23 April 2011

Holy Saturday: Our Lady of Solitude

Today is not only Holy Saturday but it is also a day in which we honour our Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of Solitude. This feast recalls our Blessed Lady’s solitude and contemplation as she waited in faith for the glorious Resurrection of her Son and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. According to the visions of Blessed Anna Katharina Emmerick, ‘the prayer of the Blessed Virgin was unceasing. She ever kept her eyes fixed interiorly on Jesus, and was perfectly consumed by her ardent desire of once more beholding Him Whom she loved with such inexpressible love’ (The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ).

Today at Matins during the First Nocturn the Church chanted from the Lamentations of Jeremiah: ‘Bonum est præstolari cum silentio salutari Dei’ – ‘It is good to wait with silence for the salvation of God’ (Lam 3, 26). Perhaps in your own prayers and devotions for Holy Saturday you might consider spending some time with our Blessed Lady in anticipation of our Lord’s Resurrection.

Dear readers of Secret Harbour – Portus Secretioris: A Joyous and Blessed Easter to you all! Here are the Carthusians chanting the Salve Regina: