Church-run Radio Veritas is inviting the faithful to observe Black Saturday rites online.
On Black Saturday, April 3, Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil Billones, and Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco will share their reflections on the observance.
Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David will give his reflections on the Resurrection of Christ at 6 p.m. in preparation for the Easter Vigil which begins Saturday night.
On Easter Sunday, Radio Veritas will air a special program in observance of the 52nd anniversary of the faith-based station and Radio Veritas Asia from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Roman Catholics traditionally observe Black or Holy Saturday starting with the observance of the Day of the Entombed Christ (Santo Entierro) during the day and the Easter Vigil at night. Before the pandemic, the faithful traditionally offer prayers and light candles before the image of the Sacred Entombed Christ in churches.
No masses will be held in all Catholic churches today, instead, the faithful are encouraged to reflect on the Seven Sorrows 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. Meditations and reflections are focused on the passion and death of Christ, and His descent into hell before His glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Images inside churches will remain draped in purple. The administration of sacraments is severely limited. Holy Communion is given only as a viaticum or to a dying person.
The shift from mourning to joy begins at night with the observance of the Easter Vigil, the third and final day of the Paschal Triduum that began on Maundy Thursday.
According to St. Cyril of Jerusalem, “The Easter Vigil, although celebrated at night, is always as bright as day, symbolic of the Risen Christ.” Traditionally marked by the symbolic unveiling of the images inside churches followed by the “salubong,” the Easter Vigil is a time of joy and is considered as the Mother of all Holy Vigils and the Great Service of Light. (Christina I. Hermoso)