the Virgin Mother next to the tomb vigilantly awaiting the resurrection of her Son. While the darkness thickens over the hearts, the dawn of the resurrection slowly begins in the Mother's soul, like morning light. The word of God, carefully meditated on by her throughout her life, makes her understand it with the interior lights of the Spirit; the word of the Son supports her firm hope.
From the «Discourses» of George of Nicomedia, bishop. The topic of our discourse is the continued presence of the heroic Mother at the tomb of her Son. In fact, while everyone withdrew, only she, the Mother, burned by the impetuous fire of love and with unshakable faith and courage, sat next to the tomb, forgetful of food and sleep, intent on delighting in the beatifying resurrection. Only the Mother was therefore a witness to the events that preceded the resurrection and she heard that gentle and comforting earthquake, which woke up the dead of the past and threw the guards who watched over the tomb into sleep. Therefore I believe that the announcement of the divine resurrection was given to her first: just as she rejoiced in her ineffable incarnation, so she rejoiced in the appearance and splendor of the risen Son. She was her Mother: the mysteries of the incarnation were entrusted to her; to her alone the Lord showed the wonders of the resurrection, in a higher way than to the Apostles and faithful women, above the very understanding of angelic intelligences. Therefore, immediately and first of all, the radiant light, the happy radiance of the resurrection, enveloped him. It is therefore worth, on this day of joy, to begin with the thanksgiving that she pronounced while she sat at the tomb. In fact, she spent the time preceding the resurrection in interior silence, recalling and meditating on the ineffable mystery: she spoke to Him who had accomplished the unprecedented divine plan and thus tacitly said to him: «Lord, in the divine nature, you are impassible and immortal. , but as a man you have suffered in our nature; and now you lie in the womb of the earth, you who do not leave the bosom of the Father. The whole world cannot contain your divinity, and a tomb contains your body.
The souls of the just welcome you exultantly: with voices of joy they acclaim you redeemer; illuminated by your radiant splendor they proclaim your mysterious love for man. Also show the inhabitants of the world the trophies of your victory. You who are invisibly everywhere, reveal yourself with the beauty that belongs to you. Irradiate the earth with the radiances of your resurrection. Rise with the body, you who cannot be imprisoned in divinity. Awaken, therefore, you who sleeplessly watch over the centuries! Arise, and surround the assembly of the people with praise. Rise up to defend your poor, to disperse the opposing powers to the point of extermination. O Sun of justice, release the rays of your rebirth. May the flashes of your victory be manifest to the world; may your salvation be known to all. “Let the poor see and rejoice” (Ps 68, 33). May I too see the longed-for face of my most desired Lord; who contemplates the superhuman beauty of the divine Son, and sees the glory of the glorified God arise. May I be able to listen to his voice as he speaks sweet and graceful words. Just as at birth you were the first to bring her joy to your Mother, so be the first to announce to her the joy of your resurrection. Appear, you who always remain with her, keeping her invincible." While the Virgin expert in God thus praises and implores, her Son reveals to her the splendor of the resurrection; and since it is his duty to honor her Mother, he honors her with her first appearance. In fact, it was right that she who was the cause of the fullness of her joy should be the first to welcome the joy of the world: she, to whom the celestial mysteries were entrusted; she, who in the passion of Christ was pierced by countless swords. It was right that, as she shared in the sufferings of her Son, she should have a foretaste of his divine joy. O Lady, who was the first to see and announce it, also reveal to our hearts the radiance of Christ, our sweetest but light! To him be glory, honor and thanksgiving, with the Father and with the Holy Spirit, now and ever and for ever and ever. Amen! (Speech 9: The Virgin at the tomb. PG 100, 1489-1504).
PRAYER
O eternal and almighty God, who grant us to celebrate the mystery of your Only Begotten Son, who descended into the bowels of the earth, grant that, buried with him in baptism, we rise again with him in the glory of the resurrection. He is God, and he lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever.
While the hymn is sung, the person presiding lights the lamp in front of the image of Our Lady of Sorrows.
HYMN
Virgin of silence,
who listens to the word and keeps it,
woman of the future, open the way for us.
Silence of those who watch,
silence of those who wait,
silence of those who discover a presence.
Silence of those who pray,
silence of those who are at peace,
silence of those who are "one" in their spirit.
Silence of those who are poor,
silence of those who are simple,
silence of those who love to thank.
PRAYER
Holy Father, who in the paschal mystery established the salvation of the human race, grant to all men with the grace of your Spirit to be included in the number of children of adoption, which the dying Jesus entrusted to the Virgin Mother. He lives and reigns forever and ever.
