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{{short description|Christian religious service}}
{{other uses}}
[[File:(Barcelona) Tenebrae Candelabra - Antoni Gaudí - Museums of the Sagrada Família.jpg|thumb|upright=1.18|Fifteen candles on Tenebrae hearse - [[Antoni Gaudí]] - [[Sagrada Família]]. The candles are extinguished one by one during the course of the service.]]
{{Death of Jesus}}
'''Tenebrae''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɛ|n|ə|b|r|eɪ|,_|-|b|r|i}}<ref>{{cite book|title=New Oxford American Dictionary|edition=Second}}</ref>—[[Latin]] for 'darkness') is a religious service of [[Western Christianity]] held during the three days preceding [[Easter|Easter Day]], and characterized by a gradual extinguishing of candles, and the ''strepitus'' or "loud noise" in the total darkness at the end of the service.

Tenebrae was originally a celebration of [[matins]] and [[lauds]] of the last three days of [[Holy Week]] ([[Maundy Thursday]], [[Good Friday]], and [[Holy Saturday]]) in the evening of the previous day ([[Holy Wednesday]], Maundy Thursday and Good Friday) to the accompaniment of special ceremonies that included the display of lighted candles on a special triangular candelabra.<ref name="Kosloski2017">{{cite book |last1=Kosloski |first1=Philip |title=Into the darkness of Good Friday: The ancient liturgy of Tenebrae |date=12 April 2017 |url=https://aleteia.org/2017/04/12/into-the-darkness-of-good-friday-the-ancient-liturgy-of-tenebrae/ |access-date=17 April 2019 |quote=On each day of Tenebrae (Spy Wednesday, Holy Thursday and Good Friday) a special triangular candelabrum (called a Tenebrae hearse) is displayed, traditionally holding 15 candles.}}</ref><ref>[http://www.yourdictionary.com/tenebrae#websters Webster's New World College Dictionary (2014)] defines Tenebrae as "a Holy Week night service (Wednesday through Friday), formerly widely observed in the Western Church, consisting of group recitation of Matins and Lauds of the following day in commemoration of Christ's death and burial". [https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/tenebrae Collins English Dictionary] (British usage) gives: "(formerly) the matins and lauds for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Holy Week, usually sung in the evenings or at night.</ref>

Modern celebrations called Tenebrae may be of quite different content and structure, based for example on the [[Sayings of Jesus on the cross|Seven Last Words]] or readings of the [[Passion of Jesus]]. They may be held on only one day of Holy Week, especially [[Holy Wednesday|Spy Wednesday]] (Holy Wednesday).<ref name="Kosloski2018">{{cite web |last1=Kosloski |first1=Philip |title=What is "Spy Wednesday"? |url=https://aleteia.org/2018/03/28/what-is-spy-wednesday/ |publisher=Aleteia |access-date=17 April 2019 |language=en |date=28 March 2018 |quote=From Wednesday onward, Judas secretly watched for a chance to turn Jesus over to the chief priests, and so many Christians labeled this day as "Spy Wednesday." In the same vein various cultures reflected the somber mood of this day by calling it "Black Wednesday" or "Wednesday of Shadows," which also corresponds to the liturgical rite of Tenebrae that is celebrated on this day.}}</ref><ref name="PECUSA2018">{{cite book |title=Book of Occasional Services |date=2018 |publisher=[[Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States]] |language=en |quote=In this book, provision is made for Tenebrae on Wednesday evening only, in order that the proper liturgies of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday may find their place as the principal services of those days.}}</ref> They may be held during the daylight hours and the number of candles, if used, may vary.<ref name="RW1986"/>

Tenebrae liturgical celebrations of this kind now exist in the [[Catholic Church]]'s [[Latin liturgical rites]], [[Lutheranism]], [[Anglicanism]], [[Methodism]], [[Reformed church]]es and [[Western Rite Orthodoxy]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ruehlmann |first1=Greg |title=In the Dark |url=https://bustedhalo.com/features/in-the-dark |publisher=Busted Halo |access-date=18 April 2019 |date=21 March 2008 |quote=It has not been popular in decades, and it would be misleading to call it a "best-kept secret" of the Catholic Church—it's celebrated by some mainline Anglican and Lutheran communities as well.}}</ref>

== Catholic Church ==
=== Original form ===
In the [[Catholic Church]], "Tenebrae" is the name given to the celebration, with special ceremonies, of [[matins]] and [[lauds]], the first two [[canonical hours|hours]] of the [[Liturgy of the Hours#Prior to the Second Vatican Council|Divine Office]] of each of the last three days of [[Holy Week]]. In the [[Roman Rite]] of the [[Catholic Church]] Tenebrae was celebrated in all churches with a sufficient number of clergy until the [[liturgical reforms of Pope Pius XII]] in the 1950s. The traditions regarding this service go back at least to the ninth century.<ref>James Monti. [https://books.google.com/books?id=ErAQU5bT2LkC&dq=tenebrae+%22ON+THE+MORNINGS+OF%22&pg=PA79 ''The Week of Salvation: History and Traditions of Holy Week'' p. 79 ff.] {{dead link|date=May 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 1993 {{ISBN|0879735325}} {{ISBN|9780879735326}}</ref> Matins, originally celebrated a few hours after midnight, and lauds, originally celebrated at dawn, were anticipated by the late Middle Ages on the afternoon or evening of the preceding day,<ref name="Tenebrae">Herbert Thurston, "[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14506a.htm Tenebrae]," ''Catholic Encyclopedia,'' vol. 14 (New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912).</ref> and were given the name "Tenebrae" because they concluded when darkness was setting in.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=sQATBgAAQBAJ&dq=liturgies+tenebrae+darkness&pg=PT43 Theresa Sanders, "Festivals of Holy Pain : In the Wake of Good Friday" in Marko Zlomislic, Neal DeRoo (editors), ''Cross and Khora'' (Wipf and Stock 2010)]</ref>

