Tenebrae

The Evening Service for Wednesday of Holy Week

Tenebrae is a Latin word meaning "darkness," and is the popular name for the special forms of the offices of Mattins and Lauds appointed for the last three days in Holy Week. Because it is now a nearly universal practice to hold the liturgies for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday in the evening, it has become customary, in some places, to offer Tenebrae in the evening on Holy Wednesday, at times drawing elements from Tenebrae of Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Perhaps the most striking feature of the service is the gradual extinguishing of the candles until only one is left, which is then concealed for a time until a loud noise is made (signifying the earthquake at the time of the Resurrection), whereupon the hidden candle is restored to its place in anticipation of the Resurrection. The congregation then departs in silence.
 


 
After the procession to the choir, all kneel and pray silently. Then all stand and say in silence Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Apostles' Creed. The Cantor then intones the first antiphon, which is continued by the Choir. All sit when the Cantor begins intoning the first Psalm.

Nocturn I

Psalm 69. Salvum me fac.

Antiphon: (Zebu domus) The zeal of thine house hath even eaten me: and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee are fallen upon me.

SAVE me, O God; * for the waters are come in, even unto my soul.
2  I stick fast in the deep mire, where no ground is; * I am come into deep waters, so that the floods run over me.
3  I am weary of crying; my throat is dry; * my sight faileth me for waiting so long upon my God.
4  They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; * they that are mine enemies, and would destroy me guiltless, are mighty.
5  I paid them the things that I never took: * God, thou knowest my simpleness, and my faults are not hid from thee.
6  Let not them that trust in thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my cause; * let not those that seek thee be confounded through me, O Lord God of Israel.
7  And why? for thy sake have I suffered reproof; * shame hath covered my face.
8  I am become a stranger unto my brethren, * even an alien unto my mother's children.
9  For the zeal of thine house hath even eaten me; * and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee are fallen upon me.
10  I wept, and chastened myself with fasting, * and that was turned to my reproof.
11  I put on sackcloth also, * and they jested upon me.
12  They that sit in the gate speak against me, * and the drunkards make songs upon me.
13  But, Lord, I make my prayer unto thee * in an acceptable time.
14  Hear me, O God, in the multitude of thy mercy, * even in the truth of thy salvation.
15  Take me out of the mire, that I sink not; * O let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
16  Let not the water-flood drown me, neither let the deep swallow me up; * and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
17  Hear me, O Lord, for thy loving-kindness is comfortable; * turn thee unto me according to the multitude of thy mercies.
18  And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: * O haste thee, and hear me.
19  Draw nigh unto my soul, and save it; * O deliver me, because of mine enemies.
20  Thou hast known my reproach, my shame, and my dishonour: * mine adversaries are all in thy sight.
21  Reproach hath broken my heart; I am full of heaviness: * I looked for some to have pity on me, but there was no man, neither found I any to comfort me.
22  They gave me gall to eat; * and when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.
 
23  Let their table be made a snare to take themselves withal; * and let the things that should have been for their wealth be unto them an occasion of falling.
24  Let their eyes be blinded, that they see not; * and ever bow thou down their backs.
25  Pour out thine indignation upon them, * and let thy wrathful displeasure take hold of them.
26  Let their habitation be void, * and no man to dwell in their tents.
27  For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; * and they talk how they may vex them whom thou hast wounded.
28  Let them fall from one wickedness to another, * and not come into thy righteousness.
29  Let them be wiped out of the book of the living, * and not be written among the righteous.
30  As for me, when I am poor and in heaviness, * thy help, O God, shall lift me up.
31  I will praise the Name of God with a song, * and magnify it with thanksgiving.
32  This also shall please the Lord * better than a bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
33  The humble shall consider this, and be glad: * seek ye after God, and your soul shall live.
34  For the Lord heareth the poor, * and despiseth not his prisoners.
35  Let heaven and earth praise him: * the sea, and all that moveth therein.
36  For God will save Sion, and build the cities of Judah, * that men may dwell there, and have it in possession.
37  The posterity also of his servants shall inherit it; * and they that love his Name shall dwell therein.

Repeat Antiphon: (Zebu domus) The zeal of thine house hath even eaten me: and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee are fallen upon me.

