Tenebræ Recap
Tenebræ Begins
Last night’s Tenebræ service was sublime. It lasted about an hour and a half, and just being in that gathering in deepening darkness as the sound of chanted prayer filled the church was an experience I’ll not soon forget.
We had about eighty or so people there – far more than we had anticipated. We only printed about thirty service books, so there was a lot of sharing going on.
There were three lectors for the nine readings and responsories, and they were excellent.
We definitely had some hesitancy at the beginning as people got used to the idea and practice of chanting the psalms, but by the time we were through the First Nocturne – three psalms in – they pretty much had it down.
It was glorious.
I suspect that we’ll be doing this again next year.
Tenebræ ends with a single candle illuminating the church, representing the light of Christ.
It also gave added impetus to the idea of offering chanted Vespers on a regular schedule. Perhaps not on Sundays, as we’ve had during Lent, but certainly in some form.
I’m grateful to Fr. Maurer for leading this great restoration of the Divine Office at Holy Rosary. I’m also grateful to those who helped put this together or served at the service, especially Sister Hanh, Gary Rose, and Lacey O’Delle.
And I salute our Altar Servers who served at Tenebræ, and at Vespers throughout the past season. You guys were magnificent.