- - -tenebrae- - -
It seems that Tenebrae, meaning "darkness" in Latin, is the least known of the Holy Week celebrations. Unfortunately, some parishes don't even seem to offer it anymore. It's a beautiful service, but the beauty is one of a mournful sense. The church is darkened and lit by candles placed upon the altar. The number of candles can range anywhere from 8 to 21, corresponding to the number of readings in addition to one candle which represents Christ. At my parish, we used 11 candles this year.
Tenebrae is indeed beautiful; however, it is also one of the most grim and saddening services of the year. Readings are taken from the Psalms, the Book of Lamentations, the Prophet Isaiah, the Gospel of John, and St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews. They speak of desolation, destruction, abandonment to the forces of evil, and apparent hopelessness. We see in the words of the Old Testament the predictions of Christ's Passion. The prophets' despairing cries of misery give us some insight into what Jesus must have felt. During His agony at Gethsemane, the disciples whom He had brought with Him fell asleep. He was left alone in contemplation of what was soon to come. In the darkness, He felt the unimaginable weight of every person's sins bearing down upon Him. When the guards of the high priests came to seize Him, His disciples scattered and fled into the night. What must it have felt like to be abandoned by His closest friends? As He carried His cross and fell again, and again, and again...I cannot even begin to fathom what He was feeling.
After each reading a candle was extinguished. Gradually the church grew ever darker until only the Christ candle remained. Following the last reading, it was taken away, symbolizing the Lord's death. In the darkness, the strepitus was sounded. From the choir loft, the organ blared with dischords, hymnals were smashed against the walls, and chairs were shaken to symbolize the earthquake at Christ's death. After a few moments of silence, the Christ candle was placed back on the altar, representing the coming resurrection. All departed in silence.
Tenebrae is indeed beautiful; however, it is also one of the most grim and saddening services of the year. Readings are taken from the Psalms, the Book of Lamentations, the Prophet Isaiah, the Gospel of John, and St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews. They speak of desolation, destruction, abandonment to the forces of evil, and apparent hopelessness. We see in the words of the Old Testament the predictions of Christ's Passion. The prophets' despairing cries of misery give us some insight into what Jesus must have felt. During His agony at Gethsemane, the disciples whom He had brought with Him fell asleep. He was left alone in contemplation of what was soon to come. In the darkness, He felt the unimaginable weight of every person's sins bearing down upon Him. When the guards of the high priests came to seize Him, His disciples scattered and fled into the night. What must it have felt like to be abandoned by His closest friends? As He carried His cross and fell again, and again, and again...I cannot even begin to fathom what He was feeling.
After each reading a candle was extinguished. Gradually the church grew ever darker until only the Christ candle remained. Following the last reading, it was taken away, symbolizing the Lord's death. In the darkness, the strepitus was sounded. From the choir loft, the organ blared with dischords, hymnals were smashed against the walls, and chairs were shaken to symbolize the earthquake at Christ's death. After a few moments of silence, the Christ candle was placed back on the altar, representing the coming resurrection. All departed in silence.