Reflections for Holy Saturday (The world call this black Saturday, but We Catholic Christians call this Holy Saturday): In the apostles creed it says: "Christ descended into hell [in Greek Hades or abode of the dead]. WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN THE CHURCH SAYS Christ descended into hell? ANSWER: The Hebrews or the Jews believes that the souls of the dead are placed in hades or in the abode of the earth, deep down the earth. The souls of the just await the Resurrection. Thus while waiting for the last judgement day the souls are in prison. When Jesus died on the Cross His soul went into the Hades and when getting there He announced and preached the gospel of salvation. He preached unto the souls of the dead. The souls of Adam, Abraham, Moses, the prophets and the saints. He said: "‘But arise, let us go hence. The enemy brought you out of the land of paradise; I will reinstate you, no longer in paradise, but on the throne of heaven. I denied you the tree of life, which was a figure, but now I myself am united to you, I who am life. I posted the cherubim to guard you as they would slaves; now I make the cherubim worship you as they would God." [A reading from an ancient homily for Holy Saturday. excerpt] . This belief is supported by the scriptures in Matthew 27:51-53 which reads: "And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many." Thus when we recite the apostles creed or the Nicene Creed we remember that when Jesus died on the cross His soul went to the depths of the earth, preach the gospel to the souls in bondage and liberated the souls of holy men and women. Thus in Jerusalem the curtain of the Holy of holies of the Temple was torn down from top to bottom to show that by the death of Jesus the salvation of men were effected and the barrier between God and Men are now removed through the body of the Man-God Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of Israel and the Savior of Humankind. For out of the seed of Abraham God would bless the Human Race. Laudatur Iesus Christus!