From the pastoral letter «The Madonna of Holy Saturday» by Carlo Maria Martini, bishop (Pastoral letter 2000-2001, Centro Ambrosiano, Milan 2000, p. 31-35).
On the Saturday of absence and loneliness you are the Mother of love.
O Mary, I venture one last question: but what is the point of suffering so much? How can you remain steadfast while your Son's friends flee, disperse, hide? How do you give meaning to the tragedy you are experiencing? It seems to me that you respond with the words of your Son: «If the grain of wheat that falls to the ground does not die, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit" (Jn 12:24). The meaning of your suffering, O Mary, is therefore the generation of a people of believers. On Holy Saturday you stand before us as a loving mother who generates her children starting from the cross, realizing that neither your sacrifice nor that of your Son is in vain. If he loved us and gave himself for us (cf. Gal 2.20), if the Father did not spare him, but handed him over for us all (cf. Rom 8.32), you have united your maternal heart to the infinite charity of God with the certainty of his fruitfulness. A people was born from it, "an immense multitude... of every nation, race, people and language" (Rev 7,9); the beloved disciple who was entrusted to you at the foot of the cross ("Woman, behold your son": John 19:26) is the symbol of this multitude. The consolation with which God supported you on Holy Saturday, in the absence of Jesus and in the dispersion of his disciples, is an internal strength of which it is not necessary to be aware, but whose presence and effectiveness is measured by the fruits, by the fruitfulness spiritual. And we, here and now, O Mary, are the children of your suffering. [...] You know, O Mary, probably from personal experience, how the darkness of Holy Saturday can sometimes penetrate to the depths of the soul despite the complete dedication of the will to God's plan. You always obtain us, O Mary, this consolation that supports the spirit without us being aware of it, and you will allow us, in due time, to see the fruits of our "holding on", interceding for our spiritual fruitfulness. You never regret having continued to love!
We will then realize that we have lived an experience similar to that of Paul who wrote to the Corinthians: "Death is at work in us, but life is in you" (2 Cor 4:12). You, O Mary, are the Mother of pain, you are the one who does not cease to love God despite his apparent absence, and in Him does not tire of loving his children, guarding them in the silence of waiting. On your Holy Saturday, O Mary, you are the icon of the Church of love, supported by a faith stronger than death and alive in the charity that overcomes any abandonment. O Mary, obtain for us that profound consolation that allows us to love even in the night of faith and hope and when we feel like we cannot
not even see his brother's face anymore! You, O Mary, teach us that the apostolate, the proclamation of the Gospel, the pastoral service, the commitment to educate in the faith, to generate a people of believers, has a price, is paid "at a high price". This is how Jesus bought us: "You know that you were delivered from your empty ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things like silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1,18-19). Give us that intimate consolation of life that agrees to willingly pay, in union with the heart of Christ, this price of salvation. Let our little seed accept to die to bear much fruit!
RESPONSORY
Thinking locked in a dark tomb, the eternal Son you gave birth to
will rise again with power and splendor.
Mother don't cry over him!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Mother don't cry over him!
As it was in the beginning and now and forever and ever. Amen.
Mother don't cry over him!
CONCLUSIVE PRAYER
Guide:
After having contemplated and experienced the pain and hope of the Mother of God, let us turn to Christ, our life, with the words of the ancient Fathers, and ask him to also instill in us that heroic faith, which he infused with his Spirit in his Mother.
Everyone:
O Son of the Virgin, O God of the Virgin and Creator of the world!
Yours is the Passion, yours is the depth of wisdom!
You know what you were and what you did to yourself.
You deigned to come to save man and freely accepted the ignominious Passion.
You took our sins upon yourself, like the Lamb: you destroyed our sins with your death, O Savior, and saved us all.
It is you, who as a man suffers and as God remains impassible; it is you who die and who saves.
It is you who gave the Saint the courage to cry out to you: "O my Son and my God!".
FINAL SONG
While the Guide incenses the image of the Virgin, the Assembly sings the final hymn.
1. You believed the story:
to the faithful promises of the Father,
to the patriarchs, to the Law, to the prophets:
everything sang the event of Christ!
Rit.: Mother of the living, faithful Virgin,
give us the joy of believing with you.
2. You believed in Life:
wonderful story of God
written in the heart and flesh of the Virgin
to generate mortals for eternity.
3. You believed your Son:
when he grew up like one of us,
when the eternal word spoke,
when he died betrayed on a tree.
4. You believed in Easter:
after the cross the light shines,
that makes you mother of all forever,
bend over the steps of each of your children.