The celebration of matins and lauds of these days on the previous evening in the form referred to as Tenebrae in churches with a sufficient number of clergy was universal in the [[Roman Rite]] until the [[Pope Pius XII Liturgy Reforms#The New Rite of Holy Week|reform of the Holy Week ceremonies]] by [[Pope Pius XII]] in 1955. He restored the [[Easter Vigil]] as a night office, moving that Easter liturgy from Holy Saturday morning to the following night and likewise moved the principal liturgies of [[Holy Thursday]] and [[Good Friday]] from morning to afternoon or evening. Thus matins and lauds of Good Friday and [[Holy Saturday]] could no longer be anticipated on the preceding evening, and even matins and lauds of Holy Thursday was allowed to be anticipated only in the case of cathedral churches in which the [[Chrism Mass]] was held on Holy Thursday morning.<ref>"Matins and lauds are not anticipated in the evening, but are said in the morning, at the proper hour. In cathedral churches, however, since the Mass of the Chrism is celebrated in the morning of Thursday of the Lord's Supper, Matins and Lauds of the same Thursday can be anticipated in the evening." Decree [https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=11136 ''Maxima redemptionis nostrae mysteria'' (16 November 1955)], No.&nbsp;5, §2, translated from [[Acta Apostolicae Sedis]] [https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-47-1955-ocr.pdf 47 (1955)], pp.&nbsp;838–847.</ref>

The 1960 [[Code of Rubrics]], which was incorporated in the next typical edition of the Roman Breviary, published on 5 April 1961, a year ahead of the publication of the 1962 edition of the Roman Missal,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DhnbGGkNvwwC&q=john+xxiii+breviary+1961&pg=PR16 |title=Piero Marini, ''A Challenging Reform: Realizing the Vision of the Liturgical Renewal, 1963–1975'' (Liturgical Press 2007), quotation: "new standard editions of the Breviary (April 5, 1961)" ..." |date=1962-06-23 |access-date=2018-07-09|isbn=9780814630358 |last1=Marini |first1=Piero |publisher=Liturgical Press }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8FupAwAAQBAJ&q=%22released+in+1961%22+breviary&pg=PT194 |title=Paul Bradshaw and Maxwell E. Johnson, ''The Eucharistic Liturgies: Their evolution and interpretation'' (SPCK 2012), quotation: "A new Roman Breviary was released in 1961" |date= 2012-06-21|access-date=2018-07-09|isbn=9780281068081 |last1=Bradshaw |first1=Paul }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=lisar1@charter.net |url=http://www.magnificatmedia.com/liturgical-books-of-the-roman-liturgy/ |title=Liturgical Books of the Roman Liturgy |publisher=Magnificat Media |date=2015-11-11 |access-date=2018-07-09}}</ref><ref>The Latin Mass Society: "[https://lmswrexham.weebly.com/news-blog/the-changes-to-the-breviary-in-the-60s-and-70s The changes to the Breviary in the 60's and 70's]"</ref> allowed no anticipation whatever of lauds, though matins alone could still be anticipated to the day before, later than the hour of vespers.<ref>"If the Office is recited in choir or in common, matins is not anticipated the evening before, but is said in the morning at a suitable hour. In churches where the Mass of the Chrism is celebrated, however, matins may be anticipated the evening before." Introductory rubric, Matins, Thursday of the Lord’s Supper, The Hours of the Divine Office in English and Latin, vol. 2 (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1964) p. 1099. "In accord with the typical edition."</ref>

In sum:
* Until 1955 the three consecutive Tenebrae services for [[Maundy Thursday|Holy Thursday]], Good Friday and Holy Saturday, including the typical ceremonies such as the extinguishing of candles, with each of these three services anticipated on the previous evening, were widely celebrated as an integral part of the liturgy of Holy Week in churches with a sufficient number of clergy wherever the Roman Rite was followed. A rich tradition of music composed for these central occasions had developed.
* From 1956 to 1970 the practice largely declined:
** The 1955 papal document restored the celebration of matins and lauds of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday to their original timing as morning services, with only a little allowance for anticipating any of them on the evening before. On these three days attention shifted from what became morning services to the services that were now to be held in the afternoon or evening. Communal celebration of matins and lauds became limited generally to communities that observed the full Divine Office in congregational form. Matins and lauds, having lost their exceptional character, provided composers with little incentive to produce new music for them and there was no demand for grand performances of the existing music earlier composed for Tenebrae.
** The Roman Breviary, as updated in 1961, did not mention any specific Tenebrae ceremonies to accompany the no longer anticipated matins and lauds of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
* Finally, in the wake of the [[Second Vatican Council]], matins and lauds throughout the year were completely reformed. Matins, for instance, no longer had the nine [[psalms]] and lauds the five psalms that determined the number of candles extinguished in the Tenebrae celebration.

==== Structure of the original Tenebrae ====
The structure is the same for all three days. The first part of the service is [[matins]], which in its pre-1970 form is composed of three [[nocturns]], each consisting of three psalms, a [[versicle]], a silent [[Lord's Prayer|Pater noster]], and three readings, each followed by a [[responsory]]. The pre-1970 [[lauds]] consists of five psalms, a short versicle and response, and the [[Benedictus (Song of Zechariah)|Benedictus]] Gospel [[canticle]], followed by ''[[Christus factus est]]'', a silent Pater Noster, and the appointed [[collect]]. The [[Gloria Patri]] is not said after each psalm.<ref name="Benzinger1875">[[Catholic Church]] [https://archive.org/stream/completeofficeh00churgoog#page/n178/mode/2up ''The Complete Office of Holy Week According to the Roman Missal and Breviary, in Latin and English'', pp. 184–250; 282–336; 380–418] Benziger brothers, 1875</ref><ref name="Guéranger1870">[[Prosper Guéranger]], translated by Laurence Shepherd. [https://archive.org/stream/liturgicalyear06gura#page/304/mode/2up ''Passiontide and Holy Week'', Volume VI of The Liturgical Year, pp. 304–352; 414–450; 519–546] Dublin, 1870.</ref>

The principal Tenebrae ceremony is the gradual extinguishing of [[Candle#Christianity|candles]] upon a stand in the sanctuary called a hearse.<ref>Leo Kelly, "[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14506a.htm Tenebrae Hearse]," ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'', vol. 7 (New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910).</ref> Eventually, the Roman Rite settled on fifteen candles, one of which is extinguished after each of the nine psalms of matins and the five of lauds. The six altar candles are put out during the Benedictus, gradually reducing also the lighting in the church throughout the chanting of the canticle.<ref name=Herdt>[https://books.google.com/books?id=kAWH1Ya4rCsC&dq=herdt+%22post+finem%22&pg=PA41 P. J. B. de Herdt, ''Sacrae liturgiae praxis, juxta ritum romanum'' (Vanlinthout, Louvain, 1863), vol. 3, p. 41]</ref> Then any remaining lights in the church are extinguished and the last candle on the hearse is hidden behind the altar (if the altar is such as does not hide the light, the candle, still lit, is put inside a [[candle lantern]]),<ref>[https://www.ceremoniaire.net/guide/jeudi_st/triduum_classique.html#VI.II ''De l'office des Ténèbres, Cérémonies à observer'', 338,3]</ref> ending the service in total darkness. The ''[[strepitus]]'' (Latin for "great noise"), made by slamming a book shut, banging a [[hymnal]] or [[breviary]] against the pew, or stomping on the floor, symbolizes the earthquake that followed Christ's death, although it may have originated as a simple signal to depart.<ref name="Tenebrae"/> After the candle has been shown to the people, it is extinguished, and then put "on the credence table", or simply taken to the sacristy. All rise and then leave in silence.<ref>[[Adrian Fortescue]], ''The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described'', 1917, p. 288.</ref>

==== Table illustrating the contents of the service ====

The 1 November 1911 [[reform of the Roman Breviary by Pope Pius X]] radically reorganized the weekly recitation of the Psalter. In the Tridentine [[Roman Breviary]] of [[Pope Pius V]] (1568), Psalms 62/63 and 66/67 (treated as a single unit) and Psalms 148–150 (again treated as a single unit) were recited at lauds every day of the week. Pius X eliminated such repetitions and provided a quite different choice of psalms for lauds.