Psalm 70. Deus, in adjutorium.

Antiphon: (Avenantur retrorsum) Let them be turned backward and put to confusion, that wish me evil.

HASTE thee, O God, to deliver me; * make haste to help me, O Lord.
2  Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul; * let them be turned backward and put to confusion that wish me evil.
3  Let them for their reward be soon brought to shame, * that cry over me, There! there!
4  But let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee: * and let all such as delight in thy salvation say alway, The Lord be praised.
5  As for me, I am poor and in misery: * haste thee unto me, O God.
6  Thou art my helper, and my redeemer: * O Lord, make no long tarrying.

Repeat Antiphon: (Avenantur retrorsum) Let them be turned backward and put to confusion, that wish me evil.

Psalm 71. In te, Domine, speravi.

Antiphon: (Deus meus) Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly.

IN thee, O Lord, have I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion, * but rid me and deliver me in thy righteousness; incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
2  Be thou my stronghold, whereunto I may alway resort: * thou hast promised to help me, for thou art my house of defence, and my castle.
3  Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly, * out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
4  For thou, O Lord God, art the thing that I long for: * thou art my hope, even from my youth.
5  Through thee have I been holden up ever since I was born: * thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb: my praise shall be alway of thee.
6  I am become as it were a monster unto many, * but my sure trust is in thee.
7  O let my mouth be filled with thy praise, * that I may sing of thy glory and honour all the day long.
8  Cast me not away in the time of age; * forsake me not when my strength faileth me.
9  For mine enemies speak against me; * and they that lay wait for my soul take their counsel together, saying,
10  God hath forsaken him; * persecute him, and take him, for there is none to deliver him.
11  Go not far from me, O God; * my God, haste thee to help me.
12  Let them be confounded and perish that are against my soul; * let them be covered with shame and dishonour that seek to do me evil.
13  As for me, I will patiently abide alway, * and will praise thee more and more.
14  My mouth shall daily speak of thy righteousness and salvation; * for I know no end thereof.
15  I will go forth in the strength of the Lord God, * and will make mention of thy righteousness only.
16  Thou, O God, hast taught me from my youth up until now; * therefore will I tell of thy wondrous works.
17  Forsake me not, O God, in mine old age, when I am gray-headed, * until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to all them that are yet for to come.
18  Thy righteousness, O God, is very high, * and great things are they that thou hast done: O God, who is like unto thee!
19  O what great troubles and adversities hast thou showed me! and yet didst thou turn and refresh me; * yea, and broughtest me from the deep of the earth again.
20  Thou hast brought me to great honour, * and comforted me on every side:
21  Therefore will I praise thee, and thy faithfulness, O God, playing upon an instrument of music: * unto thee will I sing upon the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
22  My lips will be glad when I sing unto thee; * and so will my soul whom thou hast delivered.
23  My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long; * for they are confounded and brought unto shame that seek to do me evil.

Repeat Antiphon: (Deus meus) Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly.

Then all stand and say Our Father silently.

The Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah are an elaborate Hebrew acrostic poem lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians. They are sung to a special tone that is particularly beautiful and elaborate. Like the tone for the last part of the Passion at Mass, the tones for the Lamentations are very sorrowful and have the character of weeping. The Hebrew letter that begins each line of the Lamentations is sung to a short melisma.

All sit when the Reader goes to the lectern and says

Here beginneth the Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet.

Lesson I. 1:1-5    

א ALEPH. How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!
ב BETH. She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.
ג GIMEL. Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.
ד DALETH. The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.
ה HE. Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.

V. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy God.
R. On the mount of Olives he prayed to the Father: Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: *The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
V. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Lesson II. 1:6-9

ו VAU. And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.
ז ZAIN. Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.
ח CHETH. Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.
ט TETH. Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O Lord, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.

V. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy God.
R. My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here, and watch with me: now shall ye see the multitude which shall come about me: * Ye shall flee, and I go to be offered up for you.
V. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Ye shall flee, and I go to be offered up for you.

Lesson III. 1:10-14

י JOD. The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.
כ CAPH. All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O Lord, and consider; for I am become vile.
ל LAMED. Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.
מ MEM. From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.
נ NUN. The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.

V. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy God.
R. Lo, we have seen him without form or comeliness; his look is gone from him: he hath borne our sins and mourneth for us: but he was wounded for our transgressions, * with his stripes we are healed.
V. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. With his stripes we are healed.
R. Lo, we have seen him without form or comeliness; his look is gone from him: he hath borne our sins and mourneth for us: but he was wounded for our transgressions, with his stripes we are healed.
 

Nocturn II

Psalm 72. Deus, judicium.

Antiphon: He shall deliver the poor when he crieth: the needy also, and him that hath no helper.

GIVE the King thy judgments, O God, * and thy righteousness unto the King's son.
2  Then shall he judge thy people according unto right, * and defend the poor.
3  The mountains also shall bring peace, * and the little hills righteousness unto the people.
4  He shall keep the simple folk by their right, * defend the children of the poor, and punish the wrong doer.
5  They shall fear thee, as long as the sun and moon endureth, * from one generation to another.
6  He shall come down like the rain upon the mown grass, * even as the drops that water the earth.
7  In his time shall the righteous flourish; * yea, and abundance of peace, so long as the moon endureth.
8  His dominion shall be also from the one sea to the other, * and from the River unto the world's end.
9  They that dwell in the wilderness shall kneel before him; * his enemies shall lick the dust.
10  The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall give presents; * the kings of Arabia and Saba shall bring gifts.
11  All kings shall fall down before him; * all nations shall do him service.
12  For he shall deliver the poor when he crieth; * the needy also, and him that hath no helper.
13  He shall be favourable to the simple and needy, * and shall preserve the souls of the poor.
14  He shall deliver their souls from falsehood and wrong; * and dear shall their blood be in his sight.
15  He shall live, and unto him shall be given of the gold of Arabia; * prayer shall be made ever unto him, and daily shall he be praised.
16  There shall be an heap of corn in the earth, high upon the hills ; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: * and they of the city shall flourish like grass upon the earth.
17  His Name shall endure for ever; his Name shall remain under the sun among the posterities, which shall be blessed in him; * and all the nations shall praise him.
18  Blessed be the Lord God, even the God of Israel, * which only doeth wondrous things;
19  And blessed be the Name of his majesty for ever: * and all the earth shall be filled with his majesty. Amen, Amen.

Repeat Antiphon: He shall deliver the poor when he crieth: the needy also, and him that hath no helper.

Psalm 73. Quam bonus Israel!

Antiphon: They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy: their talking is against the Most High.

TRULY God is loving unto Israel: * even unto such as are of a clean heart.
2  Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone, * my treadings had well-nigh slipt.
3  And why? I was grieved at the wicked: * I do also see the ungodly in such prosperity.
4  For they are in no peril of death; * but are lusty and strong.
5  They come in no misfortune like other folk; * neither are they plagued like other men.
6  And this is the cause that they are so holden with pride, * and cruelty covereth them as a garment.
7  Their eyes swell with fatness, * and they do even what they lust.
8  They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy; * their talking is against the Most High.
9  For they stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven, * and their tongue goeth through the world.
10  Therefore fall the people unto them, * and thereout suck they no small advantage.
11  Tush, say they, how should God perceive it? * is there knowledge in the Most High?
12  Lo, these are the ungodly, * these prosper in the world, and these have riches in possession:
13  And I said, Then have I cleansed my heart in vain, * and washed my hands in innocency.
14  All the day long have I been punished, * and chastened every morning.
15  Yea, and I had almost said even as they; * but lo, then I should have condemned the generation of thy children.
16  Then thought I to understand this; * but it was too hard for me,
17  Until I went into the sanctuary of God: * then understood I the end of these men;
18  Namely, how thou dost set them in slippery places, * and castest them down, and destroyest them.
19  O how suddenly do they consume, * perish, and come to a fearful end!
20  Yea, even like as a dream when one awaketh; * so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city.
21  Thus my heart was grieved, * and it went even through my reins.
22  So foolish was I, and ignorant, * even as it were a beast before thee.
23  Nevertheless, I am alway by thee; * for thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24  Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, * and after that receive me with glory.
25  Whom have I in heaven but thee? * and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee.
26  My flesh and my heart faileth; * but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27  For lo, they that forsake thee shall perish; * thou hast destroyed all them that are unfaithful unto thee.
28  But it is good for me to hold me fast by God, to put my trust in the Lord GOD, * and to speak of all thy works in the gates of the daughter of Sion.

