Tenebrae (Latin for "shadows" or "darkness") is
a Christian religious
service celebrated within Western Christianity on the evening
before or early morning of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, which are the last three days of Holy Week. Tenebrae is distinctive for its gradual
extinguishing of candles while a series
of readings is recited.
I
have powerful memories of Holy Week as a child and teenager, and
my favorite service was always the Tenebrae Service held in the basement
fellowship hall at my childhood church. The candles and readings were set up and
said in the middle of the room, and folding chairs were set up in
circles around them.
The
series of readings at our service were the events leading up to Jesus' death, from the Last Supper to the crucifixion and death of Jesus (our
church didn't have Good Friday services). After each reading, the
reader extinguished another candle until there were no lights remaining, and we left in silence.
Today I
will be attending two Good Friday services, and although I am sure they will
powerful and spirit-filled, every Holy Week I am transported back to that
basement - - reading about the last hours of Jesus' life with people I love, temporarily extinguishing the light until it returns Easter morning.
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