Mass Resources for Holy Saturday-Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter (Years A, B, and C, With Link to Extraordinary Form Resources) Updated 3-24-13

NOTICE: links to other sites are solely for the sake of your convenience and should not be construed as my endorsement of their content. Simply put, I do not have the time to check out every link and the teachings, opinions, etc., contained therein.

This Post has been significantly updated since last year. Further addition will be added as Holy Saturday approaches.

PLEASE NOTE: the readings for the Vigil remain the same regardless of the Lectionary Year, except for the Gospel. I’ve included in this post commentaries on the Gospel for all three Lectionary Years.

This post contains links to commentaries on all seven of the Old Testament readings (and alternates), the Responsorial psalms and canticles (and alternates), the Epistle reading, and the Gospel reading (see previous paragraph). Resources for the Extraordinary Form can be found here.

GENERAL:

• Today’s Mass Readings. For Holy Saturday, 2013.
• Today’s Divine Office.
• Podcast: He Descended into Hell…Did Jesus Really Go To Hell? An audio podcast and accompanying blog post by Catholic biblical scholar Dr. Michael Barber.
• Historical Questions About the Resurrection. Audio podcast with accompanying blog post by Dr Michael Barber.
• An Ester Sermon by St John Chrysostom.
• Pope Benedict’s Homily.

Reading 1: Genesis 1:1-2:2. Shorter reading Gen 1:1, 26-31a

• Navarre Bible Commentary on Genesis 1:1-2:2. The shorter reading is 1:1, 26-31a.

• Creation, Fall, Promise. On Gen 1-3. Part of a broader bible study from St Paul’s Center for Biblical Theology.

• Update: St Ambrose’s Sermons on Genesis 1:1-2:2. Please note that this works (online book) examines the six days of creation in nine homilies (known as The Hexaemeron), and includes further homilies on Paradise, and Cain and Abel. St Basil also produced a Hexaemeron of nine homilies on the six days of creation, see below.

• Update: St Basil’s Sermons on the Six Days of Creation (Hexaemeron).

• Update: St Athanasius on the Doctrine of Creation.

Responsorial 1: Psalm 104. Psalm 33 is an alternate.

• Psalm 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35

Father Boylan’s Introduction to Psalm 104. Whole psalm.

St Augustine on Psalm 104. Whole psalm.

Update: Father Fallon’s Audio Commentary on Psalm 104. Whole psalm.

• Psalm 33:4-5, 6-7, 12-13, 20 and 22

Father Boylan’s Introduction to Psalm 33. Whole psalm.

Pope John Paul II’s Commentary/Meditation on Psalm 33. Whole psalm.

St Thomas Aquinas’ Lecture on Psalm 33. Whole psalm.

St Augustine’s Notes on Psalm 33. Whole psalm.

Update: Father Fallon’s Audio Commentary on Psalm 33. Whole psalm.

Reading 2: Gen22:1-18. Shorter reading Gen 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18.

• Longer Reading: Navarre Bible Commentary on Gen 22:1-18. Actually on 1b-19. Posted for another occasion.
• Shorter Reading: Navarre Bible Comm on Gen 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18.

Responsorial 2: Psalm 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11.

• Father Boylan’s Introduction and Notes on Psalm 16. Whole psalm.

• Pope John Paul II’s Commentary/Meditation on Psalm 16. Whole psalm.

• St Thomas Aquinas’ Lecture on Psalm 16. Whole psalm. This is Psalm 15 in the Latin Vulgate used by St Thomas.

• Update: Father Fallon’s Audio Commentary on Psalm 16. Whole psalm.

Reading 3: Exodus 14:15-15:1.

• Part 1. Navarre Bible Commentary on Exodus 14:5-18. The Navarre Bib. Comm. offers no post on this specific reading, I have linked to two separate posts encompassing 14:5-15:1, excepting verses19-20.
• Part 2. Navarre Bible Commentary on Exodus 14:21-15:1.

Responsorial 3: Exodus 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18.

• Pope John Paul II’s Commentary/Meditation on Exodus 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18. On verses 1-18 as a whole.

Reading 4: Isaiah 54:5-14

• Haydock Bible Commentary on Isaiah 54:5-14. Notes on entire chapter.

