Pondering the Pondering Heart of Our Blessed Mother: A Reflection on Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday is part of the Sacred or Holy Triduum, the three days leading up to the Resurrection of our Lord, yet it stands out as a day without a liturgical celebration—no Holy Mass and no formal Church observances before the Easter Vigil. Rather, it is a day of silence, a time set aside for meditation and reflection on the passion and death of Jesus Christ. It is a moment to contemplate His sacrifice, as well as a day to honor the sorrowful Blessed Virgin Mary, our Spiritual Mother. At this time, she was deeply grieving the death of her Son, and we are called to reflect on her pain and to offer our love and prayers to her. Holy Saturday is also a time of waiting—a waiting in hope for the Risen Lord, whose victory we will celebrate on Easter Sunday.
The Catholic Church, rooted in tradition, devotes Saturdays—especially the first Saturdays of each month—to the Blessed Virgin Mary. As our Spiritual Mother here on Earth, she continues to love us, intercede for us, and offer her care and support in times of need. On this Holy Saturday, it is a beautiful opportunity to pause, think of her, and say a prayer in her honor. This may be one of the reasons why Saturdays are particularly dedicated to her.
We live in troubled times. The world is filled with uncertainty, with wars fueled by greed and power, natural calamities that devastate countries, and the constant presence of misinformation and disinformation spreading through social media. This false or inaccurate information make the facts wrong, deliberately intended to misstate facts. This fake news scheme contributes further to the polarization of public opinion and at times promote violent and hate speech, undermine democracies and reduce trust in Government, even if the Government is doing its best efforts to make everything work with the end view of improving the quality of life of every citizen. This has impacted not only individuals but also businesses, and our Church communities. People are burdened with stress, depression, and hopelessness. What have we become?
These struggles are compounded by a lack of understanding (when there is over practice of freedom of expression) and false compassion among us (when certain groups of people opt to support and sympathize a previous leader who perpetrated evil in a variety of ways), leading to division and conflict. Our human nature, when left unchecked, often falls into patterns of self-interest, greed, and pride. But we are also called to a higher purpose—to be agents of peace, reconciliation, and justice. The world’s problems are vast, but the power of collective goodwill, compassion, and unity has the potential to bring about healing. If we seek to emulate the virtues of faith, hope, and love—like those shown by our Blessed Mother—we can begin to make a meaningful change. Working together, understanding one another, and striving for justice can make this world a better place for all. Our Blessed Mother, who, as the Comforter of the Afflicted, continues to stand by us in every crisis. Just as she remained steadfast during the Passion of Christ, so too does she offer her protection and care for us today.
As such, this Holy Saturday, let us turn to our Blessed Mother and ask for her intercession. In this time of crisis, we bring our supplications to the Lord through her—asking for His mercy, compassion, and healing. The Blessed Mother has never abandoned us, and anyone who has called upon her help has never been left unaided. She holds many titles, and as mentioned earlier, she is the “Comforter of the Afflicted” and also the “Health of the Sick”, among others. As we pray the Holy Rosary, we are reminded of her protective love in our moments of need. Yet, in these days, many have stopped including the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary in their Rosary prayers—a beautiful tradition that calls upon her intercession in a more formal and personal way. (Note. She has always been an advocate of the Holy Rosary with the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Shout out to her Mom whose role model is Our Lady, and who first taught her the Holy Rosary and made her memorize the Litany by heart).
As we await the Resurrection of our Lord on Easter Sunday, let us pray to Our Lady to intercede for us. May she ask her Son to bring an end to the suffering in the world and inspire us to live lives filled with faith, hope, and love—drawing us ever closer to God. We ask her to pray for us, that we may be filled with hope and joy as we await the grace of new life in this Easter season.
Amen.
Jesus, King of Mercy, we trust in You. Amen.
If you know this song, feel free to sing it in the comforts of your home!
On this day, O beautiful Mother,
On this day we give thee our love.
Near the, Madonna, fondly we hover,
Trusting thy gentle care to prove.
On this day we ask to share,
Dearest Mother, thy sweet care;
Aid us ere our feet astray
Waner from thy guiding way.
Queen of angels, deign to hear
Lisping children’s humble prayer;
Young hearts gain, O virgin…
On this day, O beautiful Mother,
On this day we give thee our love.
Near thee, Madonna, fondly we hover,
Trusting thy gentle care to prove.
On this day we ask to share,
Dearest Mother, thy sweet care;
Aid us ere our feet astray
Wander from thy guiding way….