Posted on 04/01/2007 7:51:41 PM PDT by NYer
Just returned from the Tenebrae service and thought I would share it with you, since there had been such interest.
The Tenebrae is the office of Matins and Lauds sung on the last three days of holy week, with a ceremony of candles. There was a 7 candle candelebra on the altar. The gradual extinction of the candles during the service is accompanied by chorales and narrations.
"Tenebrae" is the Latin word meaning "Shadows". The sanctuary is progressively darkened as the candles are extinguished. At the end, only one candle remains burning. This light is removed for a short time, symbolizing Christ's three days in the tomb. The light is then returned spreading His light among the disciples.
Congregational Hymn:
Based on Ps. 91
Into your hands, Lord, I command my soul.
The Service
First Narration: "The Shadow of Betrayal" - Mt. 26, 20-25
Congregational Hymn & Meditation: "Into Your Hands"
Choir: "Kyrie Eleison: "Solemn Mass" - Vierne
Second Narration: "The Shadow of Desertion" Mt. 26, 30-35
Congregational Hymn & Meditation: "Into Your Hands"
Choir: "Panis Angelicus" - Franck
Third Narration: - "The Shadow of an Unshared Vigil" Lk. 22, 39-46
Congregational Hymn & Meditation: "Into Your Hands"
Choir: "Ave Verum" - Mawby
Fourth Narration: "The Shadow of Accusation" Mk. 14, 43-63
Congregational Hymn & Meditation: "Into Your Hands"
Choir: "Draw Me Nearer" - Schrader
Fifth Narration: "The Shadow of Crucifixion" Mt. 27, 27-38
Congregational Hymn & Meditation: "Into Your Hands"
Choir: "How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place" - Brahms
Sixth Narration: "The Shadow of Death" Lk. 23, 44-49
Congregational Hymn & Meditation: "Into Your Hands"
Choir: "God So Loved the World" - Stainer
Seventh Narration: "The Shadow of The Tomb" Jn. 19, 38-42
Congregational Hymn & Meditation: "Into Your Hands"
Choir: "I Come To The Cross" - From "The Shadow Of The Cross" - Larson
Organ/Electronic Tape: "God of The Expanding Universe" - Feliciano
Choir: "Because He Lives" - Gaither
The choir and organist were absolutely fantastic!
Very nice report.
Tenebrae is also part of the Lutheran Service.
I thought tenebrae was held on Good Friday, symbolizing the darkness after the crucifixion. I am curious why your church celebrated it on Palm Sunday?
In our old church, we always held the Tenebrae service on the evening of Maundy Thursday, as a preparation for Good Friday.
The "Magnificat" Holy Week supplement has a suggestion for holding a Tenebrae observance Thursday and Friday morning (before it gets light) at home. I plan to give it a try.
In the pre-VII days, Tenebrae was normally done from Spy Wednesday through Good Friday. At our church, Holy Trinity in Boston, the TLM community has been doing the whole thing on Wednesday evenings. This year's appears to be our last, since the archbishop has slated our church for closure in the near future, and the Latin Mass folks are to leave on April 15. Our Tenebrae service is quite beautiful and starts at 7 PM for anyone in the Boston area who might be interested.
Also, the article states that tenebrae is the Latin word for "shadows." It is better translated as "darkness."
Don't know anything about the tradition and this is not my parish. Ultimately, the purpose of this is to prepare us for Holy Week. May you and yours have a blessed one.
That would make perfect sense. As noted, this is the first time I have ever attended such a service but enjoyed it very much. Do TEC parishes do 'Lessons & Carols' during Advent? I get the impression that some of these older services were adopted or restored by certain Catholic Churches, post VCII.
It sounds beautiful. Thanks, NYer.
Yes, Lessons and Carols are big with traditional Anglicans, as are choral Evensongs throughout the year. Sadly, many of the best choirs were taken over early by the lavender set, and the evangelicals have limited interest in what they perceive as "High Church" and therefore too Catholic.
That is more in keeping with the tradition of Tenebrae being conducted about 4:00 am - pre-dawn, the dawn symbolizing Christ, the light, so the final candle coming back to light is somewhat coinciding with the coming of real dawn.
I guess parishes are doing it in the evening for practical reasons, much easier for families to get to church then than at 4 am, but it loses some effect that way, some of the symbolism.
You’re not going to get much turnout in a suburban parish for a 4 a.m. service, and certainly nobody with children, especially on a weekday. However, we can start about 6 a.m. here, and be finished before sunrise is visible.
For anyone in the South Jersey/Philly area, Mater Ecclesiae in Berlin, NJ will have the full Gregorian Chanted Tenebrae services straight out of the 1962 Liber Usualis for the Triduum at 9 am each morning of the Triduum. Each service is approx 2 hours each. www.materecclesiae.org
Wow! That’s pretty quick. Our chanted Tenebrae last night lasted 2 hours 45 minutes. Just beautiful.
That would be for a shortened version, intended for a family with children, at home. Not the “Real Thing”!
I've sung in 4 choirs now and all of the directors have been homosexuals. One of the choirs had 2 homosexuals in charge. One of them is married with children, but me and a friend who knows him pretty well are convinced he's a homosexual, whether he's admitted it to himself yet or not.
I've not found the singers to be overrepresented by homosexuals.
A bump for 2010.
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