Liturgical Notes about Holy Week and Easter
Liturgies
Tenebrae
When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against
me; but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. Luke 22:53 KJV
Tenebrae, which means shadows or darkness, is an ancient service
traditionally observed on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings of Holy
Week. St Peter's Cathedral is one of the few churches still to observe this
service in its traditional form and sequence, although many other churches
offer shortened or modernized versions on one evening in Holy Week.
Tenebrae combined the daily services of Matins and Lauds, intended
to be early morning services but observed by anticipation on the previous
evening according to medieval custom. Unlike ordinary Matins and Lauds which
were said only by clergy and those in religious orders, Tenebrae was a public
service. During liturgical reform in 1955, the Roman Catholic Church abolished
this service. The Anglican Church has adapted the ancient Latin service by
translation into English, and by the use of the Morning Prayer lessons for
the following day as scripture readings.
The main features of this service consist of chanted psalms and
scripture readings, accompanied by the gradual darkening of the church. Fifteen
candles, arranged in a plain triangular candelabra known as a "hearse", are
lit at the beginning of the service. These are extinguished one by one, after
each psalm, until only one remains lit. While the Benedictus is sung, all
other lights are extinguished, and the final candle, which represents Jesus
Christ, remains alight, and is removed and hidden from sight. In total
darkness, a penitential psalm, Psalm 51, "Miserere mei" by Gregorio Allegri,
is chanted and the collects said. Then follows a period of silence,
broken by a loud noise. Finally, the lit Christ candle is brought back to
its place, reminding us that Christ rose again from the dead. The congregation
then leaves in silence.
The encroaching darkness of Tenebrae allows us to recall the
desolation of Jesus abandoned in the dark, alone in the garden of Gethsemane,
when His friends could not stay awake to keep watch with Him
Matthew 26:40, alone at the trials, as His friend Peter denies
even knowing Him Mark 14:66-71, alone on the
cross, as He cries "Why hast thou forsaken me?" Mark 15:34
.We think of the physical darkness which fell over the earth at His crucifixion
Mark 15:33, when it seemed as if the powers
of darkness had conquered. The loud noise reminds us of the earthquake which
shook the ground at His death Matthew 27:51.
We are asked to contemplate the spiritual darkness of our own sin, and
our sin as the reason for the Lord's Passion.
But even in this service of darkness, the hope and the promise of the Resurrection
are not forgotten. The Christ candle remains lit, although hidden for
a time from our sight, to remind us that God did not allow his Son to remain
in Hades, but instead Christ rose from the dead ! The service of Tenebrae
does not forget this Resurrection to come, but asks us to think on the cost
of our salvation. Very soon will come the time when we unreservedly
celebrate the Risen Christ, but for now we are urged to repentance and contemplation.
Adaptedfrom an article by "L.M.P. Harris"
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross is a name used to signify either a series
of pictures or tableaux representing certain scenes in the Passion of Christ,
each corresponding to a particular incident, or the special form of devotion
connected with such representations.
They are usually hung at intervals around the walls of a church.
Although their general use did not appear until the end of the seventeenth
century, they are now quite common in many churches. There are 14 in
number which represent:
1. Jesus is condemned to death
2. Jesus takes up his Cross
3. Jesus falls the first time
4. Jesus meets his Mother
5. The Cross is laid upon Simon of Cyrene
6. A woman wipes the face of Jesus
7. Jesus falls a second time
8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
9. Jesus falls a third time
10. Jesus is stripped of his garments
11. Jesus is nailed to the Cross
12. Jesus dies on the Cross
13. The body of Jesus is placed in the arms of his Mother
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb
The object of the Stations is to help the faithful to make in
spirit, as it were, a pilgrimage to the chief scenes of Christ's sufferings
and death. It is carried out by passing from Station to Station, with
certain prayers at each, and devout meditation on the various incidents in
turn. Adapted from "Catholic Encyclopedia Website"
Maundy Thursday
This is the night that Christ the Lamb of God gave Himself into
the hands of those who would slay Him.
This is the night that Christ gathered with His disciples in
the Upper Room.
This is the night that Christ took a towel and washed the disciples'
feet, giving us an example that we should do to others as He has done to us.
This is the night that Christ our God gave us the Holy Eucharist,
that we who eat His flesh and drink His blood may proclaim His Holy Sacrifice
and be partakers of His Resurrection, and at the last day may reign with Him
in heaven.
The word Maundy comes from a Latin word meaning "commandment"
and reminds us of the three important commands given to us by Christ on this
day - love one another, do this in remembrance of me, and the command to the
disciples to wash each other's feet, that is, to give humble service to others.
At the Maundy Thursday service, we give thanks for the sacrament of the Holy
Eucharist by which we are strengthened in our spiritual lives and through
which Christ lives in us.
It is only fitting that the Maundy Thursday liturgy be deeply
moving. By the end of the day, the glory of its Sung Eucharist has given
way to silence and a church stripped bare. At the conclusion of the Mass,
the Blessed Sacrament is carried to the Altar of Repose, representing our
Lord's departure for the Garden of Gethsemane. It is there that the
clergy and the people will keep watch with our Lord, giving answer to his
question: "Could you not watch one hour with me?" In response to Jesus'
request, for centuries Christians have kept watch throughout the night of
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday morning.
St. Peter's Cathedral Bulletin
Easter Vigil
The Easter Vigil is a very beautiful service, rich with tradition and symbolism.
It consists of four main parts: (1) The Lighting of the "New Fire"
and the Paschal Candle; (2) Four Readings from the Old Testament;
(3) The Renewal of Baptismal Vows; and (4) The First Eucharist of Easter.
The Lighting of the "New Fire". In the darkened church, a fire is
kindled, and the Paschal Candle is lit from the flame of this "new fire".
As we see the light of the fire lighting up the darkness, we think of the
Light of Christ, who rose from the dead. In his resurrection, Jesus showed
that the powers of light are stronger than the powers of darkness, and that
the powers of life are stronger than the powers of death. The Paschal
Candle (a very large candle symbolic of Jesus and his resurrection)
is carried up the aisle in a solemn procession, as the words are chanted–
"The Light of Christ, Thanks be to God". Hand candles held by everyone
present are lit from the flame of the Paschal Candle.
Old Testament Readings. In the darkened church, by the flickering
of the light of many candles, Four Readings from the Old Testament help us
to recall God's "mighty acts" in ancient times. We listen to the Creation
story, the story of the People of Israel escaping from Egypt through the waters
of the Red Sea to begin their journey to the Promised Land, and two other
Old Testament readings.
The Renewal of Baptismal Vows. A procession to the font takes
place while the Litany is sung. At the font, water is blessed, and all
baptized Christian persons present are invited to renew their baptismal
vows. (Sometimes an actual baptism may take place). This reminds
us of the ancient tradition of the early church, in which new converts to
the Christian Faith were baptized and received into membership in the church
on Easter Eve.
The First Eucharist of Easter. As the climax of the Easter Vigil
Ceremonies, the Holy Eucharist is celebrated, and we rejoice in Jesus' Resurrection
with hymns of joy. "Jesus Christ is risen today. Alleluia".
Father Peter Harris
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