Today, in the Catholic Church, it is Holy Saturday—a time of silence and contemplation. The faithful visit the Lord’s tombs, reflecting on the suffering and death of Christ. In churches, food for the Easter table is blessed. After nightfall, the most important Mass of the year is celebrated—the Easter Vigil.
Holy Saturday
Liturgist Fr. Mateusz Kielarski explained that on Holy Saturday, the Church remains at the Lord’s Tomb, meditating on Christ’s Passion and death. In churches, the altar remains bare—there is no cloth, no candlesticks, and no decorations or liturgical vessels. The tabernacle is open and empty—the Blessed Sacrament is not present.
At the center of the sanctuary stands a cross, set out for veneration.
“On this day, when we pass before the cross, we should kneel, paying homage to the Crucified Christ,” said Fr. Kielarski.
Blessing of the Easter Baskets
He reminded that in the morning, food intended for the Easter feast is blessed in churches. The faithful bring baskets containing, among other things, eggs, cured meats, bread, salt, horseradish, and a piece of cake. People visit the churches, gathering around the Lord’s Tombs, where the Blessed Sacrament is kept. It is placed in a central spot, covered with a veil, to allow meditation on “the mystery of Christ’s descent into the abyss.”
The Easter Vigil Liturgy
Fr. Kielarski emphasized that, just like on Good Friday, the Church refrains from celebrating Mass on Holy Saturday until evening. Holy Communion may only be given in the form of Viaticum, that is, to those in danger of death. Only after nightfall does the final liturgy of the Easter Triduum begin—the Easter Vigil, whose rites already belong to Easter Sunday.
Fr. Kielarski explained that at the beginning of the liturgy, the priest blesses fire and lights the Paschal candle from it—a symbol of Christ, the light of the world. This ritual typically takes place outside the church, where a fire is kindled.
“Fire is an element that can cause an entire city to burn. The liturgy harnesses this element—it is used to light the candle that pierces the darkness of night,” he stressed.
The late hour of the vigil also carries symbolic meaning.
“It refers to the night before the Israelites’ exodus from Egyptian bondage. God instructed His people to eat the Passover lamb after nightfall and to mark their doorposts with its blood to be spared from death. Similarly, this night is a vigil for the whole Church, which waits for the resurrection of Christ,” he said.
He added that the faithful hold lit candles as a symbol of this vigil, keeping them alight until the beginning of the Liturgy of the Word. These candles are lit from the Paschal candle, which is brought into the dark church by the priest. Once the Paschal candle reaches the sanctuary, the Exsultet—the Easter Proclamation—is sung.
Fr. Kielarski noted that the next part is the Liturgy of the Word, which is especially extended during the Easter Vigil: the full version includes nine readings interspersed with psalms and prayers.
“During this liturgy, the Church reflects on the great works God has done throughout history—from the creation of the world to the resurrection of Christ,” he said.
After the homily comes the third part of the Mass—the Liturgy of Baptism, which begins with the blessing of water. At this moment, the congregation renews their baptismal promises. In some parishes, baptisms of adults or children also take place.
He pointed out that in the fourth part of the liturgy, the Church is invited to the table of the Eucharist, which Christ Himself prepared through His death and resurrection.
The Resurrection Procession
Fr. Kielarski added that in many churches across Poland, the Easter Vigil ends with a Resurrection procession around the church.
“This procession is an expression of the joy the faithful feel after encountering the Risen Christ. Just like the disciples, we want to share this joy with the world, which is why we take to the streets in procession,” he explained.