On this odd day in the Christian year, equidistant between the solemnity of Good Friday and the exultation of Easter Sunday lies Holy Saturday. When I was a youth, it was a day to paint Easter eggs and take our “might boxes” (in which we collected pennies – or was it quarters? – as a symbol of sacrifice during the Lenten season) to church for collection and distribution to Africa or somewhere. Even as a teen, I always liked the day and the odd combination of sadness and anticipation associated with it – best reflected, I think, in the words of that old chestnut of a hymn, “Alleluia, Alleluia”:

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The strife is o’er, the battle done,
the victory of life is won;
the song of triumph has begun.
Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The powers of death have done their worst,
but Christ their legions hath dispersed:
let shout of holy joy outburst.
Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The three sad days are quickly sped,
he rises glorious from the dead:
all glory to our risen Head!
Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
He closed the yawning gates of hell,
the bars from heaven’s high portals fell;
let hymns of praise his triumphs tell!
Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Lord! by the stripes which wounded thee,
from death’s dread sting thy servants free,
that we may live and sing to thee.
Alleluia!

Lately, Holy Saturday has increasingly featured a return of sorts to the roots of the early Church with the institution of the Great Vigil of Easter litany, featuring the lighting of the Paschal candle, the singing of the Exultet, numerous readings from Scripture, baptisms, and the joyous first celebration of the Easter Eucharist. If you happen to live in the area, and want to see the Great Vigil done the way it oughta be, with all the mystery and majesty the Church can muster, you’ll want to plan to spend your Easter Eve at The Church of the Advent on Beacon Hill in Boston. No one – and I mean no one, does it like they do – a truly unforgettable experience.