This day, along with Palm Sunday, occupies a special position between Lent and Holy Week.  Following the forty days of penitence which have just ended, and immediately before the days of darkness and mourning which are to follow in the week of the Passion, there come two days of joy and triumph on which the Church keeps festival.  The Saturday before Palm Sunday celebrates the raising of Lazarus at Bethany (John 11:1-46).  This miracle is performed by Christ as a reassurance to His disciples before the coming Passion: they are to understand that, though He suffers and dies, y