Tenebrae,

  • Thread starter Thread starter Roseeurekacross
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Roseeurekacross said:
What is this? Can anyone go.

Thanks!
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Tenebrae was a name for the morning Office of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, Matins and Lauds. It’s so-called because it was done by candlelight in the early hours of the morning before sunrise (or at least in a closed church) and candles were extinguished as the service progressed, such that at the end, the church was in darkness (tenebras).

The character of Tenebrae is sorrowful, and abrupt. It starts simply with the first antiphon (no opening greetings or versicles) and Psalm, the Gloria Patri and hymn are omitted.

Today the modern Liturgy of the Hours is celebrated during these days in much the same format as throughout the year, but even now can still be adapted into a Tenebrae-like service by combining the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer, and there’s nothing that prohibits the use of the candle hearse.

Sadly, Tenebrae or the communal morning Office is rarely celebrated these days, be it in the Ordinary or Extraordinary forms.

But if there is a celebration, yes, go. This is for all of the faithful.
 
porthos11 said:
Tenebrae was a name for the morning Office of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, Matins and Lauds. It’s so-called because it was done by candlelight in the early hours of the morning before sunrise (or at least in a closed church) and candles were extinguished as the service progressed, such that at the end, the church was in darkness (tenebras).

The character of Tenebrae is sorrowful, and abrupt. It starts simply with the first antiphon (no opening greetings or versicles) and Psalm, the Gloria Patri and hymn are omitted.

Today the modern Liturgy of the Hours is celebrated during these days in much the same format as throughout the year, but even now can still be adapted into a Tenebrae-like service by combining the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer, and there’s nothing that prohibits the use of the candle hearse.

Sadly, Tenebrae or the communal morning Office is rarely celebrated these days, be it in the Ordinary or Extraordinary forms.

But if there is a celebration, yes, go. This is for all of the faithful.
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Does the Tenebrae also end abruptly, without the dismissal found in the LOTH?
 
porthos11 said:
Tenebrae was a name for the morning Office of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, Matins and Lauds. It’s so-called because it was done by candlelight in the early hours of the morning before sunrise (or at least in a closed church) and candles were extinguished as the service progressed, such that at the end, the church was in darkness (tenebras).

The character of Tenebrae is sorrowful, and abrupt. It starts simply with the first antiphon (no opening greetings or versicles) and Psalm, the Gloria Patri and hymn are omitted.

Today the modern Liturgy of the Hours is celebrated during these days in much the same format as throughout the year, but even now can still be adapted into a Tenebrae-like service by combining the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer, and there’s nothing that prohibits the use of the candle hearse.

Sadly, Tenebrae or the communal morning Office is rarely celebrated these days, be it in the Ordinary or Extraordinary forms.

But if there is a celebration, yes, go. This is for all of the faithful.
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The Monastic Liturgy of the Hours has retained the tradition of no opening verse, going straight to the first antiphon and psalm, no concluding verses, etc.

It’s a pity that the LOTH didn’t retain this in the rubrics. Perhaps because the LOTH is already rather short. Our choir is chanting for Lauds on Holy Saturday at the cathedral using the LOTH. If we weren’t, I’d pray the monastic office instead (which I can do licitly as I’m an oblate), in the old tradition. I’ll probably do so for Holy Thursday Compline, Good Friday Lauds, and Holy Saturday Vespers, and the minor hours, so that I can respect this tradition.

Also the responsory is replaced by the Gradual “Christus factus est” which is very beautiful but does require some training and rehearsal to master! On Holy Thursday “Christus facts est pro nobis oboediens usque ad mortem”. Then each other day of the Triduum another portion is sung until on Holy Saturday the full Gradual is sung at Lauds.

Incidentally I believe that Tenebrae was also celebrated by anticipation the prior evening (to ensure the service ended in darkness), so it was an oddity that Lauds was celebrated in the evening instead of the morning. The Holy Week reforms of 1955 I believe put an end to this.
 
My Parish celebrates the Tenebrae every year. It is chanted by our choir members. We have a very beautiful Tenebrae candelabra. Very spiritually rewarding. Definitely attend if you are able.
 
Thanks, it is on in the Cathedral, I am looking forward to it now. 😇
 
How wonderful to find this in your cathedral! Please let us know your thoughts afterward.

There is only one office of Tenebrae that I know of in the entire archdiocese, and only on Holy Saturday morning. In order to attend I have to drag myself out of bed at 0-dark-ugly and drive to the middle of nowhere. This is no small feat for me because parish service commitments mean long nights Thursday, Friday and Saturday plus an early, long day on Sunday, all of which was preceded by a week and a half of very long preparatory days. But I’ll be there! God bless 🙂

Last year I ran over a bird on my way to Tenebrae. Please pray that doesn’t happen again ⭕(
 
Absolutely amazingly beautiful. We even had professional opera type singers.
 
Nice!

Interestingly…the Tenebrae is very popular around here with the Methodist Churches.
They traditionally have one on Weds of Holy Week.
 
We have our Tenebrae service on the Wednesday evening of Holy Week. It is a beautiful service, but not many attend, which is disappointing.
 
CB_Catholic said:
We have our Tenebrae service on the Wednesday evening of Holy Week. It is a beautiful service, but not many attend, which is disappointing.
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Disappointment here as well. I think there were seven people last year, plus the five canons.
 
I think it might be the best kept unintentional secret of the Catholic Church.

This is where I found the beauty and simplicity of our Faith. What being Catholic means, if you like. Just hanging out with the Bishop , Clergy, Alter boys and a very talented Choir, glorifying God.
 
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