The situation before the 1911 reform is illustrated in 19th-century publications such as [[Prosper Guéranger]]'s ''Passiontide and Holy Week'', (Dublin 1870)<ref name="Guéranger1870"/> and ''The Complete Office of Holy Week According to the Roman Missal and Breviary, in Latin and English'' (Benziger 1875).<ref name="Benzinger1875"/> It is more difficult to find similar online 20th-century publication, but the text of the Tenebrae services as reformed by Pope Pius X in 1911 is available in the 1924 edition of the ''[[Liber Usualis]]''.<ref>[http://www.lakewoodsound.com/quilisma/pdf_files/liber_seasonal/13_triduum_maundy_thursday_tenebrae.pdf 1924 Liber Usualis, with modern musical notation]</ref> The 1961 edition, with English rubrics and explanations, is available on more than one site.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/TheLiberUsualis1961/page/n771 Liber Usualis 1961 edition on archive.org] and [https://sanctamissa.org/en/music/gregorian-chant/choir/liber-usualis-1961.pdf on sanctamissa.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217002346/https://sanctamissa.org/en/music/gregorian-chant/choir/liber-usualis-1961.pdf |date=2020-02-17 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| rowspan="3" | (note: Psalm numbering<br>as in the [[Vulgate]])
! Maundy Thursday
! Good Friday
! Holy Saturday
! Practices
|-
! colspan="3" style="background: #ffdead;" | Matins
|-
! colspan="3" | First Nocturn (readings from the [[Book of Lamentations|Lamentations of Jeremiah]])
|-
| [[Antiphon]]
| Zelus domus
| Astiterunt reges terrae
| In pace
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#68:1|Psalm 68]] ({{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|68|63}}}})
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#2:1|Psalm 2]] ({{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|2|63}}}})
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#4:1|Psalm 4]] ({{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|4|63}}}})
| 1st candle extinguished at end<ref name=Herdt/>
|-
| Antiphon
| Avertantur retrorsum
| Diviserunt sibi
| Habitabit in tabernaculo
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#69:1|Psalm 69]] ({{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|69|63}}}})
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#21:1|Psalm 21]] ({{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|21|63}}}})
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#14:1|Psalm 14]] ({{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|14|63}}}})
| 2nd candle extinguished
|-
| Antiphon
| Deus meus eripe me
| Insurrexerunt in me
| Caro mea
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#70:1|Psalm 70]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|70|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#26:1|Psalm 26]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|26|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#15:1|Psalm 15]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|15|63}}}}</ref>
| 3rd candle extinguished at end
|-
| [[Versicle]]
| Avertantur retrorsum
| Diviserunt sibi
| In pace in idipsum
|-
|
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | [[Lord's Prayer|Our Father]] (silent)
|-
| 1st reading
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|1:1–1:5|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|2:8–2:11|63}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|3:22–3:30|63}}}}}}
|-
| 1st responsory
| [[In monte Oliveti]]
| [[Omnes amici mei]]
| [[Sicut ovis]]
|-
| 2nd reading
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|1:6–1:9|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|2:12–2:15|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|4:1–4:6|63}}}}
|-
| 2nd responsory
| [[Tristis est anima mea (responsory)|Tristis est anima mea]]
| [[Velum templi]]
| [[Jerusalem surge]]
|-
| 3rd reading
|{{nowrap|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|1:10–1:14|63}}}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|3:1–3:9|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|5:1–5:11|63}}}}
|-
| 3rd&nbsp;responsory
| [[Ecce vidimus]]
| [[Vinea mea]]
| [[Plange quasi virgo]]
|-
|
! colspan="3" | Second Nocturn (readings from [[Saint Augustine]]'s ''Commentaries on the Psalms'')
|-
| Antiphon
| Liberavit Dominus
| Vim faciebant
| Elevamini
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#71:1|Psalm 71]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|71|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#37:1|Psalm 37]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|37|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#23:1|Psalm 23]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|23|63}}}}</ref>
| 4th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Antiphon
| Cogitaverunt impii
| Confundantur
| Credo videre
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#72:1|Psalm 72]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|72|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#39:1|Psalm 39]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|39|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#26:1|Psalm 26]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|26|63}}}}</ref>
| 5th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Antiphon
| Exsurge, Domine
| Alieni insurrexerunt
| Domine, abstraxisti
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#73:1|Psalm 73]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|73|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#53:1|Psalm 53]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|53|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#29:1|Psalm 29]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|29|63}}}}</ref>
| 6th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Versicle
| Deus meus, eripe me
| Insurrexerunt in me
| Tu autem
|-
|
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Our Father (silent)
|-
| 4th reading
| from ''Comm. on [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#54:1|Psalm 54]]''<ref name=Aug54>[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1801055.htm Augustine, ''Exposition on Psalm 55'']</ref>
| colspan="2" | from ''Commentary on [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#63:1|Psalm 63]]''<ref name=Aug63>[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1801064.htm Augustine, ''Exposition on Psalm 64'']</ref>
|-
| 4th responsory
| [[Amicus meus]]
| [[Tamquam ad latronem]]
| [[Recessit pastor noster]]
|-
| 5th reading
| from ''Comm. on [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#54:1|Psalm 54]]''<ref name=Aug54/>
| colspan="2" | from ''Commentary on [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#63:1|Psalm 63]]''<ref name=Aug63/>
|-
| 5th responsory
| [[Judas mercator pessimus]]
| [[Tenebrae factae sunt]]
| [[O vos omnes]]
|-
| 6th reading
| from ''Comm. on [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#54:1|Psalm 54]]''<ref name=Aug54/>
| colspan="2" | from ''Commentary on [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#63:1|Psalm 63]]''<ref name=Aug63/>
|-
| 6th responsory
| [[Unus ex discipulis]]
| [[Animam meam dilectam]]
| [[Ecce quomodo]]
|-
|
! colspan="3" | Third Nocturn (readings from two [[New Testament epistles]])
|-
| Antiphon
| Dixi iniquis
| Ab insurgentibus
| Deus adjuvat me
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#74:1|Psalm 74]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|74|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#58:1|Psalm 58]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|58|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#53:1|Psalm 53]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|53|63}}}}</ref>
| 7th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Antiphon
| Terra tremuit
| Longe fecisti
| In pace factus
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#75:1|Psalm 75]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|75|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#87:1|Psalm 87]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|87|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#75:1|Psalm 75]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|75|63}}}}</ref>
| 8th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Antiphon
| In die tribulationis
| Captabunt
| Factus sum
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#76:1|Psalm 76]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|76|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#93:1|Psalm 93]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|93|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#87:1|Psalm 87]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|87|63}}}}</ref>
| 9th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Versicle
| Exsurge, Domine
| {{nowrap|Locuti sunt adversum me}}
| In pace factus est
|-
|
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Our Father (silent)
|-
| 7th reading
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|1 Corinthians|11:17–11:22|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Hebrews|4:11–4:15|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Hebrews|9:11–9:14|63}}}}
|-
| 7th responsory
| [[Eram quasi agnus innocens]]
| [[Tradiderunt me]]
| [[Astiterunt reges terrae]]
|-
| 8th reading
|{{nowrap|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|1 Corinthians|11:23–11:26|63}}}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Hebrews|4:16–5:3|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Hebrews|9:15–9:18|63}}}}
|-
| 8th responsory
| [[Una hora]]
| [[Jesum tradidit]]
| [[Aestimatus sum]]
|-
| 9th reading
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|1 Corinthians|11:27–11:34|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Hebrews|5:4–5:10|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Hebrews|9:19–9:22|63}}}}
|-
| 9th responsory
| [[Seniores populi]]
| [[Caligaverunt oculi mei]]
| [[Sepulto Domino]]
|-
|
! colspan="3" style="background: #ffdead;" | Lauds
|-
| Antiphon
| Justificeris, Domine
| Proprio Filio
| O mors
|-
! Psalm
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#50:1|Psalm 50]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|50|63}}}}</ref> ([[Psalm 51|Miserere]])
| 10th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Antiphon
| Dominus tamquam ovis
| Anxiatus est
| Plangent eum
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#89:1|Psalm 89]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|89|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#142:1|Psalm 142]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|142|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#91:1|Psalm 91]]<ref>{{Bibleverse|Psalm|91|63}}</ref> (pre-1912)<br>Psalm 91<ref>{{Bibleverse|Psalm|91|63}}</ref> (from 1912)

