Today is Holy Saturday, and the last day of Holy Week. What does that mean? Many people are familiar with Lent – that period of weeks before Easter when we Christians prepare our hearts for the death of Jesus and his subsequent resurrection. Traditionally this preparation involves steep increases in penance (confession of sins), self-denial including fasting, prayers, and charity to the poor and needy in comparison to the rest of the days of the year. Holy Week is the last week of Lent 1 and during this time, we take special care to remember the key events in the life of Christ leading up to and including his death. The oldest Holy Week liturgical tradition is that of Maundy Thursday . As chronicled in John 13:34, Jesus told the disciples during their supper together (what would be their last supper together), "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” The word for commandment in Latin is mandatum , from which th...
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