"In the Hell of Life, Holy Saturday"

Another beautiful post today from Interrupting the Silence:

The Harrowing of Hell,
14th century (source)

“When one door closes another opens,” goes an old and popular saying. But what about that time in between, after one door closes but before another opens? What do we do then? As a friend of mine once said, “It’s hell when you are waiting in the hallway.” That’s where we are today. The door on Good Friday has closed. Jesus is dead. The door on Easter has not yet opened. The tomb is sealed and guarded.

This is Holy Saturday, in-between time, tomb time.

Many, perhaps most, will not remember or celebrate this day, but, at some point, we all live this day. We all come to the Holy Saturday of our life, the hell of our life, and it always involves a death of some kind: the death of loved one, the death of a relationship, the death of a dream. Regardless of how it comes about someone or something has died and all the doors remain closed.

Our reading from Lamentations describes this well. We have been “brought into darkness without any light.” We are “besieged and enveloped with bitterness and tribulation.” We are walled in and cannot escape. We call and cry for help but our prayer is shut out.

We are homeless. There is nothing but the tomb.

This day seems like anything but holy. Where is Jesus on Holy Saturday? Reread the Apostles’ Creed. Remind yourself that on this day “He descended to the dead” or as another translation says, “He descended into hell.” Holy Saturday is when Christ descends into the hell of our life, breaking the bonds of death, and setting the captives free. Holy Saturday is the day death and Hades tremble in fear, and regret ever having tried to take captive the author and creator of life.

It is tempting in the Holy Saturday of our lives to run away, to leave the tomb and just get to Easter. But the tomb is the birthplace of Easter, “the workshop of resurrection.” Tragedy, sorrow, and death do not simply go away or get replaced. They are transformed. In that holy workshop Christ transforms tragedy into triumph, sorrow into joy, and death into life. We must, therefore, remain present to the tomb of Holy Saturday. That’s what Mary Magdalene and the other Mary are doing.

They are “sitting opposite the tomb.” They do not say anything; there is not much to say on this day. They do not do anything; there is not much to do on this day. Holy Saturday is a time of patience. This is about more than just waiting or passing time. It is the willingness to trust that there is more going on than we see or understand. It is reminding ourselves that “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end.” It is remaining present so that when another door opens, and it will, we will be there to walk through it.

Do you remember who were the first to see the open tomb of Christ? Mary Magdalene and the other Mary.

“By death He conquered death, and to those in the graves He granted life!”

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This sermon is for Holy Saturday and is based on Matthew 27:57-66 and Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24.

Officium Hebdomadae Sanctae (The Holy Week Office): Tomás Luis de Victoria

This is quite amazing; a complete - I think so, anyway; it's 3+ hours of music - recording of this work by Victoria. 



Victoria wrote this in 1585.  The YouTube page includes a link labeled as "source and information": http://www.amazon.com/Victoria-Officium-Hebdomad%C3%A6-La-Colombina/dp/tracks/B0009IW8ZS/ref=dp_tracks_all_1#disc_1

I'm not sure if the music here comes from that recording;  it would make sense that it's the same, though - otherwise why link to this page?  The musicians listed there are these:  La Colombina (Artist), Schola Antiqua (Artist), Josep Cabré (Performer), Juan Carlos Asensio (Performer).   The recording is, it looks like, out of print now; it sure is beautiful.

Below is the track list from the above page; the first 5 pieces are from Palm Sunday - and most of the rest come from Matins of Maundy Thurday (In Coena Domini), Good Friday (In Passione Domini), and Holy Saturday (Sabbato Sancto).

In other words, the greatest part of this music was written for the Office of Tenebrae - Matins and Lauds of the great Three Days.   The pieces include readings (including some from the Lamentations of Jeremiah), antiphons, responsories, hymns, and pieces from John's Passion and the Adoration of the Cross on Good Friday.

To follow along with the Matins sections, use Divinum Officium; enter the date at the top of the page, then click "Matutinum" at the bottom.  You can listen to St. Thomas' Tenebrae sung in plainsong here.