| 11th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Antiphon
| Contritum est cor meum
| Ait latro ad latronem
| Attendite
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#62:1|Psalms 62]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#66:1|66]]<ref name=Pss62+66>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|62|63}}}}+{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|66|63}}}}</ref> (pre-1912)<br>[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#35:1|Psalm 35]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|35|63}}}}</ref> (from 1912)
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#62:1|Psalms 62]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#66:1|66]]<ref name=Pss62+66/> (pre-1912)<br>[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#84:1|Psalm 84]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|84|63}}}}</ref> (from 1912)
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#62:1|Psalms 62]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#66:1|66]]<ref name=Pss62+66/> (pre-1912)<br>[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#63:1|Psalm 63]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|63|63}}}}</ref> (from 1912)
| 12th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Antiphon
| Exhortatus es
| Dum conturbata
| A porta inferi
|-
! [[Old Testament]]<br>[[canticle]]
| [[Canticle of Moses]]<br>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Exodus|15:1–15:18|63}}}}
| Canticle of [[Habakkuk|Habacuc]]<br>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Habakkuk|3:2–3:19|63}}}}
| Canticle of [[Hezekiah|Ezechias]]<br>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Isaiah|38:10–38:20|63}}}}
| 13th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Antiphon
| Oblatus est
| Memento mei
| O vos omnes qui transitis
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#148:1|Psalms 148]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#149:1|149]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#150:1|150]]<ref name=Pss148-150>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|148–150|63}}}}</ref> (pre-1912)<br>[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#146:1|Psalm 146]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|146|63}}}}</ref> (from 1912)
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#148:1|Psalms 148]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#149:1|149]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#150:1|150]]<ref name=Pss148-150/> (pre-1912)<br>[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#147:1|Psalm 147]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|147|63}}}}</ref> (from 1912)
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#148:1|Psalms 148]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#149:1|149]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#150:1|150]]<ref name=Pss148-150/> (pre-1912)<br>[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#150:1|Psalm 150]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|150|63}}}}</ref> (from 1912)
| 14th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Versicle
| Homo pacis meae
| Collocavit me
| Caro mea
|-
| Antiphon
| Traditor autem
| Posuerunt super caput
| Mulieres sedentes
|-
! [[Benedictus (Song of Zechariah)|Benedictus]]
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | [[Canticle of Zachary]]<br> {{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Luke|1:68–1:79|63}}}}
| Altar candles extinguished at<br>different verses of Benedictus;<br>Last burning candle hidden<br>after repeat of antiphon
|-
|
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | [[Christus factus est]] (based on {{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Philippians|2:8–2:9|63}}}})
|-
|
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Our Father (silent)
|-
|
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#50:1|Psalm 50]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|50|63}}}}</ref> ([[Psalm 51|Miserere]]), omitted after 1955<ref>Breviarium Romanum 1981 (totum), pp. 501, 512, 521</ref><ref>[http://www.musicasacra.com/pdf/liberusualis.pdf Liber Usualis 1981, p. 660, also referenced on pp. 719, 776C]</ref>
|
|-
! Prayer
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Respice quaesumus
| Followed by ''strepitus'';<br>last candle brought back
|-
|}

====Music====
{{see also|Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet|Leçons de ténèbres|Responsories for Holy Week|Psalm 51#Musical settings}}
[[File:Jeremia Lamentationes.jpg|thumb|"The saddest melody within the whole range of music": the opening of the Tenebrae chanting of the [[Book of Lamentations]] of the Prophet Jeremiah]]
The lessons of the first [[nocturn]] at [[matins]] are taken on all three days from the [[Book of Lamentations]] and are sung to a specific [[Gregorian chant|Gregorian]] [[reciting tone]],<ref>[http://www.musicasacra.com/pdf/liberusualis.pdf Liber Usualis, p. 631]. Other Gregorian melodic patterns are found in manuscripts, but only this one is now commonly used ([https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0012_0_11786.html Lamentations, Book of.]</ref> which has been called "the saddest melody within the whole range of music".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Km0hCgAAQBAJ&dq=tenebrae+saddest+melody&pg=PT161 John F. Sullivan, ''The Externals of the Catholic Church'' (Aeterna Press 1951)]</ref> The [[Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet]] have been set to polyphonic music by many composers, including [[Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina|Palestrina]], [[Thomas Tallis|Tallis]] and [[Orlande de Lassus|Lassus]]. Such High-Renaissance polyphonic choral settings of Lamentations at Tenebrae, culminating in those of Lassus (1584), share the same texts with, but in musical idiom are to be distinguished from, the French Baroque genre of [[Leçons de ténèbres]], as composed by [[Marc-Antoine Charpentier]] (54 settings, H.91 - H.144), [[Michel Lambert]], and [[François Couperin]]. In the 20th century [[Ernst Krenek]] wrote a ''[[Lamentatio Jeremiae prophetae (Krenek)|Lamentatio Jeremiae prophetae]]'', Op. 93 (1941–1942), and [[Igor Stravinsky]] composed ''[[Threni (Stravinsky)|Threni]]'' (1957–1958).

Each day, the lessons of the second nocturn are from writings of [[St. Augustine]], and the lessons of the third nocturn from two [[New Testament epistles]]. These are chanted to the ordinary [[Reciting tone|lesson tone]] and have been relatively neglected by composers, though there are a few settings by [[Manuel Cardoso (composer)|Manuel Cardoso]].

The [[Tenebrae responsories]] have been set by, among others, [[Lassus]], [[Carlo Gesualdo|Gesualdo]], [[Tomas Luis de Victoria|Victoria]], [[Marc-Antoine Charpentier]], [[Francesco Antonio Vallotti]], and [[Jan Dismas Zelenka]]. [[Gregorio Allegri]]'s [[Miserere (Allegri)|setting of the ''Miserere'' psalm]], to be sung at the Tenebrae Lauds, is one of the best known compositions for the service. Also Gesualdo includes a setting of that psalm in his ''[[Responsoria et alia ad Officium Hebdomadae Sanctae spectantia]]'', along with a setting of the Benedictus.

