Friends of the Rosary,

Today, April 4, is Holy Saturday (from Sabbatum Sanctum, its official liturgical name), the day of the Lord’s rest. Jesus rests in peace in the grave, and the faithful sit near and mourn, after the intense battle against sin and death, and now a victorious triumph over evil. It’s a calm and quiet day.

The Church, united with Mary and the apostles, remains in prayer and faith at the Lord’s tomb, meditating on his Passion and Death, on his Descent into Hell, and awaiting his Resurrection.

The body of Jesus lies in the tomb, but his soul has descended into hell, or to the realm of the dead, to announce liberation from darkness to his ancestors and deliver the righteous.

The body of the Church is represented in the Blessed Virgin Mary: she is the "credentium collectio universa" (Congregation for Divine Worship,

The mortal wounds on His Body, the scars of intense suffering, remain visible. Jesus' enemies are still furious, attempting to erase the very memory of the Lord by lies and slander.

No liturgies are celebrated until the Easter Vigil at night. The silence of Holy Saturday ends at sundown with the Easter Vigil, which marks the start of Easter Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Easter Vigil signifies the transition from darkness to light and from death to life.

It's the longest and most dramatic service of the year; it often lasts over two hours, depending on the number of readings and baptisms. It features four parts:

• Service of Light: Begins in darkness, with a fire lit outside the church to light the Paschal Candle, symbolizing Christ breaking the darkness of sin.

• Service of Readings: Multiple readings from the Old and New Testaments recount salvation history, from creation to resurrection.

• Service of Initiation and Baptism: The blessing of water, used for baptismal regeneration and renewal of our baptismal vows. We see the celebration of baptisms, with those being baptized, symbolizing new life, wearing white Garments and holding lit candles.

• Service of the Eucharist: The first mass of Easter, marking a joyous celebration of the Eucharist.

Ave Maria!
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
To Jesus through Mary!

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Please give us the grace to respond with joy!

+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New York

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• April 4, 2026, Today’s Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET