εὐαγγελίζω (euaggelizo)
“to announce the Good News of victory in battle”
“to announce the Good News of victory in battle”
“For Christ also suffered for sins once,
the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous,
that he might lead you to God.
Put to death in the flesh,
He was brought to life in the spirit.
In it He also went to preach to the spirits in prison,
who had once been disobedient
while God patiently waited
in the days of Noah
during the building of the ark,
in which a few persons,
eight in all, were saved through water.”
θεωρέω (theoreo)
(“to perceive, discover, ponder a deeper meaning”)
(“to perceive, discover, ponder a deeper meaning”)
As an ancient homily powerfully states, “something strange is happening” today. There is no celebration of the Eucharist today, Holy Communion may only be given this day as Viaticum, and the Altar remains bare following the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord. In some parishes, the communal, prayerful celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours and the Preparation Rites for the Elect challenge all to keep this as a day of prayer and fasting. Such prayer and fasting directs us to continued meditation on Jesus’ Passion and Death as well as His descent into Hell.
While not found in the Nicene Creed, the earlier Symbol of Faith known as the Apostles’ Creed expresses an ancient Christian belief and practice that Holy Saturday (not to be confused in anyway with The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night despite how parishes erroneously and sadly present schedules) is the time of Jesus’ journey to the abode of the dead to bring all the holy women and men of antiquity with Him into the realm of Heavenly salvation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church notes that Jesus’ descent into Hell (Sheol or Hades) is the event of the life-saving Gospel proclamation to the saintly ones who died before the historical event of Jesus’ redemptive act of love on the Cross. In the silence and strangeness that is Holy Saturday, pondering the Church’s catechetical words in light of Sacred Scripture will prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection in a unique way.
Consider also, these words from the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great for Holy Saturday in the Greek Orthodox tradition. During the Morning Liturgy, the following is chanted:
“For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption; and He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.”
Today Hades cried out groaning:
“Would that I had not received
the One born of Mary;
for He came upon me and loosed my power.
He shattered the gates of brass; the souls,
which I held captive of old as God He raised up.
Glory O Lord to Your Cross and Your Resurrection.
“Praise the Lord, all you nations; raise him all you people.”
Today Hades cried out groaning:
"My authority is dissolved; I received a mortal,
as one of the mortals; but this One,
I am powerless to contain;
with Him I lose all those, over which,
I had ruled. For ages I had held the Dead,
but behold, He raises up all.”
Glory O Lord, to Your Cross and Your Resurrection.
“For His mercy is ever more and more upon us: and the truth of the Lord endures forever.”
Today Hades cried out groaning:
“My power has been trampled on;
the Shepherd has been crucified,
and Adam He raised up.
I have been deprived of those, over whom I ruled;
and all those, I had the power to swallow,
I have disgorged.
He, Who was crucified has cleared the tombs.
The dominion of Death is no more.”
Glory O Lord, to Your Cross and Your Resurrection.