Repeat Antiphon: They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy: their talking is against the Most High.

Psalm 74. Ut quid, Deus?

Antiphon: Arise O God: maintain my cause.

O GOD, wherefore art thou absent from us so long? * why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture?
2  O think upon thy congregation, * whom thou hast purchased, and redeemed of old.
3  Think upon the tribe of thine inheritance, * and Mount Sion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
4  Lift up thy feet, that thou mayest utterly destroy every enemy, * which hath done evil in thy sanctuary.
5  Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congregations, * and set up their banners for tokens.
6  He that hewed timber afore out of the thick trees, * was known to bring it to an excellent work.
7  But now they break down all the carved work thereof * with axes and hammers.
8  They have set fire upon thy holy places, * and have defiled the dwelling-place of thy Name, even unto the ground.
9  Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make havoc of them altogether: * thus have they burnt up all the houses of God in the land.
10  We see not our tokens; there is not one prophet more; * no, not one is there among us, that understandeth any more.
11  O God, how long shall the adversary do this dishonour? * shall the enemy blaspheme thy Name for ever?
12  Why withdrawest thou thy hand? * why pluckest thou not thy right hand out of thy bosom to consume the enemy?
13  For God is my King of old; * the help that is done upon earth, he doeth it himself.
14  Thou didst divide the sea through thy power; * thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
15  Thou smotest the heads of leviathan in pieces, * and gavest him to be meat for the people of the wilderness.
16  Thou broughtest out fountains and waters out of the hard rocks; * thou driedst up mighty waters.
17  The day is thine, and the night is thine; * thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
18  Thou hast set all the borders of the earth; * thou hast made summer and winter.
19  Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy hath rebuked; * and how the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.
20  O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the multitude of the enemies; * and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever.
21  Look upon the covenant; * for all the earth is full of darkness and cruel habitations.
22  O let not the simple go away ashamed; * but let the poor and needy give praise unto thy Name.
23  Arise, O God, maintain thine own cause; * remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee daily.
24  Forget not the voice of thine enemies: * the presumption of them that hate thee increaseth ever more and more.

Repeat Antiphon: Arise O God: maintain my cause.

V. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly.
R. Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

Then all stand and say Our Father silently. All sit as the Reader goes to the lectern and says

From the Treatise of Saint Augustine the Bishop, on the Psalms

Lesson IV. On Psalm 55:1

"Hear my prayer, O God: and hide not thyself from my petition. Take heed unto me, and hear me." These are the words of one disquieted, in trouble and anxiety. He prays under much suffering, desiring to be released from evil. Let us now see under what evil he lies: and when he begins to speak, let us place ourselves by him: that, sharing his tribulation, we may join in his prayer. I mourn, saith he, in my prayer, and am vexed. When does he mourn? When is he vexed? He says: in my prayer. He speaks of the evil men whom he suffers: and that sufferance of evil men he calls his complaint. Think not that the evil are in the world to no avail, or that God makes no use of them. Every wicked man lives either that he may be corrected himself: or that the righteous may be exercised by him.

Respond: Mine own familiar friend hath betrayed me with a kiss: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast. This wicked sign he gave: who with a kiss brought about my death. * Unhappy man, he threw down the price of blood: and in the end hanged himself.

V. It had been good for that man if he had not been born. Unhappy man, he threw down the price of blood: and in the end hanged himself.

Lesson V.

Would that they who now try us were converted and tried with us: yet, though they continue to try us, let us not hate them: for we know not whether any of them will continue to the end in his evil ways. And mostly, when thou thinkest thyself to be hating thine enemy, thou hatest thy brother, and knowest it not. The devil and his angels are shown to us in Scripture as doomed to eternal fire. Their amendment alone is hopeless against whom we wage a secret strife: for which strife the Apostle arms us, saying; We wrestle not against flesh and blood: that is, not against men, whom we see, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world. Lest that by saying, the world, ye should think perhaps he says: Of the darkness of this world. He says, of the world, that is, the lovers of the world: Of the world, that is, the impious and wicked: Of the world, that is, of which the Gospel saith; And the world knew him not.

