image: The Lamentation, Peter Paul Rubens c. 1609

Something strange is happening—there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear. -from an ancient homily on Holy Saturday

Do not hurry by the cross on your way to Easter joy

“The night becomes darker in fact before the morning begins, before the light begins. God intervenes in the darkest moment and resuscitates.” -Pope Francis, April 14, 2014