Toward a Pastoral Theology of Holy Saturday: Providing Spiritual Care for War Wounded Souls

Veterans who experience the overwhelming trauma of war are often still stuck in the far country. In the aftermath many feel abandoned by God. Adam D. Tietje suggests that Holy Saturday Christs descent into hell is the place where God fully identifies with our God-abandonment. In light of the resurrection it can be seen that the complete hiddenness of God on Holy Saturday is in fact the fullness of revelation. God has chosen to be revealed precisely through the cross and the grave. The author takes a Chalcedonian approach to the problem of relating a theology of Holy Saturday to the psychology of trauma. Through the use of this method he suggests that pastoral caregivers might understand trauma and moral injury as soul wounds. Sanctuary lament and confession and forgiveness and reconciliation are found to provide a direction for the care of such wounds.