Hallelujah Saturday: meaning, red meat, prayer and more!

Hallelujah Saturday is the day before Easter date. In it, the Easter Vigil is held, a time when the faithful dedicate their day and especially the early morning period to pray in the name of Jesus, looking forward to the arrival of his resurrection. On this day, it is also necessary to light the Pascal Candle, which is a large candle.

This candle symbolizes Jesus as the light that came to save and guide the world. Because of this, the Eucharist is not allowed on Friday (the day of Christ’s crucifixion and death) or on Holy Saturday. With that, the altar is covered. At night, there is a vigil that is divided into several parts and also the Malhação de Judas, a form of punishment for betraying the Lord.

Want to learn more details about Hallelujah Saturday? Check it out in this article!

The previous topic presented a succinct description of what Hallelujah Saturday is, but there is still much to discuss about this special day that symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus. Check it out below!

Although today Hallelujah Saturday is a day of joy, because it symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus, it was a day of great sadness for the disciples of Christ. That’s because, the day before, Jesus had been condemned and killed on the cross. He had already been warned that this would happen. So the disciples fled in fear when Jesus was arrested.

After all his humiliation and death on the cross, Jesus was hastily laid to rest at the end of the day on Friday. The next day, Saturday, was full of silence and waiting. There seemed to be no more solution, however, the next day, the greatest miracle of all happened: Jesus was resurrected and began to appear to his disciples, giving them hope.

In the Christian religion, Hallelujah Saturday is celebrated for happening between Passion Friday, the day of Christ’s crucifixion, and the day of his resurrection, Easter Sunday. Therefore, Hallelujah Saturday symbolizes the celebration of joy for the resurrection of Jesus. Although it took place on Sunday, its celebration starts on Saturday night.

That night is called the Easter Vigil. During Lent, Christians decorate churches with flowers and also do not say the word “hallelujah”, but, from Hallelujah Saturday, they can say it again. Thus, this Saturday symbolizes the expectation of the faithful for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah Saturday brings Christians the memory that Jesus really died and rose, not just a hoax, as many believe. He died, just as every human being must die. Jesus, even though he was the Son of God, identified himself with humanity in an integral way, even in death.

However, Jesus went further, as he managed to break through the barriers of death and rose again. Therefore, the resurrection of Jesus gives hope and the certainty that he loved humanity until the end, so much so that he was able to lay down his own life for their sake. Therefore, Hallelujah Saturday is for the faithful to rejoice in the Savior Jesus Christ.

According to the Catholic Liturgy, preceding all the great Solemnities, there is a vigil celebration. The word “vigil” means to spend “a night watching”. That is, during the Easter Vigil, the faithful spend the night watching, as a way of preparing for the Sunday of the Resurrection of Jesus. Learn more below!

The Easter Vigil is a great Christian celebration celebrated on the eve of Easter Sunday. In this vigil, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated. She is part of a very old Catholic tradition and is considered the “mother of all vigils”. In this celebration, the faithful recite different passages from the Holy Scriptures.

Therefore, the Pascoal Vigil is divided into four parts, namely: Liturgy of Light, Liturgy of the Word, Baptismal Liturgy and Eucharistic Liturgy. For Catholics, the vigil begins after sunset on Hallelujah Saturday. Thus, the Pascoal Vigil serves to remember the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

The meaning of the word Vigil is “to spend the night watching”. This has a very significant meaning on the eve of Easter, because it brings to mind a biblical passage (Mk 16, 1-7), in which a group of women approaches the tomb of Jesus to embalm him, but they do not find his body. .

Soon after this fact, an angel appears, telling them that Jesus was no longer there, because he had risen. Thus, the Easter Vigil is an occasion to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the fulfillment of all the prophecies concerning the Messiah.

The Easter Vigil liturgy is divided into four parts, each of which is: Liturgy of Light, Liturgy of the Word, Baptismal Liturgy and Eucharistic Liturgy. Each one has a way of being. The Liturgy of Light is the stage in which the Paschal Candle is lit and the Blessing of Fire is performed, which symbolizes the dead and risen Christ.

