Tenebrae

This ancient service was used throughout the Catholic monastic world for many, many centuries during Holy Week. Consisting almost entirely of Scriptural readings, it is a meditation on the sorrows, the profundity and the hopes involved in the Passion of Christ. It is in this way that we too, in a shortened form of the original service, have decided to use it.

The Antiphons (fragments of the readings meant to pinpoint an aspect of its spiritual message) and the psalms are read by all, while the Officiant and the Cantors read or sing certain passages as the candles are gradually put out until total darkness prevails; after which a dramatic reminder of the Resurrection is given.

There are no scheduled readers for this service; we invite you to join in as fully as possible, and to read and come forward to extinguish candles as you feel the spirit move.