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HOLY SATURDAY

V. Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.    R. It is meet and just.

Truly meet and just it is that with all heart, mind and voice we hymn our God, the Father almighty,
and His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who paid for us Adam's debt to the Eternal Father
and with His precious Blood blotted out the ancients penalty. Here is that paschal mystery
wherein is slain the true Lamb Whose Blood guards the thresholds of Thy flock. This is the
night, on which Thou didst enable our fathers, the men of Israel, not only to escape the bondage of
Egypt but also to cross with dry feet a piled-up sea. This is that night of spiritual darkness
Thou didst illumine with a pillar of light. This is that night which now for all
believers restores grace and holiness and separates us from all vice and stain of sin. This is the
night whereon Christ burst the chains of death and rose victoriously from the tomb, for without
redemption life itself is no gain. How marvellous the condescension of the mercy towards
us. How far beyond all count the loving­ kindness that Thou shouldst ransom the slave by
the Son! O truly needful sin of Adam, blotted out by Christ's death, and happy fault to merit
such a Savior! O truly blessed night, the one night found fitting to know the time and hour of
Christ's rising from the dead! of this night was it written : "The night shall be as bright as
the day and shall light up my joy". Crime flees and sin is washed away before the holiness of this
night; for, innocence is restored to the fallen and rejoicing to the sad; when hatred ceases,
peace is restored and tyranny lies humbled.
In our gratitude for this night, O holy Father, deign to accept the evening sacrifice of this
incense which Holy Church makes to Thee by the hands of her ministers in this solemn oblation of
wax from the labors of the bees.