• Pending (maybe). My Notes on Isaiah 54:5-14.

• Update: Father Fallon’s Audio Commentary on Isaiah 54:5-14. On chapters 54 & 55.

Responsorial 4: Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13.

• Pope John Paul II’s Commentary/Meditation on Psalm 30. Whole psalm.

• St Thomas Aquinas’ Lecture on Psalm 30. Whole psalm.

• St Augustine’s Notes on Psalm 30. Whole psalm.

• My Notes on Psalm 30. Whole psalm.

• Update: Father Fallon’s Audio Commentary on Psalm 30. Whole psalm.

Reading 5: Isaiah 55:1-11.

• Navarre Bible Commentary on Isaiah 55:1-11.

• Haydock Commentary on Isaiah 55:1-11.

• Update: Father Fallon’s Audio Commentary on Isaiah 54:1-11. On chapters 54 & 55.

Responsorial 5: Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6.

• Pope John Paul II’s Commentary/Meditation on Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6.

• Update: Father Fallon’s Audio Commentary on Isaiah 12. On chapters 11 & 12.

Reading 6: Baruch 3:9-15, 32-4:4.

• Haydock Commentary on Baruch 3:9-15, 32-4:4.

Responsorial 6: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11.

• Father Boylan’s Introduction to Psalm 19. Whole Psalm.

• St Thomas Aquinas’ Lecture on Psalm 19. Whole psalm.

• Update: Father Fallon’s Audio Commentary on Psalm 19. Whole psalm.

Reading 7: Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28.

• Haydock Commentary on Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28.

• My Notes on Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28.

• Update: Father Fallon’s Audio Commentary on Ezekiel 36. On Chapters 33-39.  Text here.

Responsorial 7: Psalm 42-43, or Isaiah 12, or Psalm 51 depending of circumstances.

• Psalm 42:3, 5; 43:3, 4 When baptism celebrated: Please note that the responsorial combines verses from two psalms.

Pope John Paul II on Psalm 42. Whole psalm.

Father Boylan’s Introduction to Psalm 42. Whole psalm.

Father Boylan’s Introduction to Psalm 43. Pending. Whole psalm.

St Augustine’s Notes on Psalm 42. Whole psalm.

St Augustine’s Notes on Psalm 43. Whole psalm.

Update: Father Fallon’s Audio Commentary on Psalms 43 & 43.

• Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 When baptism not celebrated: See Ps 51 below for an alternate.

Pope John Paul II on Isaiah 12.

Update: Father Fallon’s Audio Commentary on Isaiah 12. On chapters 11 & 12.

• Alternate: Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19  when baptism not celebrated.

Pope John Paul II on Psalm 51. Whole psalm.

St Thomas Aquinas’ Lecture on Psalm 51. Whole psalm.

Update: Father Fallon’s Audio Commentary on Psalm 51. Whole psalm.

Epistle Reading:

• Bernardin de Piconio on Romans 6:3-11. Notes on whole chapter.

• Navarre Bible Commentary on Romans 6:3-11.

• Father Callan’s Commentary on Romans 6:3-11.

Responsorial after Epistle:

• Pope John Paul II’s Commentary/Meditation on Psalm 118. On whole Psalm.

• Update: Father Fallon’s Audio Commentary on Psalm 118. Whole psalm.

Gospel Reading: Year A~read in 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023, etc.

• Aquinas’ Catena Aurea on Matthew 28:1-10.

• Pending: Maldonado’s Commentary on Matthew 28:1-10.

• Pending: Father Maas’ Commentary on Matthew 28:1-10.

• Pending: Haydock Commentary on Matthew 28:1-10.

• Navarre Bible Commentary on Matthew 28:1-10.

Gospel Reading: Year B~read in 2012, 2015, 2018, 2021, etc.

• Navarre Bible Commentary on Mark 16:1-7.

• Haydock Commentary on Mark 16:1-7.

• Aquinas’ Catena Aurea on Mark 16:1-7.

• Sunday Gospel Scripture Study on Mark 16:1-7.

Gospel Reading: Year C~2013, 2016, 2019, 2022, etc.

• Navarre Bible Commentary on Luke 24:1-12.

• Pending: Aquinas’ Catena Aurea on Luke 24:1-12.

RESOURCES FOR  THE EXTRAORDINARY FORM.