Parishioners ponder Holy Week sorrow

By Anita Sulentic, 5 April 2023
The candles are extinguished during the 2023 Office of Tenebrae at St Patrick's Cathedral., Parramatta. Image: Diocese of Parramatta.

 

The centuries-old tradition, the Office of Tenebrae liturgy, saw priests, seminarians, parishioners and the St Patrick’s Cathedral Choir gather at St Patrick’s Cathedral Parramatta, to ponder the mystery of sorrow during the Diocese of Parramatta’s series of events for Holy Week 2023.

Related: Tenebrae liturgy an opportunity to reflect and contemplate events of Holy Week

Held on Monday 3 April 2023, the service, led by Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, featured lamentations and the gradual extinguishing of candles, symbolizing the events before the Crucifixion, and ending with a “strepitus” or loud noise.

Tenebrae is the Latin word for ‘darkness’ or ‘shadows’, and this service has been a feature of Holy Week for centuries, dating back to the ninth century. It is a contrast to the Easter Vigil that begins in darkness and moves to light.

Monday’s service was based on the Matins (readings) and Lauds (Morning Prayers) of Tuesday in Holy Week. The arrangement was structured into three nocturns that included chanting the lamentations of Jeremiah, followed by readings and a responsory sung by the schola.

The responsories sung by the magnificent St Patrick’s Cathedral choir pondered the dark mystery of sorrow as attendees remembered the suffering of Jesus as he entered into His Passion.

As the evening progressed, one of 14 candles were extinguished until only a single candle – the symbol of Christ – remained lit and was removed from the Cathedral. For a brief period, everyone stood in darkness, meditating upon the mystery of Christ’s death, before stomping, banging and making as loud a noise as possible to represent the “strepitus”, symbolising the earthquake at the time of Jesus’ resurrection (Matthew 28:2). The service concluded with a single candle was restored to its place, and the congregation departing in silence.

Following the event, parishioners commented on the beauty and solemnity of the event, with all emphatically stating how incredible the St Patrick’s Cathedral choir are.

See all the images from the night here.

Watch the livestream of the service here.

 

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