Today Is the Holy Saturday

The Holy Saturday is the third or last day of the Easter Triduum. On this day, Easter vigil is kept as a preparation for welcoming the day of Easter on Sunday  when Jesus Christ resurrected from his death.  

On the Holy Saturday, some Catholic churches organize baptism and confirmation for adults, bless water for use in baptism for the rest of the year, bless the long paschal or Easter candle and share the light from this candle among the faithful present.

The paschal (Easter) candle used in the St. Lawrence the Martyr Catholic Church, Toronto, during the Lent

The faithful light their own candles from the flame of the paschal (Easter) candle when making their baptism pledge

The priest dips the lower part of the paschal (Easter) candle into water to bless it for use in baptisms

The priest is baptizing a person with the newly-blessed baptism water

Photos (Toronto: April 7, 2012) © Jerome D'Costa