Behold the wood of the cross
18 APRIL 2024
Second Tenebrae: Matins and Lauds of Good Friday 9:00 am
Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary 11:30 am
Solemn Liturgy and Mass of the Pre-Sanctified 12:00 noon
Confessions 2:00 pm
Stations of the Cross (Mater Dolorosa) 3:00 pm
Third Tenebrae: Matins and Lauds of Holy Saturday 6:00 pm
COLLECT
Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
TENEBRAE
The name Tenebrae (Latin for darkness or shadows) has for centuries been applied to the ancient monastic night and early morning services (Matins and Lauds) of the last three days of Holy Week, which in medieval times came to be celebrated on the preceding evenings.
A feature of these offices is the gradual extinguishing of candles and other lights in the church until only a single candle, understood as a symbol of our Lord, remains. Towards the end of the service this candle is hidden, representing the apparent victory of the forces of evil. These offices are extremely introspective, and the psalms feature prominently.