Respond: Judas, that most wicked traitor, betrayed the Lord with a kiss: he, like an innocent lamb, refused not the kiss of Judas: * For a few pence he hath delivered Christ to the Jews.

V. It had been better for that man if he had not been born. For a few pence he hath delivered Christ to the Jews.

Lesson VI.

For I have spied unrighteousness and strife in the city. See the glory of the Cross itself. Now on the brow of kings is placed that Cross, which enemies did deride. Effect hath proved strength: he hath subdued the world, not with steel, but with wood. The wood of the Cross seemed a worthy object of scorn to his enemies; and standing before that wood they wagged their heads, saying: If thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross. He stretched forth his hands to an unbelieving and gainsaying people. If he is just who lives by faith he is unrighteous who has not faith. Therefore when he saith unrighteousness, understand that it is unbelief. The Lord then saw unrighteousness and strife in the city, and stretched out his hand to an unbelieving and gainsaying people; and yet, waiting for them, he saith; Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

Respond: One of my disciples shall this day betray me: Woe unto that man by whom I shall be betrayed: * It had been better for that man if he had not been born.

V. He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same is he that shall betray me into the hands of sinners. It had been better for that man if he had not been born.

Nocturn III

Psalm 75. Confitebimur tibi.

Antiphon: I said unto the fools: speak not with a stiff neck.

UNTO thee, O God, do we give thanks; * yea, unto thee do we give thanks.
2  Thy Name also is so nigh; * and that do thy wondrous works declare.
3  In the appointed time, saith God, * I shall judge according unto right.
4  The earth is weak, and all the inhabiters thereof: * I bear up the pillars of it.
5  I said unto the fools, Deal not so madly; * and to the ungodly, Set not up your horn.
6  Set not up your horn on high, * and speak not with a stiff neck.
7  For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, * nor yet from the south.
8  And why? God is the Judge; * he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
9  For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; * it is full mixt, and he poureth out of the same.
10  As for the dregs thereof, * all the ungodly of the earth shall drink them, and suck them out.
11  But I will talk of the God of Jacob, * and praise him for ever.
12  All the horns of the ungodly also will I break, * and the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

Repeat Antiphon: I said unto the fools: speak not with a stiff neck.

Psalm 76. Notus in Judaea.

Antiphon: The earth trembled and was still, when God arose to judgment.

IN Judah is God known; * his Name is great in Israel.
2  At Salem is his tabernacle, * and his dwelling in Sion.
3  There brake he the arrows of the bow, * the shield, the sword, and the battle.
4  Thou art glorious in might, * when thou comest from the hills of the robbers.
5  The proud are robbed, they have slept their sleep; * and all the men whose hands were mighty have found nothing.
6  At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, * both the chariot and horse are fallen.
7  Thou, even thou art to be feared; * and who may stand in thy sight when thou art angry?
8  Thou didst cause thy judgment to be heard from heaven; * the earth trembled, and was still,
9  When God arose to judgment, * and to help all the meek upon earth.
10  The fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise; * and the fierceness of them shalt thou refrain.
11  Promise unto the Lord your God, and keep it, all ye that are round about him; * bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
12  He shall refrain the spirit of princes, * and is wonderful among the kings of the earth.

Repeat Antiphon: The earth trembled and was still, when God arose to judgment.

Psalm 77. Voce mea ad Dominum.

Antiphon: In the time of my trouble: I sought the Lord.

I WILL cry unto God with my voice; * even unto God will I cry with my voice, and he shall hearken unto me.
2  In the time of my trouble I sought the Lord: * I stretched forth my hands unto him, and ceased not in the night season; my soul refused comfort.
3  When I am in heaviness, I will think upon God; * when my heart is vexed, I will complain.
4  Thou holdest mine eyes waking: * I am so feeble that I cannot speak.
5  I have considered the days of old, * and the years that are past.
6  I call to remembrance my song, * and in the night I commune with mine own heart, and search out my spirit.
7  Will the Lord absent himself for ever? * and will he be no more intreated?
8  Is his mercy clean gone for ever? * and is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore?
9  Hath God forgotten to be gracious? * and will he shut up his loving-kindness in displeasure?
10  And I said, It is mine own infirmity; * but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most Highest.
11  I will remember the works of the Lord, * and call to mind thy wonders of old time.
12  I will think also of all thy works, * and my talking shall be of thy doings.
13  Thy way, O God, is holy: * who is so great a God as our God?
14  Thou art the God that doest wonders, * and hast declared thy power among the peoples.
15  Thou hast mightily delivered thy people, * even the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
16  The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee, and were afraid; * the depths also were troubled.
17  The clouds poured out water, the air thundered, * and thine arrows went abroad.
18  The voice of thy thunder was heard round about: * the lightnings shone upon the ground; the earth was moved, and shook withal.
19  Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in the great waters, * and thy footsteps are not known.
20  Thou leddest thy people like sheep, * by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Repeat Antiphon: In the time of my trouble: I sought the Lord.

