St. John Cantius Parish

Station - St. John Lateran

Details:

Apr. 11, 2:00 am

HOLY SATURDAY
ST. JOHN LATERAN – EASTER VIGIL

In peace, in the selfsame I will sleep, and I will rest.

Good Friday at evening! Before the sun descends into his grave they must take the body of the “Sun of Justice” down from the altar of the Cross. With holy awe and love they let it down…and lay It into those pure, maternal arms that were the first to hold It, thirty-three years ago, in the cave of the not-too-distant Bethlehem.

Holy Mother, pierce me through
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified

Let me share with thee His pain,
Who for all my sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died. (Stabat Mater)

The body is wrapped in linen cloths. Mother of Sorrows, remember that holy night when you wrapped in swaddling clothes the Blessed Light?

The funeral procession begins. John, a newly consecrated Bishop, Joseph of Arimathea, the owner of the tomb, Nicodemus, the courageous convert, Mary, His Mother and ours, the penitent Magdalen, some of His nearest relatives and a few devout women accompany the body of the God-Man to His place of rest.

“Now all is still. We breathe again now that the terrible distress is over at last, deep peace lies about the lonely tomb. It is the peace of fulfillment. He Who sleeps therein has, with divine fidelity, brought to an end all that the Father had laid upon Him to do. Now He rests from His work.”