The Liturgy of the Word is the moment when the biblical reading is carried out, more specifically with 5 excerpts from the Old Testament. The Baptismal Liturgy speaks of baptism or rebirth and, at this moment, the blessing of water and the renewal of baptismal promises takes place. Finally, there is the Eucharistic Liturgy, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.

In addition to the Easter liturgy, Hallelujah Saturday still has some other rituals, such as, for example, the Holy Fire and the Malhação de Judas. You will get to know them in more detail in the following topics. Check out!

Traditionally, on Hallelujah Saturday, all the lights in the church are turned off and, outside, a bonfire is lit with sparks from a stone. The embers of the bonfire represent the Holy Spirit. During Holy Saturday, the faithful must remain close to the Lord, meditating on his passion and death, awaiting his resurrection.

The church itself does not require prolonged fasts, but it is advisable, in this period of total recollection and recognition, that alcoholic beverages or red meat are not ingested, because it is not yet a time for celebration, but for penance and remembering the last moments of Jesus Christ among all.

The Malhação de Judas is held during Hallelujah Saturday and is a popular festival that symbolizes the death of Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ. In Brazil, this celebration is made with the making of cloth dolls, or some other material, with features of personalities that displease the population.

After that, people gather to “work out Judas”, that is, torture the doll in different ways, whether by hanging him between trees or burning him in bonfires. This is an act seen as a kind of popular revenge against Judas’ betrayal of Jesus Christ.

Next, check out the prayer to use on Hallelujah Saturday:

“Lord Jesus Christ, in the darkness of death you made light; in the abyss of deepest solitude dwells now forever the mighty protection of Thy love; in the midst of Your concealment, we can already sing the hallelujah of the saved.

Grant us the humble simplicity of faith, which does not allow itself to be diverted when You call us in the hours of darkness, of abandonment, when everything seems problematic; grant us, in this time when a mortal struggle is fought around you, enough light not to lose you; enough light so that we can give it to all those who need it even more.

Make the mystery of your paschal joy shine, like the dawn of the morning, in our days; grant us that we can truly be paschal men in the midst of the Holy Saturday of history. Grant us that through the bright and dark days of this time we may always find ourselves in a joyful spirit on the way towards Your future glory.”

There are some very common doubts surrounding the celebration of Hallelujah Saturday. The following topics aim to clarify several issues. For example, is it allowed to eat meat and listen to music? These and more questions will be answered. Check out!

There is no specific rule stating that the faithful cannot eat red meat or that they must only eat fish during Holy Week. There is no rule of this kind in the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church, but what the church recommends is that Christians should abstain from meat or other food during this period.

As Hallelujah Saturday is a day of reflection, prayer and penance on the part of the faithful, they must abstain from luxurious pleasures as well. Therefore, it is recommended that you fast and abstain during the Sabbath. This is a day when we are invited to reflect on Christ’s passion and death.

For the matter of listening to music, there is no specific rule stating that it is prohibited. What the church preaches is that the day before Easter should be dedicated to reflection and prayer. Therefore, secular pleasures must be set aside.

Hallelujah Saturday is a time for people to feel the sadness and pain for the death of Jesus, as well as Mary and his disciples. Therefore, try to dedicate the hours of that day to reflection on the life, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as to the practice of prayer.

According to Catholic tradition, Hallelujah Saturday is a day that should be dedicated to reflection, as a time to be with Mary, mother of Jesus, who saw her son die and awaits the resurrection. So this is a day to protect yourself and pray. Because of this, it is not convenient for the faithful to eat pleasant food, go to parties or consume alcohol.

Thus, the behavior of the faithful for Hallelujah Saturday must be one of silence and reflection. No celebration or gathering should be held, other than the Paschal Vigil during the night. We must live this day together with Mary, the mother who contemplated the death of her son and waited for his resurrection.

Hallelujah Saturday is an occasion that invites the faithful to reflect on the life, death, passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid secular pleasures on that day, including parties. This is an occasion for the believer to seek protection and pray, waiting with Mary for the resurrection of Jesus.

In addition to not going to parties, the church advises the faithful not to drink alcohol, not to eat meat, fast, protect themselves and pray. So the church…