=== Roman Rite since 1970 ===
[[File:Catholic_Tenebrae_service.jpg|thumb|right|A modern Tenebrae service in a Catholic church on [[Spy Wednesday]] 2019, adapted by, for instance, replacing the 15-candle hearse with individual candlesticks for a much smaller number of candles and omitting the six altar candles]]
After the 1970 revision of the [[Roman Breviary]], now called the [[Liturgy of the Hours]], a 1988 circular letter from the [[Congregation for Divine Worship]] recommended communal celebration of the [[Office of Readings]] and Morning Prayer − which were formerly called matins and lauds − on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, and remarked that this office was "formerly called 'Tenebrae'".<ref>Congregation for Divine Worship, Circular Letter [http://www.ewtn.net/library/CURIA/CDWEASTF.HTM Paschalis sollemnitatis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719040737/http://www.ewtn.net/library/CURIA/CDWEASTF.HTM |date=2011-07-19 }} Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts (16 January 1988), n. 40: ''Notitiae'' 24 (1988) pp. 81–107: "It is recommended that there be a communal celebration of the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. It is fitting that the bishop should celebrate the Office in the cathedral, with as far as possible the participation of the clergy and people. This Office, formerly called 'Tenebrae', held a special place in the devotion of the faithful as they meditated upon the passion, death and burial of the Lord, while awaiting the announcement of the resurrection."</ref> The ''General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours'' says: "Before morning Lauds on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, the Office of Readings is, if possible, to be celebrated publicly and with the people taking part."<ref>[https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/Rites/GILH.pdf ''The General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours, 210]</ref> The ''Ceremonial of Bishops'' (1984) says: "It is also desirable that, if at all possible, the bishop take part with the clergy and people in the office of readings and morning prayer on Good Friday and Holy Saturday."<ref>Congregation for Divine Worship, ''[[Cæremoniale Episcoporum|Ceremonial of Bishops]]'' (1984), n. 296; also nn. 189 and 217.</ref> The Office of Readings and Morning Prayer have only 6 psalms (3 in either hour), not the older form's 14, after each of which a candle was extinguished. The readings are no longer 3, divided into 9 sections, but 2 longer readings, and there is provision for extending the Office of Readings on more solemn occasions.<ref>See [http://www.ewtn.com/library/curia/cdwgilh.htm General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705220739/http://www.ewtn.com/library/curia/cdwgilh.htm |date=2019-07-05 }}, 73; Ceremonial of Bishops (1984), 214–216.</ref> In the older form, liturgical practice on those days differed from that on other days, even those of Lent: for instance, ''Gloria Patri'' was not included at the end of psalms and responsories.<ref>[http://www.sanctamissa.org/en/music/gregorian-chant/choir/liber-usualis-1961.html Liber Usualis (1961)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226110111/http://www.sanctamissa.org/en/music/gregorian-chant/choir/liber-usualis-1961.html |date=2014-02-26 }}, p. 625]</ref> The office of Tenebrae was abandoned at the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem only in 1977 − although the rule against anticipation of Matins and Lauds to the previous evening was already in effect there − because the times of Catholic Holy Week services had to remain unchanged due to the established rights of other churches.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://servus.christusrex.org/www1/ofm/easter/Reform.html |title=Reform of the Holy Week Liturgy at the Holy Sepulchre |access-date=2009-03-10 |archive-date=2011-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721213302/http://servus.christusrex.org/www1/ofm/easter/Reform.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

''[[Summorum Pontificum]]'' (2007) permits clerics bound to recitation of the Divine Office to use the 1961 Roman Breviary. Several religious and secular institutes and societies of apostolic life have availed themselves of this permission. The 1955 and 1960 changes incorporated into that edition of the Breviary continue to exclude anticipation of matins and lauds to the previous evening, whether celebrated with or without the Tenebrae ceremonies.

Services called Tenebrae, differing in several respects from the original form and not necessarily connected with [[Holy Week]], are held even where the pre-Vatican II 1961 Roman Breviary is not used:
* The Jesuit Institute provides a service, denominated Tenebrae, without psalms and not necessarily in darkness, in which a candle is extinguished after the reading of each of seven Scripture passages related to the [[Passion of Jesus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jesuitinstitute.org/Pages/Liturgy/Tenebrae.htm |title=The Liturgy of Tenebrae |publisher=Jesuit Institute |access-date=2018-07-09}}</ref>
* A modified form of the old-style Tenebrae that leaves the church in darkness is used by the [[Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius]] in Chicago.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic.org/prwire/headline.php?ID=6244 |title=Tenebrae for Holy Week – Back by Popular Demand |publisher=Catholic.org |access-date=2018-07-09}}</ref>
* Several Catholic cathedrals and other churches arrange one-off services with Gregorian chant and polyphonic music from the traditional Tenebrae service, sometimes as an evening concert.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://diosav.org/lent-2017/tenebrae |title=Diocese of Savannah: Tenebrae Service and Concert |publisher=Diosav.org |date=2017-04-12 |access-date=2018-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dioceseoftrenton.org/events/tenebrae-service-1 |title=Tenebrae Service |work=Diocese of Trenton |date=2017-04-12 |access-date=2018-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://reginamag.com/time-bring-tenebrae-shadows/ |title=Regina magazine: Time to bring Tenebrae out of the shadows |date=21 March 2016 |publisher=Reginamag.com |access-date=2018-07-09}}</ref>

