Tenebrae

So I got the opportunity to attend a local Tenebrae service in the Extraordinary Form today. And it just goes to show that there is so much hidden beauty in the Church, beauty that definitely needs to be less hidden.

Tenebrae (Latin for shadow) is the celebration of Matins and Lauds of the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter). Originally, it was celebrated during the early morning hours of each of the three holy days, as is the norm for Matins and Lauds (the first two hours of the Liturgy of the Hours). Since then, Tenebrae is celebrated on the Wednesday before Holy Thursday, often in the evening. During the service, the psalms of Matins are recited, followed by lessons from Lamentations, then the psalms of Lauds, ending with the Benedictus, or the Canticle of Zechariah. It also involves a large candlestick holder, known as a hearse, that holds 15 candles. After the recitation of each psalm, a candle is blown out and various other lights in the church are put out. During the Benedictus, the six candles on the altar are also extinguished, until the very end, when the church is lit only by the top candle on the hearse. This candle is then placed under the altar and the church is immersed in darkness. The end of the service is signified by the strepitus, or great noise. The congregation slams a book shut or hits a hymnal against a pew. In my opinion, this was probably the most symbolically significant point of the service, signifying the earthquake that took place at the death of Christ. The noise begins unexpectedly and takes everyone by surprise. I took a moment to appreciate the noise because it was quite beautiful, in its own right. And then I took part in slamming my hymnal. At the risk of sounding slightly sacrilegious, it was alot of fun doing so.

It sounds like a lot, and given the fact that the particular Tenebrae I attended was in Latin, it was easy to get lost at times. But still, it was definitely something better experienced than talked about. Like I said earlier, it is a not-so-well-known gem of the Church, something that only adds to the beauty and rich tradition of the faith. It was an excellent start to the Easter Triduum, allowing me to reflect on all that has happened during this Lenten season. It has prepared me for the finality of the Holy Thursday, the suffering of Good Friday, the rejoicing during the Easter Vigil, and the hope of Easter Sunday.

As we enter these holiest of holy days, may we all be prepared.

Dominus vobiscum