Holy Saturday 2026 - Morning Prayer - Jesus descended into Hell

 

In the Apostle’s Creed we profess that after Christ was crucified, died and buried, “He descended into Hell.” Christ was not condemned to Hell, like the rest of humanity. Rather he descended; he went willingly and with purpose.

The Catechism says, “Jesus, like all men, experienced death and in his soul joined the others in the realm of the dead. But he descended there as Savior, proclaiming the Good News to the spirits imprisoned there.
From the time of Adam, all who died, whether evil or righteous were deprived of the vision of God. And Christ went to those who souls who awaited their Savior. The ancient homily for Holy Saturday puts it this way: “he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve…the Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory.”

I remember my first holy Saturday as a seminarian. I was home for the triduum, and I went to pray in my home parish church. And I brought with me my breviary, the liturgy of the hours, and for the first time encountering the famous patristic reading describing Jesus descending into hell preaching to Adam, the first man, who has been asleep in death from time immemorial.

Listen to these words, spoken by Christ: ‘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.

In order to prepare for easter, Jesus descended to the depths of hell, to those who were distant from God, maybe we reach out today to someone towards whom we’ve grown distant, wish them a happy easter and invite them to church tomorrow. The Lord no doubt wants to use us to knock on the doors of the hearts of the fallen away. We do well, certainly to pray for those who reject the invitation to return to Church.

We quietly and prayerfully wait for easter today, but we also recognize that though he was in the tomb, Christ was still at work announcing the Gospel, which is our easter mission. May these last few hours before Easter, prepare us well for the great celebration and our share in the great mission for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

Holy Saturday 2023 - Morning Prayer - Awake O Sleeper

 I remember my first holy Saturday as a seminarian. I was home for the triduum, and I went to pray in my home parish church. And I brought with me my breviary, the liturgy of the hours. And I remember being deeply moved by what is called the patristic reading for matins, the first hour of the day. For matins there are two lengthy readings that follow the psalms: a reading from scripture and then a reading from the church fathers. 

On Holy Saturday — the day Christ lies in the tomb — the patristic reading is titled “from an ancient homily on holy Saturday”. Normally, the title includes who wrote it, but this reading is mysterious.

 Some scholars believe that the homily was composed by Melito, bishop of Sardis, who died around the year 180, because it is similar to Melito’s renowned “Homily on the Passover.” But in fact, we don’t know who the author is.

Well, this reading, this homily tells the story of Christ’s triumphal descent into hell. The Apostles’ Creed professes that Christ “descended into hell” after dying on the cross. And this homily gives a dramatic rendering of Christ’s appearance in the place of the dead where he encounters Adam and Eve, and all the faithful, who are waiting for deliverance.

Holy Saturday is not just the day that we wait quietly and mournfully with Christ in the tomb. We also recognize that on this day Christ also descended to the place of the dead and rescued all faithful souls, bringing them into the full glory of His Father’s kingdom. 

Listen to the mysterious opening verses of this homily: 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 (Luke 1:79), 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.’ (Ephesians 5:14)

‘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.

If you have the chance, read the rest of this ancient homily for yourselves today. You can download the breviary app on your phone or simply google: “Ancient homily on holy Saturday”. As Christ descended in to hell to wake the sleepers, those who awaited salvation, the Lord stirs in our hearts today as we await the great celebration of easter. May he rouse those sleeping parts of our souls, that they may rejoice with Easter jubilation, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Holy Saturday 2022 - Morning Prayer - What is happening?

The ancient homily on Holy Saturday states: “What 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.”

Holy Saturday is a little like the eye of a hurricane. We just experienced the intense drama of Holy Thursday and Good Friday and now we await the outpouring of joy of easter. The opening line of that ancient homily really sums it up well, “what is happening?” It’s quiet, but we know something is coming, and we know something is happening behind the scenes. 

Today is a strange day because the whole day seems to be holding its breath in anticipation of the liturgical celebration of the Easter Vigil. What should we do with ourselves? We’ll if you’re here, you’re off to a good start. I invite you to pray the other hours throughout the day. The Office of Readings containing that beautiful ancient homily, midday prayer. Pray evening prayer before coming up to church this evening. Each of these liturgical hours seems to resonate with that same anticipation.