V. Arise, O God.
R. Maintain my cause.

Then all stand and say Our Father silently. All sit as the Reader goes to the lectern and says

From the First Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

Lesson VII. 11:17-22

Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the LordŐs supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

Respond: I was like a lamb that is innocent; I was brought to the slaughter, and I knew it not; mine enemies have taken counsel against me, saying: * Come, let us put wood into his bread; and let us root him out of the land of the living .

V. All mine enemies have thought evil things against me: and have spoken against me, saying: Come, let us put wood into his bread: and let us root him out of the land of the living.

Lesson VIII. 11:23-26

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the LordŐs death till he come.

Respond: Could ye not watch with me one hour, who were ready to die for me? * Or see ye not Judas, how he sleepeth not, but hasteneth to deliver me up to the Jews?

V. Why sleep ye? Arise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. Or see ye not Judas, how he sleepeth not, but hasteneth to deliver me up to the Jews?

Lesson IX. 11:27-34

Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the LordŐs body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

Respond: The elders of the people took counsel * How they might take Jesus by subtlety, and put him to death: they went out as against a thief, with swords and staves.
 

At Lauds

Psalm 51. Miserere mei, Deus.

Antiphon: Mayest thou be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.

HAVE mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness; * according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.
2  Wash me throughly from my wickedness, * and cleanse me from my sin.
3  For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is ever before me.
4  Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; * that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou shalt judge.
5  Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, * and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
6  But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts, * and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
7  Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8  Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness, * that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9  Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out all my misdeeds.
10  Make me a clean heart, O God, * and renew a right spirit within me.
11  Cast me not away from thy presence, * and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
12  O give me the comfort of thy help again, * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
13  Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked, * and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14  Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health; * and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.
15  Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord, * and my mouth shall show thy praise.
16  For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee; * but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
17  The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: * a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.
18  O be favourable and gracious unto Sion; * build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19  Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations; * then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.

Repeat Antiphon: Mayest thou be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.

Psalm 90. Domine, refugium.

Antiphon: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and he opened not his mouth.

LORD, thou hast been our refuge, * from one generation to another.
2  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made, * thou art God from everlasting, and world without end.
3  Thou turnest man to destruction; * again thou sayest, Come again, ye children of men.
4  For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, * and as a watch in the night.
5  As soon as thou scatterest them they are even as a sleep; * and fade away suddenly like the grass.
6  In the morning it is green, and groweth up; * but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered.
7  For we consume away in thy displeasure, * and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation.
8  Thou hast set our misdeeds before thee; * and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
9  For when thou art angry all our days are gone: * we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told.
10  The days of our age are threescore years and ten; and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years, * yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow; so soon passeth it away, and we are gone.
11  But who regardeth the power of thy wrath? * or feareth aright thy indignation?
12  So teach us to number our days, * that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
13  Turn thee again, O Lord, at the last, * and be gracious unto thy servants.
14  O satisfy us with thy mercy, and that soon: * so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
15  Comfort us again now after the time that thou hast plagued us; * and for the years wherein we have suffered adversity.
16  Show thy servants thy work, * and their children thy glory.
17  And the glorious majesty of the Lord our God be upon us: * prosper thou the work of our hands upon us; O prosper thou our handy-work.

Repeat Antiphon: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and he opened not his mouth.

Psalm 36. Dixit injustus.

Antiphon: My heart within me is broken: all my bones shake.

