He is Risen! Alleluia!

Let Christians immolate
praises to the passover victim.

The lamb has redeemed the sheep:
Innocent Christ has reconciled
the sinners to the Father.

Death and life contended
in a miraculous battle:
the Prince of life, who died,
reigns alive.

Tell us, Mary, what did
you see on the road?

"I saw the tomb of the living Christ
and the glory of his rising,

The angelic witnesses, the
clothes and the shroud."

"Christ my hope is arisen;
into Galilee, he will go before his own."

[Happy they who bear the witness
Mary's word believing
above the tales of Jewry deceiving.]

We know Christ is truly risen from the dead!
To us, victorious King, have mercy!
Amen. Alleluia.

- Sequence for Easter Sunday, 11th century

We are almost there.  40 days of preparation. Now we wait.  Get ready, Church! Glory is about to flood you! Let our buildings get ready to shake for joy!

Harrowing of Hell - What Jesus was doing on Holy Saturday

“For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does." 1 Peter 4:6

"What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages. God has died in the flesh, and the underworld has trembled.

Truly he goes to seek out our first parent like a lost sheep; he wishes to visit those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He goes to free the prisoner Adam and his fellow-prisoner Eve from their pains, he who is God, and Adam's son.

The Lord goes in to them holding his victorious weapon, his cross. When Adam, the first created man, sees him, he strikes his breast in terror and calls out to all: 'My Lord be with you all.' And Christ in reply says to Adam: ‘And with your spirit.’ And grasping his hand he raises him up, saying: ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.

‘I am your God, who for your sake became your son, who for you and your descendants now speak and command with authority those in prison: Come forth, and those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise.

‘I command you: Awake, sleeper, I have not made you to be held a prisoner in the underworld. Arise from the dead; I am the life of the dead. Arise, O man, work of my hands, arise, you who were fashioned in my image. Rise, let us go hence; for you in me and I in you, together we are one undivided person.

‘For you, I your God became your son; for you, I the Master took on your form; that of slave; for you, I who am above the heavens came on earth and under the earth; for you, man, I became as a man without help, free among the dead; for you, who left a garden, I was handed over to Jews from a garden and crucified in a garden.

‘Look at the spittle on my face, which I received because of you, in order to restore you to that first divine in breathing at creation. See the blows on my cheeks, which I accepted in order to refashion your distorted form to my own image.

'See the scourging of my back, which I accepted in order to disperse the load of your sins which was laid upon your back. See my hands nailed to the tree for a good purpose, for you, who stretched out your hand to the tree for an evil one.

`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 healed the pain of your side; my sleep will release you from your sleep in Hades; my sword has checked the sword which was turned against you.

‘But arise, let us go hence. The enemy brought you out of the land of paradise; I will reinstate you, no longer in paradise, but on the throne of heaven. I denied you the tree of life, which was a figure, but now I myself am united to you, I who am life. I posted the cherubim to guard you as they would slaves; now I make the cherubim worship you as they would God.

"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." - Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday

The King is Asleep

"Come, let us see our Life lying in the tomb, that He may give life to those that in their tombs lie dead. Come, let us look today on the Son of Judah as He sleeps, and with the prophet let us cry aloud to Him: Thou hast lain down, Thou hast slept as a lion; who shall awaken Thee, O King? But of Thine own free will do Thou rise up, who willingly dost give Thyself for us. O Lord, glory to Thee.

Today a tomb holds Him who holds the creation in the hollow of His hand; a stone covers Him who covered the heavens with glory. Life sleeps and hell trembles, and Adam is set free from his bonds. Glory to Thy dispensation, whereby Thou hast accomplished all things, granting us an eternal Sabbath, Thy most holy Resurrection from the dead." -Orthodox Hymn for Holy Saturday

Barefoot to the Cross

Last night at the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, many went to the basins barefoot. Many never put their shoes back on.  They walked back to receive our Lord in the Eucharist barefooted. As Christ in His infinite love washed our feet, how could we not walk barefoot? This ground is holy; saturated in His Love poured out for us par excellence in the Most Holy Eucharist. Today, we will once again be barefooted as we approach the Cross. It is such an ancient custom.  This ground is holy; saturated in His Blood poured out for us. Barefooted we trod deeply into these mysteries.  How could we not? I encourage you tonight, take off your shoes as you venerate the Cross.  Go in deep humility to the source of Our Redemption.  Approach the Cross, not filled with fear,but with deep love. For it is there that deep Love has been shown to the world.

We adore your Cross, O Lord, we praise and glory in your Resurrection, for behold, because of a tree joy has come to the whole world. - Antiphon for the Veneration of the Cross

Go to Dark Gethsemane

1. Go to dark Gethsemane,
ye that feel the tempter's power;
your Redeemer's conflict see,
watch with him one bitter hour.
Turn not from his griefs away;
learn of Jesus Christ to pray.

2. See him at the judgment hall,
beaten, bound, reviled, arraigned;
O the wormwood and the gall!
O the pangs his soul sustained!
Shun not suffering, shame, or loss;
learn of Christ to bear the cross.

3. Calvary's mournful mountain climb;
there, adoring at his feet,
mark that miracle of time,
God's own sacrifice complete.
"It is finished!" hear him cry;
learn of Jesus Christ to die.

Foot washing and Eucharist

I love this image of the events of tonight.  If you notice, Our Lord is radiant with light as He establishes the Holy Eucharist.  If you notice, the instruments of the foot washing till stand in front of that first Eucharistic altar.  Pius Parsch writes of this Liturgy of the Lord's Supper:

Both proofs of our Lord's great love proper to this day, the Eucharist and the foot washing, come to mind when singing the Communion verse:  "The Lord Jesus, after He had supped with His disciples, washed their feet, and said to them:  Do you know what I, your Lord and Master, have done for you? I have given you an example that you also should so do." Note the profound implication:  it is impossible to imitate Christ in His gift of the Eucharist, but we can imitate His example of humble service to others.  Such service to others is the sign and expression of our union with Him, for which the Eucharist was established. - Holy Thursday, The Church's Year of Grace

So as the sun sets, go to the Upper Room tonight. Let Him wash your feet. Let Him offer you His very Body and Blood. Go with Him to watch in the Garden. Offer your love in return by washing another's feet and giving them yourself. It is only then that you will worthy of the name of His Disciple.