Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light”.

Holy Saturday

Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.

He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve.

--From an ancient Easter homily read at Matins of Holy Saturday

As the liturgy of these holy days continues unfold, much of our time is spent in the solemn celebration of the Divine Office. This morning at Matins, the long Oratio Jeremiae Prophetae was sung by one of the chantresses to a tone that is both haunting and beautiful (despite the mistakes!) At the end of Lauds both yesterday and today we sang the ancient intercessions from the Dominican usage. Below is a short clip with the translation following.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy, Lord.

Christ the Lord became obedient unto death.

You Who came to suffer for us.

Christ, have mercy.

You Who with arms outstretched upon the Cross, have drawn all ages to Yourself.

Christ, have mercy.

You who said in prophecy, "O death, where are your plagues?"

Christ, have mercy.

Christ the Lord became obedient unto death.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Have mercy, Lord.

Christ the Lord became obedient unto death.

Even death on a Cross.