Tenebrae

This article is about a religious service, for other meanings see tenebrae.

Tenebrae (Latin for shadows) is a religious service celebrated by the Western Church on the eves of the last three days of Holy Week characterized by the gradual extinguishing of candles. Prior to the second Vatican council it was observed by the Roman Catholic Church and it continues to be observed by some Episcopal and Anglican churches. In the United States the name is also given to various other Holy Week services of the Lutheran, United Methodist, United Church of Christ and Presbyterian churches. Variations of it are sometimes celebrated in less formal or non-denominational churches.

The service is typically celebrated on the evenings of Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday and consists of the psalms and readings from the Book of Lamentations from the offices of Matins and Lauds for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.[1]

Lighting is gradually reduced throughout the service, initially being fully lit, the 15 candles) being extinguished one by one after each lesson. The last candle is hidden beneath the altar, ending the service in total darkness. In some places the use of a strepitus (Latin for "great noise") is included as part of the service; this may consist of a book being shut but often is produced by banging of hymnals against pews or stopping on the floor, symbolizing the earthquake that followed Christ's death. This custom seems to have originated as a simple signal to depart in silence. [2]

Some Tenebrae services include other psalms, readings, prayers, hymns and choral works, but never Holy Communion. Texts used within the service usually include the Book of Lamentations.

Musical settings

see also Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet

The lessons from Lamentations have been set to music by many composers, of whom the most famous are Palestrina, Tallis, Lassus, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Francois Couperin, Ernst Krenek (Lamentatio Jeremiae prophetae, op. 93) and Stravinsky (Threni). In addition, the responses have been set by Lassus and Gesualdo.

Other versions of Tenebrae

In some Protestant versions of the service, Tenebrae is combined with the communion service of Maundy Thursday and / or with the stripping of the altar, which means that the decorative elements, such as any cloths on the altar or removable objects of devotion, are removed. Imagery such as icons, crucifixes, altar decorations and other decorative but immovable objects, are covered by plain cloths or otherwise hidden in some manner. This happens as the service progresses so that whilst at the start of the service the place of worship is in its usual state at the end it is totally plain.

Also, in some versions of the service, the elaboration of the acts of worship are reduced, usually starting with a full choir and organ or other form of elaborate accompaniment which is gradually reduced. At one point the choir leaves and does not return, at another the organ or other musical accompaniment ceases. Eventually the service ends with an abrupt silence and people traditionally leave without talking to others.

Precedents

The rites associated with Tenebrae may be derived from customs that are connected to the Jewish fast day of Tisha B'Av (the Ninth Day of Av.) On this day the Book of Lamentations is read, the synagogue is darkened and decorative elements are removed.[3]

External links

• Roman Catholic devotions: Tenebrae
• An Episcopal Tenebrae service
• Tenebrae - Catholic Encyclopedia article
• Tenebrae Hearse - Catholic Encyclopedia article
• United Methodist Church Tenebrae
• Sample non-denominational Tenebrae
• Tenebrae (an Explanation) in St. Louis, MO