Unlike the original well-attended Tenebrae, these modern adaptations have attracted little attention on the part of musical composers. {{Citation Needed|date=July 2023}}

==Other Western Christian Churches==
[[File:Front Side of Good Friday Church Bulletin (Faith Lutheran Church).jpg|thumb|upright=1.18|The front cover of a Lutheran [[church bulletin]] for [[Good Friday]], describing the significance, as well as the summary of components, of a typical tenebrae [[Church service|service]]]]
Some [[Protestant denomination]]s retained elements of the Roman Tenebrae liturgy, or added others. The Tenebrae services in the [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] and [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] traditions, as well as in [[Methodism|Methodist]] and [[Calvinism|Reformed]] (inclusive of [[Continental Reformed]], [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] and [[Congregationalist]] denominations) churches that hold them, all contain "the pattern of extinguishing the candles (and the overhead lights) and restoring the Christ candle", along with the ''strepitus''.<ref name="RW1986"/> Some liturgical [[Baptist]] congregations also hold Tenebrae Services.<ref>Ravensworth Baptist Church, [[Annandale, Virginia]]. [http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs004/1102670663045/archive/1109564856566.html#LETTER.BLOCK19 "Holy Week 2012"] in ''News from the Corner'', April 1–14, 2012</ref> Variations of Tenebrae are sometimes celebrated in less formal or [[Nondenominational Christianity|non-denominational churches]] as well.

===Lutheran practice===
In [[Lutheran]] churches that observe the celebration, the Tenebrae service is typically held on Good Friday, though it may also be observed on Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday).<ref name="LivingLutheranTheThreeDays">{{cite web |url=https://www.livinglutheran.org/2013/04/three-days-traditions-maundy-thursday-good-friday-vigil-easter/ |title=The Three Days: traditions of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Vigil of Easter |date=5 April 2013 |publisher=Living Lutheran}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Good Friday Tenebrae Service Bulletin – April 2, 2021 |url=https://www.ds-lcms.org/media/bulletins/4-2-2021.pdf |website=Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church |date=April 2, 2021 |access-date=April 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=3/29/24: Good Friday: Tenebrae |url=https://redeemertucson.com/sermons/32924-good-friday-tenebrae |author=Redeemer Lutheran Church |date=March 22, 2024 |access-date=April 15, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Henson2021">{{cite web |last1=Henson |first1=Michael D. |title=Tenebrae on Holy Wednesday |url=https://trinityh.org/live-stream-of-tenebrae-wed-at-3-pm-3-31/ |publisher=Trinity Lutheran Church |access-date=26 March 2024 |date=31 March 2021}}</ref> There is a gradual dimming of the lights and extinguishing of the candles as the service progresses.<ref name="LivingLutheranTheThreeDays" /> Toward the end of the service, the Christ candle, if present, is removed from the sanctuary.<ref name="LivingLutheranTheThreeDays" /> A concluding ''Strepitus'', or loud noise, typically made by slamming shut the [[Bible]], is made, symbolizing the earthquake that took place, and the agony of creation, at the death of Christ.<ref name="LivingLutheranTheThreeDays" />

Certain [[Tenebrae responsory]] settings have led their own life in Lutheran practice, for instance:
* [[Jacob Handl]]'s ''[[Ecce quomodo moritur justus (Gallus)|Ecce quomodo moritur justus]]''<ref>Tomasz Jeż. [https://www.academia.edu/1439975/The_Motets_of_Jacob_Handl_in_Inter-confessional_Silesian_Liturgical_Practice "The Motets of Jacob Handl in Inter-confessional Silesian Liturgical Practice"] in ''De musica disserenda'' III/2, 2007, pp. 37–48</ref>
* The ''[[Tristis est anima mea (attributed to Kuhnau)|Tristis est anima mea]]'' setting attributed to [[Johann Kuhnau]]<ref name="Melamed">{{cite book
| last = Melamed
| first = Daniel R.
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=JDlBMqI628UC&pg=PA148
| title = J.S. Bach and the German Motet
| publisher = Cambridge University Press
| year = 1995
| pages = 148–149
| isbn = 0-52-141864-X<!-- 9780521418645 -->
}}</ref>

===Anglican practice===
Most Anglican churches that celebrate the Tenebrae service do so only on Wednesday, so as not to deflect attention from the Holy Thursday and Good Friday practices. But this practice is not universal. 

In its Book of Occasional Services, the [[Episcopal Church (United States)]] provides for a single Tenebrae service on Holy Wednesday in the evening. That service preserves the number of nine Tenebrae lessons, each followed by a responsory.<ref>[[Church Publishing]] [https://books.google.com/books?id=3FZGE2CAdfUC&dq=%22Tenebrae+on+Wednesday+evening+only%22&pg=PA74 ''The Book of Occasional Services • 2003'', pp. 74–83.] New York, 2004. {{ISBN|089869664X}} {{ISBN|9780898696646}}</ref> Church Publishing also offers a booklet called, In the Shadows of Holy Week: The Office of Tenebrae. It provides the full ancient form of Tenebrae as it appears in basic outline in The Book of Occasional Services. This booklet develops that outline providing all of the materials necessary for a recitation of the office: All of the psalms, canticles, responsories, antiphons, and readings are reproduced in full. Rubrics guide participants through each phase of the service. <ref> [[Church Publishing]] [https://books.google.com/books?id=WcLtAQAAQBAJ&dq=In+the+Shadows+of+Holy+Week:+The+Office+of+Tenebrae.&pg=PR5 ''In the Shadows of Holy Week: The Office of Tenebrae • 2002''] United Kingdom, 2002 {{ISBN|9780898697094}} </ref>