Disc: 1

1. Dominica in Ramis Palmarum. Vexilla regis, more hispano
2. Dominica in Ramis Palmarum. Antiphona: Hosanna filio David
3. Dominica in Ramis Palmarum. Pueri Hebraeorum
4. Dominica in Ramis Palmarum. Passio secundum Mattheum
5. Dominica in Ramis Palmarum. Elevatio: O Domine Jesu Christe
6. Feria Quinta. In Coena Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Primo Nocturno. Antiphona: Zelus domus tuae (begins about 32:20)
7. Feria Quinta. In Coena Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Primo Nocturno. Versiculum: Avertantur retrorsum et erubescant
8. Feria Quinta. In Coena Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Primo Nocturno. Lectio prima: Incipit lamentatio Jeremiae
9. Feria Quinta. In Coena Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Primo Nocturno. Lectio secunda: Vau. Et egressus est
10. Feria Quinta. In Coena Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Primo Nocturno. Lectio tertia: Jod. Manum suam
11. Feria Quinta. In Coena Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Secondo Nocturno. Antiphona: Liberavit Dominus
12. Feria Quinta. In Coena Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Secondo Nocturno. Versiculum: Deus meus eripe me
13. Feria Quinta. In Coena Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Secondo Nocturno. Quartum responsorium: Amicus meus
14. Feria Quinta. In Coena Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Secondo Nocturno. Quintum responsorium:  Judas mercator
15. Feria Quinta. In Coena Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Secondo Nocturno. Sextum responsorium: Unus ex discipulis
16. Feria Quinta. In Coena Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Tertio Nocturno. Antiphona: Dixi iniquis
17. Feria Quinta. In Coena Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Tertio Nocturno. Versiculum:  Exsurge Domine
18. Feria Quinta. In Coena Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Tertio Nocturno. Septimum responsorium:  Eram quasi agnus
19. Feria Quinta. In Coena Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Tertio Nocturno. Octavum responsorium: Una hora
20. Feria Quinta. In Coena Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Tertio Nocturno. Nonum responsorium: Seniores populi
21. Feria Quinta. In Coena Domini. Ad Missam. In Missa. Tantum ergo (Pange Lingua; 5 v.)

Disc: 2

1. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Primo Nocturno. Antiphona: Astiterunt reges terrae  (begins about 1:14:25)
2. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Primo Nocturno. Versiculum: Diviserunt sibi vestimenti mea  
3. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Primo Nocturno. Lectio prima: Heth. Cogitavit Dominus  
4. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Primo Nocturno. Lectio secunda: Lamed. Matribus suis dixerunt
5. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Primo Nocturno. Lectio tertia: Aleph.  Ego vir videns
6. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Secondo Nocturno. Antiphona: Vim faciebant  
7. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Secondo Nocturno. Versiculum: Insurrexerunt in me testes iniqui  
8. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Secondo Nocturno. Quartum responsorium: Tamquam ad latronem  
9. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Secondo Nocturno. Quintum responsorium:  Tenebrae factae sunt  
10. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Secondo Nocturno. Sextum responsorium:  Animam meam dilectam  
11. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Tertio Nocturno. Antiphona: Ab insurgentibus in me  
12. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Tertio Nocturno. Versiculum: Locuti sunt adversaum me lingua dolosa  
13. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Tertio Nocturno. Septimum responsorium:  Tradiderunt me  
14. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Tertio Nocturno. Octavum responsorium:  Jesum tradidit impius  
15. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Matutinum. In Tertio Nocturno. Nonum responsorium:  Caligaverunt oculi mei  
16. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Laudes. Antiphona: Posuerunt super caput eius - Benedictus Deus Dominus Israel  
17. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Solemni Actione Liturgica. Passio secundum Ioannem (begins about 2:03:00)
18. Feria Sexta. In Passione Domini. Ad Solemni Actione Liturgica. In Adoratione Crucis.


Disc: 3

1. Sabbato Sancto. Ad Matutinum. In Primo Nocturno. Antiphona: In pace in idipsum
2. Sabbato Sancto. Ad Matutinum. In Primo Nocturno. Versiculum: In pace in idipsum
3. Sabbato Sancto. Ad Matutinum. In Primo Nocturno. Lectio prima: Heth. Misericordiae Domini  
4. Sabbato Sancto. Ad Matutinum. In Primo Nocturno. Lectio secunda: Aleph. Quomodo obscuratum  
5. Sabbato Sancto. Ad Matutinum. In Primo Nocturno. Lectio tertia: Incipit oratio Jeremiae  
6. Sabbato Sancto. Ad Matutinum. In Secondo Nocturno. Antiphona: Elevamini portae aeternalis
7. Sabbato Sancto. Ad Matutinum. In Secondo Nocturno. Versiculum: Tu autem Domini Miserere mei
8. Sabbato Sancto. Ad Matutinum. In Secondo Nocturno. Quartum responsorium: Recessit pastor noster
9. Sabbato Sancto. Ad Matutinum. In Secondo Nocturno. Quintum responsorium: O vos omnes, qui transitis per viam  
10. Sabbato Sancto. Ad Matutinum. In Secondo Nocturno. Sextum responsorium: Ecce quomodo moritur  
11. Sabbato Sancto. Ad Matutinum. In Tertio Nocturno. Antiphona: Deus adiuvat me
12. Sabbato Sancto. Ad Matutinum. In Tertio Nocturno. Versiculum: In pace factus est locus e
13. Sabbato Sancto. Ad Matutinum. In Tertio Nocturno. Septimum responsorium: Astiterunt reges
14. Sabbato Sancto. Ad Matutinum. In Tertio Nocturno. Octavum responsorium: Aestimatus sum
15. Sabbato Sancto. Ad Matutinum. In Tertio Nocturno. Nonum responsorium: Sepulto Domino
16. Sabbato Sancto. Ad Laudes. Antiphona: O mors, ero mors tua. Psalmus 50: Miserere mei Deus
17. Sabbato Sancto. Ad Laudes. Antiphona: Christus factus est pro nobis obediens usque ad mortem