In anticipation of my baptism
extrahappy
I was looking up my parish’s Holy Week schedule. On Wed evening there is a service called Tenebrae. What is this? I looked it up on Wikipedia and there is a brief explanation, but I was hoping someone who has been to one can give me an idea of what it’s like. I am off work by then so I would like to go if possible.
Tenebrae is composed of the old offices of Vigils and Lauds for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, “anticipated” on the evening before those days. Since there are already evening liturgies on Holy Thursday and (in many places) on Good Friday, in actual practice you usually only find Tenebrae on Wednesday evening of Holy Week – if you’re lucky enough to find it at all!
The traditional monastic Office in Holy Week was pared back to the minimum: just the psalms, canticles, readings, and responsories, concluding with a single prayer. No opening, ceremones, hymns, dismissal, etc.
The readings – from the Lamentations of Jeremiah – have their own unique chant setting for Tenebrae. which is quite affecting.
The coolest part is where the title comes from – “tenebrae” is Latin for “shadows”. The service is sung with the church as dark as possible. In the chancel is a triangular stand holding 15 candles, which are put out one by one as the service progresses. The final candle – at the very end of the service – is not put out, but taken and “hidden” behind the altar. Then in silence the celebrant makes a loud bang, calling to mind the earthquake at the time of the Passion, the candle is brought back out and returned to the stand, and everyone departs in silence.
Done right, it’s extremely powerful! I hope you can go.
