Deep Stillness
The jeering of the angry crowds
The questioning of the authorities
The lashing of the scourge
The jabbing and shoving of the soldiers
The hammering of the nails
The sobbing of those witnessing the horror
All of it has now passed.
There is a deep stillness.
Deep quiet and deep stillness.
Holy Saturday offers us a great gift – the gift of deep silence and stillness, an invitation to follow our Blessed Mother’s heroic example of authentic presence with her Son.
The Stillness of Mary
This Lent, I have been supremely blessed by a treasure, a beautiful little book by Fr. Gerald Vann entitled, The Pain of Christ and the Sorrow of God: Lenten Meditations. The verses in the quotation shared below are gleaned from chapter 4: “The Stillness of Mary”.
What was it like to be Mary, watching her Son endure his agony, passion, and death? In our lives, we go through periods of ceaseless activity – raising children, earning a living, completing chores, attending events and the like. Then there are those moments of crisis, where all the activity halts. Usually, these crises involve witnessing the serious suffering of a loved one in some form or other. In these moments, actions can seem almost futile. There is nothing to ease the pain or solve the problem. Or is there?
Fr. Gerald Vann writes:
“But there is another sort of activity, a purely inward activity, and this is always possible and healing. And this is the activity of thought and love…Be still: the stillness of and the silence of Mary are the signs not of defeat but of intense and creative activity…never think that there is nothing you can do. Think deeply and love deeply…your co-suffering will go straight from your own heart to the heart of Christ.”
Today, on this Holy Saturday, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you gently into the mystery of this deep silence in whatever way He chooses. Take shelter in the wounds of Christ and simply be with Him. Let yourself feel the sting of loving deeply and know that the same arrow that pierces your own heart also pierces the heart of Christ and his Blessed Mother. It pierces the very heart of God.
End your time of prayer, slowly praying the words of the Anima Christi. Let your heart capture one meaningful phrase and let it wash over you again and again throughout this day as we look forward to the Resurrection of Christ, the blessed assurance of new life in Him.
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O Good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds hide me.
Permit me not to be separated from you.
From the wicked foe, defend me.
At the hour of my death, call me
and bid me come to you
That with your saints I may praise you
For ever and ever. Amen.
[Readings: Gn 1:1—2:2; Gn 22:1-18; Ex 14:15—15:1; Is 54:5-14; Is 55:1-11; Bar 3:9-15, 32–4:4; Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28; Rom 6:3-11; Lk 24:1-12]