So many of the Psalms speak of the victory that is ratified by the Resurrection of Christ, the overthrow of enemies, the defeat of sin and death, the triumph of life. 

We even had a little foretaste of Easter joy in the third of the Psalms this morning, Psalm 150, the most joyful of all the psalms, the soul praising God, busting out all of the musical instruments at his disposal, calling all of creation, everything that lives and breaths to give praise to God. It’s a great day for Psalms. 

It’s also a great day for baking, baking something sweet, something delicious to be shared with others. Bake something and give it to a neighbor. “I’m celebrating Easter, and I baked you this because I thought of you. Perhaps you’d like to join me for church tomorrow.” That first Holy Saturday was a day that was turned upside-down for the disciples, perhaps an upside-down cake is in order. 

Also, not a bad day to visit the graves of loved ones. As Christ was laid in the tomb, so have our loved ones. But, just as we await the celebration of Christ’s resurrection tonight, we await the resurrection of our loved ones. Not a bad day for visiting their graves to say, see you soon, and to offer a prayer for them.

“What is happening?” The ancient homily concludes telling us what is happening in heaven today: “The cherubim throne has been prepared, the bearers are ready and waiting, the bridal chamber is in order, the food is provided, the everlasting houses and rooms are in readiness; the treasures of good things have been opened; the kingdom of heaven has been prepared before the ages." Heaven is on the verge of into our world with light and glory, may we prepare our hearts to witness it, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Holy Saturday 2019 - Hell trembles with fear

The ancient homily on Holy Saturday states: “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.”

In the Apostle’s Creed we profess that after Christ was crucified, died and buried, “He descended into Hell.” Christ was not condemned to Hell, like the rest of humanity. Rather he descended; he went willingly and with purpose.
From the time of Adam, all who died, whether evil or righteous were deprived of the vision of God. And Christ went to those who souls who awaited their Savior. The ancient homily says, “he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve…the Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory.”

Holy Saturday is a quiet day. Yet, in the quiet, if we listen, and If we grow silent enough, and listen well, we hear hell trembling, and the voice of the Lord, victorious through the cross, proclaiming a word of life, a word of freedom. The Catechism says, “Christ went down into the depths of death so that "the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live."

In the Canticle from morning prayer this morning from Isaiah chapter 38, one of God’s faithful ones ponders how, though he shall come to the gates of the netherworld, the pit of destruction, because of his sins, God will save him, his sins will be put behind him, death will not get the final word. “Fathers will pass on to their children the truth of your faithfulness”. This is the truth that is passed on through the generations by the Christian faithful. The truth that salvation is found in Jesus Christ, mercy and forgiveness, freedom from sin and death is found in Jesus Christ: through His death, burial, and resurrection.

Yes, there is a great silence on earth today. But we incline our ear passed the silence, to a Word which cannot be silenced. Not by the world, not by the powers of corruption and selfishness, sin, evil or malice.

Though much evil still fills the world, and the powers of death seek to swallow us whole, we open our hearts to the new life-giving Word, to the one who holds the keys of death and of hell, and opens the doors of heaven, resurrection and eternal life to those who would follow Him, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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All-powerful and ever-living God, your only Son went down among the dead and rose again in glory. In your goodness raise up your faithful people, buried with him in baptism, to be one with him in the everlasting life of heaven, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Holy Saturday 2017 - Morning Prayer Reflection - "He descended into hell"

The ancient homily on Holy Saturday states: “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.”

In the Apostle’s Creed we profess that after Christ was crucified, died and buried, “He descended into Hell” He was not condemned to Hell, like the rest of humanity. Rather he descended, he went willingly and with purpose.

From the time of Adam, all who died, whether evil or righteous were deprived of the vision of God. And Christ went to those who souls who awaited their Savior. Jesus did not descend into hell to deliver the damned, nor to destroy the hell of damnation, but to free the souls who awaited his coming.

The Catechism says, “Christ went down into the depths of death so that "the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live."

The ancient homily says, “he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve…the Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory.”

We do well to observe the silence today, we who have quieted our willful souls by Lenten and Holy Week penances. If we grow silent enough, and listen well, we will hear hell trembling, and the voice of the Lord, victorious through the cross, proclaiming a word of life, as we await his Easter resurrection for the glory of God and salvation of souls.