Tenebrae creates Lenten mood

On Good Friday, some parishioners at St. John the Evangelist Church in Schenectady won't head home after Good Friday services at their cluster parish of St. Mary's conclude.

Instead, they'll head back to their own church for a Tenebrae service.

Tenebrae -- a Latin word meaning "shadows" or "darkness" -- is a centuries-old Christian devotion that some parishes in the Albany Diocese use to enhance their Lenten observances. It is traditionally held as evening prayer during the last three days of Holy Week.

Dark night

Tenebrae recalls the events of Good Friday through Scripture readings, the darkening of the church and highly symbolic gestures, such as the extinguishing of candles and the crashing-together of cymbals to signify the closing of Jesus' tomb. The Easter candle is ushered out of the church at that time.

According to Sister Joan Vlaun, faith formation director at St. John's, the service begins with 21 candles burning. During readings from Lamentations, Psalms and the Gospels, the lights are gradually snuffed until the church is in total darkness. When the final, cataclysmic noise is made, parishioners exit in silence.

"Every year I jump, even though I know what's coming," she said.

Solemn occasion

The mood of a Tenebrae service is somber; the attitude funereal. In some places, the candles are held in a special candelabra known as a "hearse."

No service during the church year is more Scriptural, believes Sister Joan, who noted that "every single word" of the service is taken from the Bible.

"It's given me a deeper appreciation for the Psalms, and how deep the linkage is between the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures," said Sister Joan. "It's tremendous. It's just become part of Good Friday for me."

(The Tenebrae service has been adopted by other Christian traditions, including the Episcopalians, Disciples of Christ and Methodists.)

(3/24/05)