Parishes of the [[Anglican Church of Canada]] that do celebrate Tenebrae follow a variety of practices. The [[Church of St. Mary Magdalene (Toronto)]] is notable for the excellence of its music, of which the musical Tenebrae services are exemplary. Christ Church Cathedral (Fredericton) uses Tenebrae in a sung traditional language form on the Wednesday evening of Holy Week which includes lessons from Jeremiah with responding psalms, the fourth being from John 17, and Benedictus. At the Church of the Epiphany (Oakville) Tenebrae is described as the reversal of the Advent wreath: "starting Lent with the brightness of six candles, the darkness grows as a candle is extinguished each week in anticipation of Jesus dying on the cross on Good Friday."  This abbreviated Tenebrae liturgy begins worship services on Sundays during Lent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://niagaraanglican.news/2017/05/11/an-idea-worth-sharing-lenten-tenebrae-liturgy/ |title=An idea worth sharing – Lenten Tenebrae Liturgy – The Niagara Anglican |work=The Niagara Anglican |date=11 May 2017 |publisher=Niagaraanglican.news |access-date=2018-07-09}}</ref> The [[Sisterhood of Saint John the Divine]] have their own liturgy, "The Order of Tenebrae", published in 1933.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6Z7WAQAAQBAJ&q=Tenebrae&pg=PA268 |title=A Journey Just Begun: The Story of an Anglican Sisterhood – The Sisterhood of St. John the Divine – Google Books |date=2015-02-21 |publisher=Dundurn |access-date=2018-07-09|isbn=9781459723702 }}</ref>

===Methodist practice===
In the [[Methodist]] tradition, fourteen candles, along with a central Christ candle, are lit on the Tenebrae hearse after the Opening Prayer.<ref name="UMBOW2016"/> They are consequently extinguished after each of the Tenebrae lessons.<ref name="UMBOW2016"/> Prior to the reading of the sixteenth lesson, the Christ candle on the Tenebrae hearse is extinguished and then the [[church bell]]s are tolled.<ref name="UMBOW2016"/> The sixteenth lesson is read in darkness, followed by the conclusion of the liturgy.<ref name="UMBOW2016">{{cite book|title=The United Methodist Book of Worship|date=5 April 2016|publisher=Kingswood Books|language=en|isbn=9781426735004|pages=299–301}}</ref>

===Polish National Catholic practice===
The [[Polish National Catholic Church|Polish National Catholic]] service usually takes place on Good Friday, mostly at night. A standing cross is put on the altar with a black veil over it and 12 to 14 candles are placed behind it. The service has a combination of [[Bitter Lamentations]], Matins, and Vespers.  Several of the PNCC clergy, vested with [[cantor (church)|cantors]], are seated at the high place and the service is chanted. Gradually a minor cleric puts out each candle except for the top one that is taken around the sanctuary into the [[vestry]]. At that time a moment of silence is held for Christ's death. Then the candle is placed back; the lights in the church are turned back on; and the final hymns are sung.

===Reformed practice===
[[Congregationalist]] versions of Tenebrae service, particularly on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday, often contain readings from the gospels which describe the time between the [[Last Supper]] and the [[Passion (Christianity)|Passion of Christ]].<ref>[[United Church of Christ]]. [http://uccfiles.com/docs/ww040612.doc "Tenebrae: Service of Shadows – Good Friday – April 6, 2012"] in ''[http://www.ucc.org/worship_worship-ways_worship-ways-1 Worship Ways]''</ref><ref name="RW1986">{{cite web|url=https://www.reformedworship.org/article/december-1986/tenebrae|title=Tenebrae|last=Boonstra|first=Harry|year=1986|publisher=Reformed Worship|access-date=27 March 2018|quote=Tenebrae services today, usually held on one day instead of three, follow many of the ancient customs. The pastor and members of the congregation read a number of Scripture passages— either the traditional fourteen or fewer. Often these passages are not psalms but rather portions of the Passion story. But no matter which Scripture and music are selected, the pattern of extinguishing the candles (and the overhead lights) and restoring the Christ candle remains the same. Some churches accentuate the darkness by tolling the bells.}}</ref>

===Western Orthodox practice===
Some [[Western Rite Orthodox]] parishes observe the service of Tenebrae{{fact|date=March 2021}}.  Among the [[Byzantine Rite]] Orthodox the nearest equivalent is [[Matins]] of [[Great Friday]], when a candlestick with 12 candles is set up{{fact|date=March 2021}} in the center of the [[temple]] behind the [[analogion]] from which the Twelve Passion Gospels are read. However, here after each reading one of the candles is lit rather than extinguished.{{fact|date=March 2021}}<!-- a googled Order of Service only mentions lighting of congregation's candles following last Gospel.-->

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://www.sistersofcarmel.com/tenebrae.php Catholic devotions: Tenebrae]
* [http://www.liturgies.net/Lent/Tenebrae.htm An Episcopal Tenebrae service]
* [https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14506a.htm Tenebrae] – [[Catholic Encyclopedia]] article
* [https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07162c.htm Tenebrae Hearse] – [[Catholic Encyclopedia]] article
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110714031444/http://www.mapc.com/html/03_worship/PDF/2008-03-21b-GF-Tenebrae.pdf Presbyterian Tenebrae Order of Service]
* [http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=2874 United Methodist Church Tenebrae]
* [http://www.biblicalpurity.com/tenebrae.html Sample non-denominational Tenebrae]
*[http://jesuitinstitute.org/Pages/Liturgy/Tenebrae.htm Tenebrae – The Jesuit Institute]

{{Liturgical year of the Catholic Church}}
{{Seven Sacraments|state=collapsed}}
{{Easter}}
{{Anglican liturgy}}

[[Category:Tenebrae| ]]
[[Category:Passion of Jesus]]