MY heart showeth me the wickedness of the ungodly, * that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2  For he flattereth himself in his own sight, * until his abominable sin be found out.
3  The words of his mouth are unrighteous and full of deceit: * he hath left off to behave himself wisely, and to do good.
4  He imagineth mischief upon his bed, and hath set himself in no good way; * neither doth he abhor any thing that is evil.
5  Thy mercy, O Lord, reacheth unto the heavens, * and thy faithfulness unto the clouds.
6  Thy righteousness standeth like the strong mountains: * thy judgments are like the great deep.
7  Thou, Lord, shalt save both man and beast: how excellent is thy mercy, O God! * and the children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
8  They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house; * and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures, as out of the river.
9  For with thee is the well of life; * and in thy light shall we see light.
10  O continue forth thy loving-kindness unto them that know thee, * and thy righteousness unto them that are true of heart.
11  O let not the foot of pride come against me; * and let not the hand of the ungodly cast me down.
12  There are they fallen, all that work wickedness; * they are cast down, and shall not be able to stand.

Repeat Antiphon: My heart within me is broken: all my bones shake.

Psalm 147. Laudate Dominum.

Antiphon: He was made an offering because he himself desired it: and himself bare our sins.

O PRAISE the Lord, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God; * yea, a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful.
2  The Lord doth build up Jerusalem, * and gather together the outcasts of Israel.
3  He healeth those that are broken in heart, * and giveth medicine to heal their sickness.
4  He telleth the number of the stars, * and calleth them all by their names.
5  Great is our Lord, and great is his power; * yea, and his wisdom is infinite.
6  The Lord setteth up the meek, * and bringeth the ungodly down to the ground.
7  O sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; * sing praises upon the harp unto our God:
8  Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth; * and maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains, and herb for the use of men;
9  Who giveth fodder unto the cattle, * and feedeth the young ravens that call upon him.
10  He hath no pleasure in the strength of an horse; * neither delighteth he in any man's legs.
11  But the Lord's delight is in them that fear him, * and put their trust in his mercy.
12  Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; * praise thy God, O Sion.
13  For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates, * and hath blessed thy children within thee.
14  He maketh peace in thy borders, * and filleth thee with the flour of wheat.
15  He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth, * and his word runneth very swiftly.
16  He giveth snow like wool, * and scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
17  He casteth forth his ice like morsels: * who is able to abide his frost?
18  He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: * he bloweth with his wind, and the waters flow.
19  He showeth his word unto Jacob, * his statutes and ordinances unto Israel.
20  He hath not dealt so with any nation; * neither have the heathen knowledge of his laws.

Repeat Antiphon: He was made an offering because he himself desired it: and himself bare our sins.

V. Mine own familiar friend whom I trusted.
R. Who did also eat of my bread, hath laid great wait for me.

All stand. During the singing of the following Canticle, all the candles upon the triangular stand having been put out (except the one placed at the top), the six candles upon the Altar are likewise extinguished one by one, so that at the last verse the last candle is put out. The lamps and other lights throughout the church, except those which burn before the Blessed Sacrament, are extinguished.

Canticle: Benedictus Dominus Deus. St. Luke i. 68.

Antiphon: Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast.

BLESSED ✠ be the Lord God of Israel; * for he hath visited and redeemed his people;
And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us, * in the house of his servant David;
As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, * which have been since the world began;
That we should be saved from our enemies, * and from the hand of all that hate us.
To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers, * and to remember his holy covenant;
To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham, * that he would give us;
That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies * might serve him without fear;
In holiness and righteousness before him, * all the days of our life.
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: * for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people * for the remission of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God; * whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us;
To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Antiphon: Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast.

During the repetition of the Antiphon, the topmost candle is taken from the candelabrum and hidden from sight under the Epistle corner of the Altar or other place as prepared.

Then all kneel and the following is sung

Christ became obedient for us unto death [even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name].

Our Father is then said in silence.

Then the officiant, still kneeling, says the Collect in a humble voice, without The Lord be with you or Let us pray.

Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family. for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed. and given up into the hands of wicked men. and to suffer death upon the cross. He adds silently: Who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever. one God, world without end. Amen.

A loud noise is then made: the lighted candle is at once brought forth from the place where it was concealed, and all rise and depart in silence.


 

 


Tenebrae Hearse