What is celebrated on Holy Saturday?

Holy Saturday is the third day of the Pascual Triduum, which concludes with the arrival of Sunday of Resurrection. It is the commemoration of Jesus in the sepulcher and his descent to the abyss and at night the Pascual vigil is celebrated.

After commemorating the day before the death of Christ on the cross, Holy Saturday is considered a day of mourning and transition. In that sense, the Church does not grant the marriage, or administer other sacraments, with the exception of the penance and anointing of the sick and the sacred communion can only occur as a per diem.

Formerly he used to call this day as Saturday of Gloria; However, the liturgical reform of Holy Week undertaken by Pope Pius XII (in 1955 Monsignor Annibal Bugnini) called it Holy Saturday only.

Since any official rite cannot be celebrated during this day, spiritual retreats are usually carried out and priests attend confessions.

Holy Saturday is a day of mourning, because it is a day of silence. As no official rite cannot be celebrated during the day, spiritual retreats are usually preached, and in many places also the priests during the day attend confessions. It is also customary in some temples, the prayer of the liturgy of the hours by the clergy with the participation of secular faithful.