On Spy Wednesday 2024, our parish for the first time held a Tenebrae service.
Tenebrae (Latin for darkness) is one of the most ancient services in the Catholic Church; a special chanted form of the “hours” of Matins and Lauds (the first two hours of the Divine Office). Those hours consist of Psalms, Antiphons, and readings that highlight the sacred mysteries of Holy Week. The mood of the celebration focuses on the death of Jesus and is consequently very somber. A special candelabra, called a Tenebrae hearse, is employed, holding 15 candles. During the liturgy, the candles are extinguished one at a time after the chanting of the Psalms. The final candle, representing Christ, is not extinguished but hidden behind the altar after the last of the Scripture readings. A final prayer is said in the darkness, and a loud noise, the strepitus, ends the service. The last candle is then brought back into view. The faithful leave in silence and the mood is again very mournful, reflecting on the death of Christ and the darkness that covered the world on Good Friday.
The psalms were chanted by The St. Joseph Schola, under the direction of Ian Brown. They also sang works by Giovanni Croce, Lucovico da Vidiana, Orlando di Lassus, and Tomas Luis di Victoria, in addition to Gregorian chant.
