Holy Family Parish, Vancouver, BC » Office

Office of Tenebrae

John — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 17:03:24 +0000

As in previous years, the Office of Tenebrae will be sung at 7:30 am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of Holy Week. Please consider attending this solemn service of readings and prayers, so rich with symbolism and profound meditation.

Holy Week schedule, 2010

John — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:27:27 +0000

Maundy Thursday
7:30 am Office of Tenebrae
7:30 pm Mass of the Institution of the Blessed Sacrament

Good Friday
7:30 am Office of Tenebrae
3:00 pm Mass of the Presanctified

Holy Saturday
10:00 pm Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday
8:00 am Low Mass
10:30 am High Mass

Please note that there is no Mass in Abbotsford on Easter Sunday.

Divine Mercy, 29 April 2009

John — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:28:45 +0000

The Divine Mercy Chaplet will be sung during Exposition of the Bless Sacrament at Vespers, according to the traditional Polish melody. A plenary indulgence is available, under the usual conditions of Confession, Holy Communion and prayers for the Holy Father, for participating in Divine Mercy devotions on this octave day of Easter, which was instituted as Divine Mercy Sunday by Pope John Paul II.

Holy Week schedule, 2009

John — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:03:30 +0000

Here is the schedule of services for the Sacred Triduum and Easter Sunday at Holy Family parish.

Maundy Thursday (9 April)
7:30 am Tenebrae
7:30 pm Solemn evening Mass

Good Friday (10 April)
7:30 am Tenebrae
3:00 pm Solemn afternoon Liturgy

Holy Saturday (11 April)
7:30 am Tenebrae
10:00pm Easter Vigil Mass

Easter Sunday (12 April)
8:00 am Mass
10:30 am Mass

Note that there is no Mass in Abbotsford on Easter Sunday

Office of Tenebrae

John — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:40:57 +0000

It is not an overstatement to say that Tenebrae is one of the best meditations of the year. — Fr Deprey

This year we will sing the office of Tenebrae at 7:30 am during the Sacred Triduum (i.e. Thursday, Friday and Saturday of Holy Week). The word tenebrae is Latin for ‘darkness’ or ‘shadows’. For centuries, this word has been applied to the ancient monastic practice of singing the Office of Matins and Lauds in a special way during Holy Week. It is a haunting service interspersed with mournful readings from Scripture. Its sorrowful character reflects the Church’s sadness concerning the rejection of Christ by His chosen people, and the suffering and death He endured for our sins. As the psalms and readings progress, 14 candles of a 15-candled hearse, as well as the 6 candles of the high altar, are extinguished, leaving one lone candle, which is finally removed from the hearse and hidden behind the altar. This candle represents Christ. The darkness and silence that follows is punctuated by the sudden noise of the strepitus, which evokes the earthquake and convulsions of nature which occurred, as well as the beating of the breasts made by the onlookers at the death of Christ. The darkness recalls the eclipse of the sun (see St Matthew 27:45ff, St Mark 15:33ff, and St Luke 23:44ff). Afterwards, the hidden candle is restored to its place, and by this light all depart in silence. The light of Christ cannot be extinguished for He is the Light of the World (St John 8:12).

Tenebrae will help deepen one’s appreciation of the mysteries of Holy Week. Booklets will be provided with the psalms and readings in English translation. It is also found in many hand missals.

[The image above shows the Tenebrae hearse, with only the final candle symbolising the Light of Christ remaining lit, during the singing of the office at the Birmingham Oratory. This important church of the Catholic revival in Great Britain was established by the Venerable John Henry Newman, who will be beatified in 2010 by Pope Benedict.]