Dear Little hearts,

There is now an expectancy in the air, we are waiting with the whole Church for the day of Resurrection.

The Easter Vigil is one of the most beautiful of all the Churches celebrations. The readings in our Missals are food for a lifetime….

A new Easter fire opens the celebrations,  and  a new spiritual fire for Christ should awake and ignite within our souls… for Christ has redeemed us, he has brought us out of slavery into freedom, we have all known  an experience of being called out of the ‘ Egypt’ of this world into a new life.

Christ is our Light!!!!!

The blessing of the Fire and the preparation of the Candle are awesome moments…. the truths embodied within them stir our very souls to leap up…

Christ Yesterday and Today.

The Beginning and the End.

The Alpha.

The Omega.

All time belongs to Him and all ages. To Him be glory and power through every age and forever- Amen

By these Holy and glorious wounds,

My Christ the Lord guard and protect us- Amen….

Such words, such reflections are balm upon the soul if we dwell upon them.

Lumen Christi… May the light of Christ rising in glory dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds !!!

And let us respond with total love… Yes, Alleluia !!!

And while we yet wait…. this precious reading ever new from the Breviary for Holy Saturday

 

Reading

From an ancient homily for Holy Saturday

The Lord’s descent into the underworld

Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.

 

He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all.” Christ answered him: “And with your spirit.” He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated. For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden.

See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree.

I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell. The sword that pierced me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you.

Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.

Responsory

Our shepherd, the source of living water, has departed. At his passing the sun was darkened, for he who held the first man captive is now taken captive himself. Today the Saviour has shattered the bars and burst the gates of death.

He has torn down the barricades of hell and overthrown the power of Satan. Today the Saviour has shattered the bars and burst the gates of death.

 

Poor Clare Colettines TMD
community@poorclarestmd.org