Tenebrae

Latin | 7:00 - 9:30 pm

The church will be open throughout Tenebrae.

Tenebrae is a liturgical service of sung readings and Psalms that features distinctive symbolic elements of Christ’s passion and death. It is designed to serve as a powerful, reflective experience for the faithful ahead of the Easter Triduum. 

Tenebrae means “shadows” or “darkness” in Latin. The service shows the darkness that comes over the earth upon Christ’s death.

The representation of the darkness of sin and death serve to call the faithful to embrace the light of Christ, who has conquered death.

One of the chants of the service draws from Scripture that tenebrae factae sunt — “darkness fell” at the death of Christ (Matthew 27:45-46).

Candles are gradually extinguished, and a loud noise, called a “strepitus” at the service’s conclusion symbolizes the chaos following Christ’s death. 

According to Tradition: Historically, it was a portion of the Liturgy of the Hours prayers of Matins and Lauds for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of Holy Week.

Now, Held by some parishes and monasteries on Spy Wednesday of Holy Week, Tenebrae is not only rich in striking visual elements, but also features some of the most distinctively mournful music the Church has to offer with the chanting of the Lamentations of Jeremiah and the Psalms.

The original article has been modified, view original on National Catholic Register.