The day after Easter is a feast day, but this does not surprise us, because the liturgy teaches us that, beginning on Easter, it is actually Easter - and therefore a feast - for eight days (called the octave of Easter), which end with Divine Mercy Sunday, which this year we celebrate on April 16.
Easter therefore marks the beginning of the celebration and of life as those risen, that is, reborn in Christ, and the Monday after Easter inaugurates the celebration that continues.
But why is this day, usually devoted to outings, called Angel Monday? The name, which comes from popular tradition, refers to the fact that, on the day after Easter, we remember the encounter between the women who came to the tomb and the angel who announced Jesus' resurrection to them: βDo not be afraid! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified one. He has risen, he is not hereβ (Mt 16:6).
Pope Francis comments on this encounter as follows: βThe image of the angel sitting on the stone of the tomb is the concrete, visible manifestation of God's victory over evil. From the angel's words, we can draw a precious lesson: let us never tire of seeking the risen Christ, who gives life in abundance to all who encounter him.β
So, on this Angel Monday, let the angel's words resonate in our hearts: βHe is not here. He has risen,β and let us continue to live as those risen, as bearers of light!
To delve deeper into the theme of Divine Mercy
β¬ 3,00 2,85
β¬ 7,00 5,60
β¬ 9,00 8,55
β¬ 5,00 4,00
β¬ 9,00 7,20
