Introduction: The Day Between the Days

Holy Saturday is the day that often gets overlooked in the Easter story. Tucked between the agony of Good Friday and the triumph of Easter Sunday, it’s a day of quiet, of waiting, of mystery. It’s a pause between suffering and glory—a space where time seems to stand still.

Yet, in its silence, Holy Saturday holds a sacred weight. It invites us into the in-between—the place where faith must hold on without evidence, and hope must burn gently in the dark.

What Is Holy Saturday All About?

Holy Saturday commemorates the time when Jesus lay in the tomb after His crucifixion. It is the second day of the Paschal Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday), and it is a day of deep reflection, solemnity, and spiritual anticipation.

The Gospels tell us:

“Then they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. There was a garden in the place where He was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb… They laid Jesus there.”
— John 19:40–42

On this day, the Church does not celebrate Mass until the Easter Vigil after sunset. The altar is bare, and the tabernacle is empty. It is a day of sacred stillness.

Biblical and Historical Significance

Holy Saturday is more than just a pause—it is a day pregnant with purpose.

In the Apostles’ Creed, we profess:

“He descended to the dead…”

This refers to what is sometimes called The Harrowing of Hell—the belief that Jesus, between His death and resurrection, descended to the realm of the dead to proclaim victory and free the righteous who had died before His coming.

As 1 Peter 3:18–19 tells us:

“He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, He went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits…”

Even in death, Jesus was still at work, shattering the gates of death and preparing the way for resurrection. Though His body lay still in the tomb, His spirit was moving in power.

Historically, early Christians observed this day with fasting, prayer, and preparation. It was a time to reflect on the fullness of the Passion and await the joy of the Resurrection.

How Are We to Be on This Holy Day?

Holy Saturday invites us into quiet trust.

It’s a day to embrace the mystery of waiting. When God seems silent, when all appears lost, Holy Saturday reminds us that silence does not mean absence.

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…”
— Psalm 37:7

We are called to sit in the tension—between grief and glory, between the cross and the empty tomb. This day is for those who have prayed and not yet seen the answer, who sit with unanswered questions, who are learning to hope in the dark.

Like the disciples who mourned in confusion, we too must learn to trust that God is working behind the veil—even when the stone still looks unrolled.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”
— Psalm 27:14

Final Thought:

Holy Saturday teaches us the power of holding on. It is the hush before the Hallelujah. The stillness before the shout of Resurrection. It is a sacred whisper that says:

“Don’t give up. Something beautiful is coming.”

So today, be still. Wait in faith. Tend to the flicker of hope in your heart.

Because resurrection always begins in the dark.
And Sunday is on its way.

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
— Psalm 30:5